Ontario Mathematics Proficiency Practice Test

In a standard deck of cards, there are a total of 52 cards which include 26 red cards (comprising 13 hearts and 13 diamonds) and 26 black cards (comprising 13 spades and 13 clubs). The probability of drawing a red card can be determined by the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes (drawing a red card) to the total number of possible outcomes (drawing any card from the deck).

Thus, the calculation for the probability of drawing a red card is:

Number of red cards / Total number of cards = 26/52.

When simplified, this fraction reduces to 1/2. Therefore, the probability of drawing a red card from a standard deck of cards is indeed 1/2. This reasoning directly supports the understanding of basic probability concepts, including favorable outcomes and total outcomes.