Probability of Birthdays in Two Months

CMAT 2025 · Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation · Hard · Quantitative Techniques

The probability that the birthdays of 4 different persons will fall in exactly two calendar months is:

  1. A.

    77/1728

  2. B.

    17/87

  3. C.

    11/144

  4. D.

    3/144

Answer

A

Explanation

Total possible distributions of 4 birthdays across 12 months = 12412^4. Number of ways to choose 2 months = (122)=66\binom{12}{2} = 66. For each chosen pair of months, each person has 2 options, giving 24=162^4 = 16 distributions. Subtract 2 cases where all birthdays fall in a single month: 16−2=1416 - 2 = 14. Favourable cases = 66×1466 \times 14. Probability = 66×14124=771728\frac{66 \times 14}{12^4} = \frac{77}{1728}.

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