# Basic Probablity **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-probablity/472543 "2008-11-13T16:01:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-probablity/472543/1 "2008-11-13T16:01:34Z")
From a bag of 5 red, 4 gold and 6 green marbles, what is the probability of reaching in and getting 3 gold marbles if you do not replace the marbles between selecting them? Give your answer as a fraction in lowest terms. When I do it I get 4/15 x 3/14 x 2/13 =4/455. Is this answer correct? ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-probablity/472543/2 "2008-11-13T16:02:51Z")
yes ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-probablity/472543/3 "2008-11-13T17:26:56Z")
That is correct. For reference, this sort of problem is very easily solved by using the [hypergeometric distribution](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergeometric_distribution). Here you’re looking to compute f(3; 15, 4, 3).