Math Counts

from the St. Thomas (USVI) Daily News, Friday November 28, 1997

And Babies Make…Ten!?!

Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey are the proud parents of seven--yes, seven--new babies. Bobbi gave birth to the world's only set of surviving septuplets last Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa. Adding the new seven to the parents and their two-year-old daughter makes an instant family of 10. Four of the new babies are boys and three of them are girls.

The babies are Kenneth Robert (3 lb., 4 oz.); Alexis May (2 lb., 11 oz.); Natalie Sue (2 lb., 10 oz.); Kelsey Ann (2 lb., 5 oz.); Brandon James (3 lb., 3 oz.); Nathaniel Roy (2 lb., 14 oz.); and Joel Steven (2 lb., 15 oz.). Combined, what was the weight of the babies at birth?

What are the chances? If a woman gives birth to septuplets, what is the probability that four of them will be boys and three of them will be girls? What is the probability that the sex order will be boy-girl-girl-girl-boy-boy-boy (which, by the way, is the order in which they were delivered)?

Son of What are the chances? If a woman gives birth to septuplets, what is the probability she's been taking fertility pills?