2018 H2 MA Prelim Compilation - PnC & Probability (29 Questions with Answers)

ACJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q10

The President’s bodyguard unit consists of 40 men. There are 10 experts in firearms, 10 experts
in unarmed combat, 10 experts in tactical driving and 10 experts in first aid. Each man is an
expert in only one area. In preparation for a historical summit, a team of 10 bodyguards is to be
chosen from the 40 men.
(i) Find the number of ways in which the team can be chosen, if there are at least 2 experts
chosen from each area. [3]
The selected team comprises of 3 experts in firearms, 3 experts in unarmed combat, 2 experts in
tactical driving and 2 experts in first aid.
(ii) These 10 bodyguards are to walk alongside the president’s vehicle in a tactical formation as
shown below.

President’s Vehicle (Top View)

Find the number of ways the 10 bodyguards can stand, if the 2 experts in first aid must not
be standing next to each other on the same side of the vehicle. [3]
(iii) The ten bodyguards are to stand at random in a circular formation surrounding the
president as he walks. Find the probability that the 3 experts in firearms are separated from
each other. [3]
Each of the bodyguard is wearing a surveillance earpiece whose electrical circuit is controlled by
two relay switches, A and B. The probability that switch A fails is 0.1 and the probability that
switch B fails is 0.23. The probability that both switches do not fail is 0.7.
(iv) Find the probability that only switch B fails. [2]
A third relay switch C is added to the electrical circuit. The event that switch C fails is
independent of the event that switch A fails. The probability that switch C fails given that switch
A has failed is 0.15.
(v) Find the probability that switch C fails but not A. [1]
(vi) Hence find the maximum probability that, switches B and C fail but not A. [2]
Answers
5
(i) 251505000, (ii) 2983680, (iii) , (iv) 0.2, (v) 0.135, (vi) 0.135
12
AJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5
There are 18 participants in an Idol Survival Competition. In the first round of
competition, these participants are grouped into 3 groups of equal size. James and
Michael are two participants in this competition.
(i) Show clearly that the number of ways the participants can be grouped is
2858856. [1]
(ii) Find the probability that James and Michael are in the same group.
[2]

After many rounds of elimination, the top 10 participants (including James and Michael)
remain in the competition. During their final performance, the participants stand in a
triangular formation as shown in the diagram below.

row 4
row 3
row 2

P Stage row 1

Audience

Given that position P must be occupied by Michael, and that James and 2 particular
participants would like to stand next to one another in the same row, find the number of
[3]
ways the participants can arrange themselves.
Answers
840840
(i)  0.294 ; Total number of ways = 12960
2858856

CJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q7

1 1 1
For events A and B, it is given that P( B)  , P( A  B)  and P( A ' B ')  .
(a) 3 5 6
Find P( A | B ') . [3]
 (b) A seven-digit number is formed by writing down the digits 1, 2, 2,3, 4,5,5 in some
order. Find how many of such numbers can be formed if
(i) the two ‘5’s are not next to each other, [2]
(ii) there are exactly three digits between the two ‘5’s, [3]
(iii) the number is an odd number between 1 000 000 and 2 000 000 . [3]
Answers
3
(a)
4

(b)(i) 900 (ii) 180 (iii) 90

DHS Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q7

During a symposium, 4 boys and 8 girls are divided into 4 groups of three each for discussion.
How many ways are there to divide the 12 participants such that each group consists of
exactly 1 boy? [2]

After the discussion, all members of the 4 groups sit at random at a round table.

Find the probability that

(i) the 3 members in each group are next to each other, [2]

(ii) every boy is separated from each other by exactly 2 girls. [3]

For the 12 participants, events A and B are defined by

A: every boy is separated from each other by exactly 2 girls; and

B: none of the boys are seated next to each other.

(iii) Determine if the events A and B are independent. [2]

Answers
2520

1
(i) 0.000195 (3 s.f.) (ii) (iii) Not Independent
165
EJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6
(a) Two events A and B occur with probabilities a and b respectively.

Let c  P  A  B  .

(i) Find the minimum value of c, terms of a and b, if a  b  1 . [2]

(ii) Find the minimum value of c if a  0.6 and b  0.2 . [1]
(b) For independent events A and B, prove that the events A ' and B ' are also independent.
[3]
Answers
a(i) a  b  1. (ii) 0

EJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q11

A bag contains 5 cards with the letter ‘A’, 3 cards with the letter ‘B’ and 2 cards with the letter
‘C’.
A A A A A B B B C C
The 10 cards are arranged at random in a row to form a letter sequence. For example,
AABBCAAACB is a possible letter sequence.
(i) Find the number of possible letter sequences. [1]
(ii) Find the number of possible letter sequences if no two ‘B’s are next to each other and no
two ‘C’s are next to each other. [4]
(iii) Find the probability that the first two letters are identical given that the second letter is not
an ‘A’. [4]
The 10 cards are now arranged at random in a circle.
(iv) Find the probability that no two ‘A’s are next to each other. [3]

Answers
(i)2520 (ii) 966 (iii) 8/45 (iv) 1/126
HCI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

A discrete random variable Y takes non-negative integer values with probabilities given as
follows:

y 0 1 2 … n …
1 1 1 1
P Y  y  … …
2 4 8 2n1

(i) Find the probability that Y is odd. [2]

(ii) Y1 and Y2 are two independent observations of Y. Find the probability that the sum of

Y1 and Y2 is less than 4, given that their sum exceeds 2. [4]

Answers
1 2
(i) ; (ii)
3 5

HCI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6

Six married couples are to be seated in a row at a concert. Find the number of ways they can sit
if
(i) each couple is to sit together, [2]
(ii) all women are next to one another and all men are next to one another, such that no man
can sit next to his wife. [3]
After the concert, one particular married couple leaves. The rest go to a restaurant where they sit
at a round table. Find the probability that each man sits next to his wife, and men and women
alternate. [2]

Answers
1
(i) 46080 ; (ii) 864000; (or 0.000132 (3 s.f.))
7560

IJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6

Find the number of ways in which the letters of the word APPRECIATE can be arranged if
(i) vowels (A, E, I) and consonants (P, R, C, T) must alternate, [2]
 (ii) between the two Es, there are exactly two other letters and at least one of which
must be an A. [3]
Answers
(i) 3600
(ii) 32760

IJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q8

For events A, B and C, it is given that P  A  0.5 , P  B   0.45 and P  C   0.35 .

