What is the probability of selecting a red card from a standard deck of cards?

In a standard deck of cards, there are a total of 52 cards. These cards are divided into four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. The hearts and diamonds are both red suits, comprising a total of 26 red cards (13 hearts + 13 diamonds).

To find the probability of selecting a red card, you take the number of favorable outcomes (red cards) and divide it by the total number of possible outcomes (all cards). Thus, the calculation for the probability is:

[

\text{Probability of selecting a red card} = \frac{\text{Number of red cards}}{\text{Total number of cards}} = \frac{26}{52} = \frac{1}{2}.

]

This means that there is a 50% chance of drawing a red card from a standard deck, confirming that the probability is indeed 1/2.