Conditional Probability - Finite Mathematics

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Question

From a standard deck of 52 cards (the joker is not included) a card is drawn. The person who draws it reveals only that the card is black.

A second card is drawn without replacement. What is the probability that the card will be a spade?

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Answer

This is a conditional probability problem.

There are thirteen spades and thirteen clubs; since the first card is known to be black, the probability of the first card being a spade (or club) is

,

The probability of the second card being a spade depends on the suit of the first card. The probability of the second card being a spade, given that the first card was also a spade, is

The probability of the second card being a spade, given that the first card was a club, is

The overall probability that the second card will be a spade is

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