If two people are selected at random, what is the probability that they were both born in winter (December, January, or February)?
3/12 * 3/12 = ?
To find the probability that two people were both born in winter, we need to consider the number of favorable outcomes (two people both born in winter) and the total number of possible outcomes (any two people selected).
To begin, let's determine the number of favorable outcomes. Since there are three winter months (December, January, and February), each person has a 3/12 chance of being born in winter (assuming an equal distribution of births throughout the year). Therefore, the probability of two people both being born in winter would be (3/12) * (3/12) = 9/144.
Next, we need to determine the total number of possible outcomes. This would be the number of ways to select any two people from the entire population. Assuming an unlimited population size, the total number of possible outcomes is infinite.
However, if we assume a finite population size, let's say N, then the total number of possible outcomes can be calculated using combinations. The number of combinations of selecting two people from a population of size N is given by the formula N choose 2, which is equal to N! / [(2!)(N-2)!].
So, the probability of two people both being born in winter would be 9/144, considering an equal distribution of births throughout the year. However, the total number of possible outcomes would depend on the population size.