Expert: Lynn Houston - 10/20/2009

Question
Need help - how do we solve this problem?
The names of al the white notes on a piano are written on pieces of paper and placed in a cup. There are 7 sets of the notes D, E, F and G and 8 sets of the notes A,B,and C.  If a person draws one note out of the cup without looking, what are the chances of getting a C?

Answer
There are 7 each of D, E, F & G for a total of 28 pieces of paper
8 each of A, B, C, for a total of 24.

That means that there are 52 pieces of paper in the hat and since there are 8 C slips, you have an 8 in 52 chance of drawing a C.  That reduces to a 2 in 13 chance