Alya holds a pinwheel with eight distinct colors. As she holds the pinwheel, it twirls in the wind for a moment before stopping. She then records which color is at the top of the pinwheel. If there is another gust of wind which twirls the pinwheel, what is the probability that the color at the top will remain the same?

Question

Guest

Mathematics

10 March, 02:43

Alya holds a pinwheel with eight distinct colors. As she holds the pinwheel, it twirls in the wind for a moment before stopping. She then records which color is at the top of the pinwheel. If there is another gust of wind which twirls the pinwheel, what is the probability that the color at the top will remain the same?

+2

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Marc Oconnell · Answer 1

1/8, I believe. These do seem like independent events since the first result does not effect the second result.

Helen · Answer 2

1/64

Step-by-step explanation:

Since there are eight colors, there is a 1/8 chance that a particular color will be at the top of the pinwheel after one spin. The second spin is independent of the first and the probability that it lands on a particular color is also 1/8. Therefore, the probability of both spins landing on the same color is

1/8⋅1/8=1/64.