A drawer holds purple socks and yellow socks. If n socks are taken out of the drawer at random, the probability that all are yellow is 1/2. What is the smallest possible number of socks in the drawer (as a function of n)?

Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
13th Edition
ISBN:9781133382119
Author:Swokowski
Publisher:Swokowski
Chapter10: Sequences, Series, And Probability
Section10.8: Probability
Problem 20E
icon
Related questions
Question

A drawer holds purple socks and yellow socks. If n socks are taken out of the drawer at random, the probability that all are yellow is 1/2. What is the smallest possible number of socks in the drawer (as a function of n)?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Follow-up Questions
Read through expert solutions to related follow-up questions below.
Follow-up Question

How did you get "This is equal to (1/2) iff x = N - 1, x - 1 = N - 2, ....... , x - (n - 2) = N - (n - 1)?

Solution
Bartleby Expert
SEE SOLUTION
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
Algebra
ISBN:
9781133382119
Author:
Swokowski
Publisher:
Cengage
Big Ideas Math A Bridge To Success Algebra 1: Stu…
Big Ideas Math A Bridge To Success Algebra 1: Stu…
Algebra
ISBN:
9781680331141
Author:
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Calculus For The Life Sciences
Calculus For The Life Sciences
Calculus
ISBN:
9780321964038
Author:
GREENWELL, Raymond N., RITCHEY, Nathan P., Lial, Margaret L.
Publisher:
Pearson Addison Wesley,
College Algebra
College Algebra
Algebra
ISBN:
9781337282291
Author:
Ron Larson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
College Algebra (MindTap Course List)
College Algebra (MindTap Course List)
Algebra
ISBN:
9781305652231
Author:
R. David Gustafson, Jeff Hughes
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Holt Mcdougal Larson Pre-algebra: Student Edition…
Holt Mcdougal Larson Pre-algebra: Student Edition…
Algebra
ISBN:
9780547587776
Author:
HOLT MCDOUGAL
Publisher:
HOLT MCDOUGAL