[Math] Two cards are randomly drawn without replacement from a common 52 card deck, P(Jack)=

independenceprobability

Q: Two cards are randomly drawn without replacement from a 52 card deck of
common playing cards. What is the probability of drawing a Jack?
I have found a few ways to answer this problem, one the ways I prefer but don't fully understand. Here is my solution:

$$P(J_1 \cup J_2)=P(J_1)+P(J_2)-P(J_1\cap J_2)=1/13+1/13-(1/13)\cdot (3/51)=33/221$$

$33/221$ is the correct final answer but I'm not sure how these inputs can be correct, for instance how is P(J1)=
P(J2)?

Best Answer

I think this is an intuitive way:

$P(Jack)=1-P(Jack^\complement)=1$-${48}\choose{2}$/${52}\choose{2}$

I use combinations to calculate $P(Jack^\complement)$:

  • There are ${52}\choose{2}$ ways to draw two cards without replacement
  • There are ${48}\choose{2}$ ways to do the same thing without Jacks