A single card is drawn uniformly at random from a standard 52-card deck. What is the probability that it is neither a heart nor a king?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 9/13

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Use inclusion–exclusion to avoid double-counting the king of hearts when excluding hearts and kings from a deck. Then divide by total cards for the probability.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • 52-card standard deck.
  • Hearts = 13; Kings = 4; overlap (king of hearts) = 1.


Concept / Approach:

  • Cards that are heart or king = 13 + 4 − 1 = 16 (by inclusion–exclusion).
  • “Neither” count = 52 − 16 = 36.
  • Probability = 36/52 = 9/13.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Count(forbidden) = 13 + 4 − 1 = 16Count(allowed) = 52 − 16 = 36Probability = 36/52 = 9/13


Verification / Alternative check:
Complement method directly: P(neither) = 1 − P(heart ∪ king) = 1 − 16/52 = 36/52 = 9/13.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • 4/13 and 2/13 correspond to the complement or partial counts.
  • Duplicate 4/13 remains incorrect; “None of these” is false because 9/13 is correct.


Common Pitfalls:

  • Double-counting the king of hearts if adding 13 and 4 without subtracting 1.


Final Answer:
9/13

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