1. **State the problem:** We have 11 pens: 8 black and 3 red. Two pens are drawn without replacement. We want the probability that both pens are the same color. 2. **Formula for probability:** The probability of an event is given by $$P(\text{event}) = \frac{\text{number of favorable outcomes}}{\text{total number of outcomes}}$$ 3. **Calculate total number of ways to choose 2 pens from 11:** $$\binom{11}{2} = \frac{11 \times 10}{2 \times 1} = 55$$ 4. **Calculate favorable outcomes:** - Both pens black: $$\binom{8}{2} = \frac{8 \times 7}{2 \times 1} = 28$$ - Both pens red: $$\binom{3}{2} = \frac{3 \times 2}{2 \times 1} = 3$$ 5. **Total favorable outcomes:** $$28 + 3 = 31$$ 6. **Calculate probability:** $$P(\text{same color}) = \frac{31}{55}$$ 7. **Simplify fraction if possible:** 31 and 55 have no common factors other than 1, so fraction is already simplified. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{\frac{31}{55}}$$