Probability of Selecting a Female Bird in a Zoo

There are 200 birds in a zoo. 70 birds are male with brown eyes and 100 birds are female with brown eyes. 20 of the birds are male with blue eyes and 10 birds are female with blue eyes.

If a bird is selected at random, what is the probability that the bird is a female?

This problem is a classic example of probability, focusing on understanding and calculating probabilities based on a given set of conditions. In this scenario, you are tasked with finding the likelihood of picking a female bird from a group of birds at a zoo with varying characteristics. Such probability tasks are crucial in understanding random events and are foundational in the study of discrete probability.

To solve problems like this efficiently, first consider the total number of outcomes and the specific outcomes that interest you—in this case, the total number of female birds compared to the total bird population. You'll need to apply the basic principles of probability, which are rooted in forming a ratio of favorable outcomes to the total number of possible outcomes.

While solving, it's essential to account for all the characteristics given in the problem. Partitioning samples based on characteristics such as gender and eye color can help clarify the problem, even if not all characteristics are needed for the probability calculation directly. This exercise highlights the need to analyze and synthesize problem information rather than just applying formulaic methods. Discrete probability problems like this fortify your capacity to handle randomness in various computer science applications.