A drawer contains a number of Red and Blue socks. If I pull two out of random, then the chance of
them being a Red pair is a half and chance of them being a blue pair is a twelfth. How many socks are
in the drawer?

• i found out that the answer is 120..but dnt know how.
• 12 years agoHelpfull: Yes(2) No(12)
• 85 red, 35 blue"
• 9 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(1)
• Can you all please explain it once.
  How are you getting these numbers?
• 9 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(0)
• i got 140
  2/14*140 only satisfy and give proper integer, but I don't know how
• 7 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(0)
• Let the number of red socks be x.
  Let the number of blue socks be y.
  Total number of socks =x+y
  If two socks are pulled out, then
  Probability that both of them is red =x(x+y).(x−1)(x+y−1)=12
  Probability that both of them is blue =y(x+y).(y−1)(x+y−1)=112
  On solving these two equations we get x(x−1)=6y(y−1).
  Now we have to assume values of x and y such that the above statement is true.
  Since,
  85×84=6×35×34⇒85(85−1)=6×35(35−1)
  So, there are 85 red socks and 35 blue socks.
  Thus, there are 85+35=120 socks in the drawer.
• 5 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(0)