Chapter 9.7, Problem 21E

To determine

To find the probability of getting a face card.

Answer to Problem 21E

The probability of getting a face card is $\frac{3}{13}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given:

A card is drawn at random from a standard deck of 52 playing cards.

Calculation:

Number of outcomes in the sample space is 52.

  $\therefore n\left(S\right)=52$

Let E be the event of getting a face card.

Since there are 12 face cards (4 jacks, 4 queens and 4 kings).

  $\therefore n\left(E\right)=12$

Hence the probability of getting a face card is,

  $\begin{array}{l}P\left(E\right)=\frac{n\left(E\right)}{n\left(S\right)}\\ \Rightarrow P\left(E\right)=\frac{12}{52}\\ \Rightarrow P\left(E\right)=\frac{3}{13}\end{array}$