Solution for Problem 8.8.2

Suppose we pick 2 balls out of a box  without replacement. 
Let's say
3 are red and 5 are blue.
What is the probability of picking a
red ball then a blue ball?

Solve

        Step
Pick red first.  Pr(red) = 3/8

There are a total of  8 balls in the box.

Then pick blue. Pr(blue) = 5/7

Notice it is not 5/8 since once we picked a red ball there is one less ball in the box.

Pr(red then blue) = 3/8 × 5/7 =  15/56

These events are not independent.