Question: An oceanographer studies 7 distinct deep-sea species, 2 of which exhibit bioluminescence. If they randomly sample 3 species, what is the probability that exactly 1 is bioluminescent? - Decision Point
How Oceanographers Uncover Deep-Sea Secrets: A Probability Puzzle of Bioluminescent Life
How Oceanographers Uncover Deep-Sea Secrets: A Probability Puzzle of Bioluminescent Life
Curious about the hidden world beneath the waves? Every year, advances in deep-sea exploration reveal fascinating secrets—shadows, light, and life thriving in extreme darkness. A recent question among scientists and ocean enthusiasts asks: An oceanographer studies 7 distinct deep-sea species, 2 of which exhibit bioluminescence. If they randomly sample 3 species, what is the probability that exactly 1 is bioluminescent? This simple math puzzle reflects growing fascination with marine biology, the mysteries of bioluminescence, and the science behind sparse yet remarkable deep-sea populations—popular subjects in US science communication and educational platforms.
Why This Question Matters Now
Understanding the Context
Bioluminescence captivates audiences like no other natural phenomenon. With viral content, documentaries, and citizen science apps highlighting deep-sea wonders, questions about light-producing marine life are resonating across the US. Scientists are increasingly sampling rare species to understand ecosystem dynamics, species adaptation, and genetic diversity in the ocean’s “twilight zone,” where sunlight barely reaches. The intersection of citizen inquiry and professional research makes this probability query not just a classroom problem—but a reflection of broader public interest in real-time ocean discovery.
Solving the Probability: A Clear, Factual Approach
The question asks: what is the chance to randomly select exactly one bioluminescent species out of three, from a group of 7—2 glowing, 5 non-glowing? This is a probability problem rooted in combinatorics, designed to build intuition for sampling and chance.
To solve it, we count favorable outcomes over total possible outcomes.
- Choose 1 bioluminescent from 2: C(2,1) = 2 ways.
- Choose 2 non-bioluminescent from 5: C(5,2) = 10 ways.
- Total favorable = 2 × 10 = 20.
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Key Insights
Total ways to pick any 3 species from 7: C(7,3) = 35.
Thus, the probability is
