What this probability-counting interview question tests
This is an easy probability question that combines sampling without replacement with careful case analysis. It rewards methodical enumeration and the ability to translate a constraint—matching colors at symmetric positions—into countable outcomes.
The problem asks you to find the probability of a specific event when drawing a small sample from a finite population. Success depends on identifying all valid color patterns, counting them correctly, and then dividing by the total number of possible draws. This is a common setup in probability interviews: it avoids heavy computation but requires clear thinking about which outcomes satisfy the stated condition.
- Sampling without replacement and hypergeometric reasoning
- Enumeration and case work
- Symmetry and pattern matching in outcomes