Which probability is the smallest?
A)The probability that a couple's third child is a girl.
B)The probability that a couple has their first girl by the time of the third child.
C)The probability that a couple's first girl occurs the third time around.
D)All of the above probabilities are equal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The probability that a couple's third child is a girl (A) is 1/2, assuming equal probability of having a boy or girl. The probability that a couple has their first girl by the time of the third child (B) involves multiple scenarios (BBG, BGB, GBB, GGB, GBG, GGG) and is higher than just one specific outcome. The probability that a couple's first girl occurs the third time around (C) is specifically the scenario BBG, which has a probability of (1/2)^3 = 1/8, making it the smallest probability.

Which Probability Is the Smallest