Not a face card — Probability Aptitude Question
Not a face card: A card is drawn from a pack of 52. What is the probability that it is not a face card? Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Probability
- Section: Quantitative Aptitude
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time target: 50 seconds
Question
A card is drawn from a pack of 52. What is the probability that it is not a face card?
Options
- 3/13
- 9/13
- 10/13
- 12/13
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: C. 10/13
Worked solution
- Face cards = 12, so non-face cards = 40.
- Probability = 40/52 = 10/13.
Answer: 10/13.
The idea
Take the complement of the smaller count. 1 − 3/13 = 10/13 is the same calculation in one step.
Shortcut. Face cards are 3 of the 13 in each suit, so non-face cards are 10 of 13 in every suit: 10/13 straight away.
Common trap. "9/13" — counting aces as face cards (16 cards), which leaves 36/52 = 9/13; only J, Q and K are face cards.