If two positive integers a and b are chosen at random between 1 and 50...
There are four possible combinations (7 & 3, 9 & 1, 3 & 7, and 1 & 9) where the sum (7a + 7b) will be divisible by 5.
The periodicity of the repetition of the power of 7 is 4. This means that every 1st, 5th, 9th, and so on time, the unit digit will be 7. The 2nd, 6th, and subsequent times will have a unit digit of 9, while the 3rd, 7th, and subsequent times will have a unit digit of 3.
The probability of obtaining each of these unit digits is 12 (approximated as 50/4) out of 50.
Therefore, the probability for 7a is 12/50, and the probability for 7b is also 12/50.
Since there are a total of 4 combinations mentioned, the combined probability is calculated as (12/50 * 12/50) * 4 (approximated).
Simplifying this expression, we get (1/4) * (1/4) * 4 = 1/4.
Hence, the approximate probability of the sum (7a + 7b) being divisible by 5 is 1/4.