[Math] what is the probability that all the balls are of different colour

probability

A box contains 2 blue, 2 yellow, 2 green, 2 white, 2 purple and 2 red balls.

If 4 balls are randomly selected without replacement, what is the probability that all the selected balls are of different colours?

Any hint as to how to do this question?

Best Answer

Let each pair of balls of a particular colour be in a box of that colour.

Since the balls of a given colour are identical, choosing $4$ balls of different colours is equivalent to choosing four out of the given six boxes. This can be done in $6\choose4$ ways.

Among the unfavourable outcomes, it is possible that exactly two balls are of the same colour. Then, only three boxes would be selected and the pair of balls would be taken out from one of them. This can be done in $6\choose3$ $\times$ $3\choose1$ ways.

Finally, it is possible to get two pairs of balls of the same colour. This can be done by selecting any two boxes and picking out the pairs from both of them. This can be done in $6\choose2$ ways.

Thus, the probability of getting four balls of distinct colours is $$\text{Probability}=\frac{\binom{6}{4}}{\binom{6}{4}+\binom{6}{3}\times\binom{3}{1}+\binom{6}{2}}=\frac{15}{15+20\times3+15}=\frac{15}{90}=\frac16$$


Edit:

It turns out that the balls of a given colour are not supposed to be identical.

Then, the number of ways of choosing any four balls from the twelve distinct balls is $12\choose4$.

For the balls to have distinct colours, the number of ways to choose four boxes as above is $6\choose4$. From each box, we have a choice of two balls. Thus, the total number of ways of picking four balls with different colours is $\binom{6}{4}\times2^4$.

Then, $$\text{Probability}=\frac{\binom{6}{4}\times2^4}{\binom{12}{4}}=\frac{48}{99}=0.4848...$$