In: Statistics and Probability
To the right are the outcomes that are possible when a couple has three children. Assume that boys and girls are equally likely, so that the eight simple events are equally likely. Find the probability that when a couple has three children, there is exactly 1 girl.
| 
 1st  | 
 2nd  | 
 3rd  | 
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 
 boy  | 
 boy  | 
 boy  | 
|
| 
 boy  | 
 boy  | 
 girl  | 
|
| 
 boy  | 
 girl  | 
 boy  | 
|
| 
 boy  | 
 girl  | 
 girl  | 
|
| 
 girl  | 
 boy  | 
 boy  | 
|
| 
 girl  | 
 boy  | 
 girl  | 
|
| 
 girl  | 
 girl  | 
 boy  | 
|
| 
 girl  | 
 girl  | 
 girl  | 
Total number of outcomes = 8
Number of outcomes in which there is exactly 1 girl = 3
(boy boy girl, boy girl boy, girl boy boy)
P(when a couple has three chikdren, there is exactly 1 girl) = Number of outcomes in which there is exactly 1 girl / Total number of outcomes
= 3/8
= 0.375