Tutorial 29 : Probability I

Practise on your Own

1

Events A and B are such that P(A) =

(i)

P(AB),

(ii)

P(B).

1
1
1
, P(B|A) = and P(AB) = . Find
3
4
6

A game is played with a fair six-sided die. A player throws this die and if the result is 2, 3, 4 or
5, that result is the players score. If the result is 1 or 6, the player throws the die a second time
and the sum of the 2 numbers resulting from both throws is the players score. Events A and B
are defined as follows:
A: the players score is 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9;
B: the player has two throws.
Show that P(A) =

1
. Find: (i) P(AB),
3

(ii) P(AB),

(iii) P(A|B),

(iv) P(B|A).

Two fair dice are thrown, and events A, B and C are defined as follows:
A : the sum of the scores is odd
B: at least one of the two scores is greater than 4;
C: the two scores are equal
Find, showing your reasons clearly in each case, which two of these three events are
(i) mutually exclusive
(ii) independent.
Find also P(C|B), showing your method clearly.
[Solution]
P(A) = P(one odd, one even) =
P(B) = 1 P(both 4) = 1
P(C) =

1 1
1
. .2
2 2
2

4 4 5
.
6 6 9

(or use grid)

1 1
1
. .6
6 6
6

(i) If 2 scores are equal, the sum of score will not be odd
i.e. A and C are mutually exclusive.
5
5 1 5
2 P(A).P(B)
36
18 2 9
Since P P ( A B ) P( A).P( B ) , A and B are independent.
(ii) P ( A B ) P({(5, 2), (5, 4), (5, 6), (6,1), (6,3)} 2

P( A C ) 0
Since P ( A C ) P ( A).P (C ) , A and C are not independent
2
1

36 18
P
(
B

C ) P ( B ).P (C ) , B and C are not independent

Since
P( B C )

2
P(C B) P({(5,5), (6, 6)}
1

36
P(C|B) =
5
5
P( B)
10
9
9