Question: An ichthyologist studies fish in a pond with 10 species, 4 of which are migratory. If she randomly samples 3 species, what is the probability that exactly 1 is migratory?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:58:36 +0000

**Discover the Hidden Mathematics Behind Nature’s Choice: A Probability Puzzle in Pond Ecology** Outside a quiet neighborhood pond, a scientist gently nets fish—curious about how species mix. Her question isn’t whispered in hushed tones, but carefully examined: Given a pond with 10 fish species, 4 migratory and 6 resident, if she samples 3 species at random, what’s the chance exactly one is migratory? This is more than a classroom example—it’s a lens into how simple math reveals real-world ecological patterns. As public interest in environmental science and biodiversity grows, questions like this spark natural curiosity about how species inhabit shared spaces. With digital users increasingly drawn to intelligent, digestible facts about nature’s workings, this question sits at the intersection of science, probability, and everyday learning. ---