Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QJEEM15Maacb9: JEE Main 2015 Mathematics - Class 12 JEEM15Maacb9 Solution: If 12 different balls are to be placed in 3 identical boxes,…

If 12 different balls are to be placed in 3 identical boxes, then the probability that one of the boxes contains exactly 3 balls is :

Multiple Choice Options

  • A 220(13)12
  • B 22(13)11
  • C 553(23)11
  • D 55(23)10

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

1st ball can go any of the 3 boxes. So total choices for 1st ball = 3

2nd ball can also go any of the 3 boxes. So total choices for 2nd ball = 3
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12th ball can go any of the 3 boxes. So total choices for 12th ball = 3

Total choices for all 12 balls = 3×3×3×.................12 times = 312.

Now question says choose 3 balls from 12 balls. So no of ways = 12C3 ways.
And then put it in a box. No of ways we can put = 12C3×1 ways.

Now we have 9 balls left and we have to put those 9 balls in the remaining 2 boxes.

Each ball can go to any of the 2 boxes, so for each ball there is 2 choices.

∴ Total ways for 9 balls = 29

∴ Total ways we can put those 12 balls in the boxes = 12C3×1×29

∴ Required probability = 12C3×1×29312 = 553(23)11

So option (C) is correct.

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