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CAT 2018 Slot 1 · Quant · Probability · hard

Two distinct numbers are selected at random from the integers 1 to 20. What is the probability that their product is divisible by 3?

Single correct option

Two distinct numbers are selected at random from the integers 1 to 20. What is the probability that their product is divisible by 3?
  1. A. 3/10
  2. B. 33/95
  3. C. 91/190
  4. D. 99/190
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Answer: (D) 99/190

The product is divisible by 3 unless neither number is a multiple of 3.

Multiples of 3 in 1–20: 3, 6, …, 18 → 6 numbers; the other 14 are not.

P(neither is a multiple of 3) = C(14, 2)/C(20, 2) = 91/190.

Required probability = 1 − 91/190 = 99/190.

Trap: 91/190 is the complement; 3/10 is simply the chance a single number is a multiple of 3.
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Original question written in the CAT 2018 Slot 1 pattern and checked twice for the correct answer. Not an official question paper. How we write and check questions · Corrections policy · Report a mistake