Imagine we are catching fish from a small pond that contains 6 catfish, 10 perch, and 4 walleye. When we catch a fish, we return it to the water so it may be caught again. Individuals of all species are equally likely to be caught, and fish are no more or less likely to be caught a second time than they were the first. What is the probability of catching a catfish followed by a perch in the first two catches?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total number of fish in the pond is 6 catfish + 10 perch + 4 walleye = 20 fish. The probability of catching a catfish first is 6/20 = 0.30. After returning the catfish, the probability of then catching a perch is 10/20 = 0.50. The probability of both events happening in sequence is the product of their probabilities: 0.30 * 0.50 = 0.15 or 15%.

Imagine We Are Catching Fish from a Small Pond That