JEE MainMathematicsProbability
A grid consists of 25 squares arranged in 5 rows and 5 columns. Two distinct squares are chosen at random. Given that the two chosen squares do not belong to the same row, the probability that they do not share a common side is
Options
- A21 25
- B23 30
- C23 25
- D2 25
Correct answer
C. 23 25
Step-by-step solution
The total number of squares is 25 . The total number of ways to choose 2 distinct squares is ²⁵C₂ = 25 24 2 = 300 . The number of ways to choose 2 squares that belong to the same row is 5 ⁵C₂ = 5 10 = 50 . Thus, the number of ways to choose 2 squares that do not belong to the same row is 300 - 50 = 250 . This is our reduced sample space. We need to find the number of pairs in this reduced sample space that share a common side. Two squares can share a common side either horizontally (if they are in the same row) or