[Math] Probability to identify faulty machines.

combinatoricsprobability

There are four machines and it is known that exactly
two of them are faulty. They are tested, one by one,
in a random order till both the faulty machines are
identified. Find the probability that exactly $3$ tests will
be required to identify the $2$ faulty machines.

$a.)\ \dfrac{1}{2} \\
b.)\ 1 \\
\color{green}{c.)\ \dfrac{1}{3}} \\
d.)\ \dfrac{2}{3} $

I did $\dbinom{3}{2} \times \dfrac{2}{4} \times \dfrac{1}{3}= \dfrac{1}{2} $

But the answer given is option $c.)$

I look for a short and simple way.

I have studied maths up to $12$th grade.

Best Answer

The probability for faulty-not faulty-faulty is

$\frac{1}{2}\times \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{6}$

The probability for not faulty-faulty-faulty is

$\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{6}$

The sum is $\frac{1}{3}$.

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