On a shelf there are 60 novels and 20 poetry books. What is the probability that Person A chooses a novel and walks away with it and then Person B walks up shortly after and picks another novel? Independent or dependent
The probability of Person A choosing a novel is 60/80 (since there are 60 novels and 80 total books on the shelf). Person A walking away with the novel does not affect the number of novels or the probability of Person B choosing a novel. Therefore, the events are independent.
The probability of Person B choosing a novel after Person A has already taken one is 59/79 (since there will be 59 novels left among the 79 books that remain on the shelf).
To calculate the probability of both events occurring, we simply multiply the probabilities:
P(Person A chooses a novel) x P(Person B chooses a novel after Person A has already taken one)
= (60/80) x (59/79) = 0.44
Therefore, the probability of both events occurring is 0.44 or 44%.