Question

1. lemarcus has the coins shown below in his pocket. what is the probability of lamarcus randomly picking a penny or a nickel from his pocket?

possible points: 7.14
a. $\frac{1}{2}$
b. $\frac{2}{3}$
c. $\frac{11}{16}$
d. $\frac{3}{16}$

Explanation:

Step1: Count total coins

Nickels: 5, Pennies: 8, Dimes (or other? Wait, the bottom coins—wait, looking at the image: top row (nickels? Wait no, the first row: 5 coins (maybe quarters? No, the problem is penny or nickel. Wait, let's re-express:

Wait, the coins: first stack (top) – 5 coins (let's say nickels? Wait no, the problem is penny or nickel. Wait, the middle stack: pennies, 8 coins. Bottom stack: 3 coins (maybe dimes? But the problem is penny or nickel. Wait, no—wait the question is "picking a penny or a nickel". So:

Count nickels: let's see the top stack: 5 coins (nickels). Pennies: middle stack: 8 coins. Total coins: 5 (nickels) + 8 (pennies) + 3 (other, maybe dimes) = 16? Wait 5 + 8 + 3 = 16.

Step2: Count favorable (penny or nickel)

Number of pennies: 8, number of nickels: 5. So total favorable: 8 + 5 = 13? Wait no, wait the options: C is 11/16, D is 3/16, A 1/2, B 2/3. Wait maybe I miscounted. Wait let's check again.

Wait the image: top row (nickels?): 5 coins. Middle row (pennies): 8 coins? Wait no, middle row: let's count the pennies. Wait the middle stack: how many? Let's see: the pennies: first coin, then 7 more? Wait no, the image shows:

Top stack (nickels?): 5 coins.

Middle stack (pennies): let's count: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8? Wait 8 coins?

Bottom stack (dimes?): 3 coins.

Total coins: 5 + 8 + 3 = 16.

Now, "penny or nickel": pennies are 8, nickels are 5. So total favorable: 8 + 5 = 13? But 13/16 isn't an option. Wait maybe the top stack is quarters, middle is pennies, bottom is nickels? Wait no, the problem says "penny or a nickel". Wait maybe I mixed up nickels and dimes. Wait the bottom stack: 3 coins—maybe nickels? No, the question is penny or nickel. Wait let's re-express:

Wait the options: A. 1/2, B. 2/3, C. 11/16, D. 3/16.

Wait maybe the coins are:

Nickels: 3 (bottom stack), Pennies: 8 (middle), and another stack: 5 (maybe quarters). Wait total coins: 3 + 8 + 5 = 16. Then penny or nickel: 8 + 3 = 11. So 11/16, which is option C. Ah, that makes sense. So I misidentified the nickel stack. The bottom stack is nickels (3 coins), middle is pennies (8), top is quarters (5). So total coins: 5 + 8 + 3 = 16. Favorable: pennies (8) + nickels (3) = 11. So probability is 11/16.

Step1: Count total coins

Top (quarters?): 5, Middle (pennies): 8, Bottom (nickels): 3. Total = 5 + 8 + 3 = 16.

Step2: Count favorable (penny or nickel)

Pennies: 8, Nickels: 3. Favorable = 8 + 3 = 11.

Step3: Calculate probability

Probability = $\frac{\text{Favorable}}{\text{Total}}$ = $\frac{11}{16}$.

Answer:

C. $\frac{11}{16}$