A librarian has 10 nonfiction and eight fiction books from which to choose the next three book club selections. What is the approximate probability that she chooses a fiction book, then a nonfiction book, then a fiction book?

0.114

0.131

0.686

0.784

10 non-fiction, 8 fiction ... total of 18 books

probability first pick is fiction is 8/18 reduces to 4/9 (or 0.444)

probability of second book being non-fiction is 10/17 (or 0.588)

probability of third book being fiction is 7/16 (or 0.4375)

probability of all of this happening : 0.444 * 0.588 * 0.4375 =

0.114 <===

0.114 ... Here are the steps:

1. Multiply the fractions of the probability of picking each book-

8/18*10/17*7/16=35/306

Note-The denominator decreases by one every time because 1 book is taken out of the group in each selection.

2. Divide 35 by 306

approx.=0.114