Probability - Probability is a numerical description of how likely an event is to occur or how likely it is

that a proposition is true. Probability is a number between 0 and 1, where, roughly speaking, 0 indicates
impossibility and 1 indicates certainty. The higher the probability of an event, the more likely it is that
the event will occur. A simple example is the tossing of a fair (unbiased) coin. Since the coin is fair, the
two outcomes ("heads" and "tails") are both equally probable; the probability of "heads" equals the
probability of "tails"; and since no other outcomes are possible, the probability of either "heads" or
"tails" is 1/2 (which could also be written as 0.5 or 50%).

Ways to Express Likelihood of Occurrence

Some examples of probability include:

 There is a 20 percent chance of rain tomorrow.

 Based on how poorly the interview went, it is unlikely I will get the job.
 Since it is 90 degrees outside, it is impossible it will snow.
 After flipping this coin 10 times and having it land on heads 8 times, the probability of landing on
heads is still 50 percent. The odds stay the same regardless of what it landed on before or after the
11th flip of the coin.
 On a spinner that has four colors occupying equally sized spaces, there is a one in four probability it
will land on any one color.
 In a drawer of ten socks, 8 of them yellow, there is a twenty percent chance of choosing a sock that
is not yellow.
 Since it is sunny and hot, it is very likely I will go to the pool today.
 There is a 50 percent chance of snow tonight.
 Because the ground is warm, it is very unlikely that the snow will stick to the ground.
 There is a foot of snow on the ground; so, it is extremely likely school will not be in session
tomorrow.
 She did not pay her mortgage payment three months in a row; so, it is possible her house will be
foreclosed upon.
 That employee was rated "Employee of the Month" three times last year; so, it is very likely she will
receive a good evaluation.
 Our team has won all of our football games this season; so, it is likely we will defeat the worst team
in the league when we play against them.
 She comes to work late nearly everyday; so, it is likely she is going to be reprimanded.
 There are one hundred cars on the sales lot that are silver. The probability of a customer choosing a
silver car is 50%.
 The probability of winning the lottery is one in many millions.
 There are nine red candies in a bag and one blue candy in the same bag. The chances of picking the
blue candy are 10%.
 In my closet are five pairs of shoes, four of which are black. The chances of picking a black pair of
shoes is 4 out of 5.
 Since I am not feeling well, it is very unlikely I will be going to a party tonight.
 Given that she calls out of work once a week, it is quite possible that she will do so again this week.
 Since it is supposed to rain tomorrow, it is very likely I will need to use my windshield wipers when I
go to work.