It is further given that P( B | C )  0.5 , P( A  C )  0.15 and P( A  B  C )  0.1 .

(i) Find P( A ' B  C ) . [2]

(ii) Given also that events A and B are independent, find P( A  B) . [2]
(iii) Given instead that events A and B are not independent, find the greatest and least
possible values of P( A ' B ' C ') . [4]
Answers

(i) 0.075

(ii) 0.725

(iii) Greatest possible value of P( A ' B ' C ') = 0.3

Least possible value of P( A ' B ' C ') = 0.025

JJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

There are ten boys and twelve girls in a school table tennis club. A team of seven boys and seven
girls will be selected randomly to represent the school in a table tennis friendly match.

(i) In how different ways can the team be formed? [2]

(ii) Jason is the youngest boy and Joyce is the youngest girl in the club. What is the probability
that the team includes both Jason and Joyce? [2]

(iii) Joel is the oldest boy in the club. Given that Joel is selected for the team, what is the
 probability that the team includes Jason or Joyce, but not both? [4]

Answers
49 17
(i) 95040, (ii) or 0.408 , (iii) or 0.472
120 36

MI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Morocco football team started the opening match against Iran
with 1 goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 forwards.

(i) Before the match, the 11 selected players, together with their coach stand in a line for a
photo shoot. In how many ways can this be done if the coach and the goalkeeper must
stand at either ends and one particular defender and one particular forward must not stand
together? [2]

(ii) During half-time, the coach gathered the 11 players at a round table with 12 numbered
seats to discuss strategies for the second half of the match. In how many ways can this be
done if the 3 defenders must be seated together, the 4 midfielders must be seated together
and the 3 forwards must be seated together? [3]

(iii) After the match, the coach decides to construct four-lettered code-words from the 7 letters
of the word MOROCCO. How many such code-words are there? [3]
Answers
(i) 5806080
(ii) 248832
(iii) 114
MI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q7
The Venn diagram below shows the number of students studying Biology, Chemistry and
Mathematics in a junior college.

Biology
40

60 20

10
50 30 190

Chemistry Mathematics

One of the students is chosen at random.

B is the event that the student studies Biology

C is the event that the student studies Chemistry
M is the event that the student studies Mathematics

(i) Determine if B and C are independent, justifying your answer. [1]

(ii) Find

(a) P  B  C  and [1]

(b) P C | M  B  . [1]

The junior college also offers Further Mathematics as a subject. A student studying Further
Mathematics must also study Mathematics. Given that the event that a randomly chosen student
studying Further Mathematics is independent of C, find the largest possible number of students
studying Further Mathematics. [3]
Answers
(i) B and C are not independent
4
(ii) (a)
5
1
(ii) (b)
3
106
MJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

Kiki and Lala host a dinner for four other married couples. They sit at a rectangular table with
Kiki and Lala at the left and right ends of the table respectively as shown in the diagram below.

Kiki Lala

Find the number of ways to seat the four couples such that

(i) there are no restrictions. [1]

(ii) each married couple is seated directly facing each other on opposite sides. [2]

(iii) each married couple is seated directly facing each other on opposite sides and two particular
ladies cannot be seated next to each other on the same side. [3]

Answers

(i) 40320

(ii) 384

(iii) 288

MJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q8

A circular disc is divided into ten equal sectors where five sectors are coloured blue, three sectors
are coloured green and two sectors are coloured red.

In a game, a player is given a maximum of three times to spin a pointer pivoted at the centre of
the disc.
  If the pointer lands on a blue sector, the player wins $2 and the game continues.
[Turn Over
 If the pointer lands on a green sector, the game ends and the player loses all of his
winnings.
 If the pointer lands on a red sector in the first spin, the game ends and the player wins the
grand prize of $20.
 If the pointer lands on a red sector in the second or third spin, the player wins double the
amount of his total winnings from all his previous spins, and the game continues. For
example, if the pointer lands on a blue sector in the first spin and on a red sector in the
second spin, the total winnings for the first two spins will be $6.
(i) Construct a probability tree showing this information. [3]

(ii) Find the exact probability that the player wins $12 or more when the game ends. [2]

(iii) Find the exact probability that the pointer in the second spin lands on a blue sector given
that the player wins $12 or more when the game ends. [2]

(iv) Suppose there is no limit to the number of times a player can spin, find the exact probability
that the player has no spins in which the pointer lands on a red sector and wins nothing
when the game ends. [2]

Answers
27
(ii)
100

5
(iii)
27

3
(iv)
5

NJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6

A school’s concert band comprises 24 woodwind players, n brass players and 10 percussion
1 2 4
players. of all woodwind players, of all brass players and of all percussion players are
3 5 5
Senior High students, while the rest are Junior High students. No student in the band plays more
than one type of instrument.

One student from the concert band is selected at random. Find, in terms of n, the probability that
the student is neither a percussion player nor a Senior High student. [3]

Suppose instead that two students from the concert band are randomly selected. It is given that
the probability that one of them is a Senior High student and the other is a Junior High student is
1
. Show that
2
n 2  pn  q  0

for some integer constants p and q to be determined, and hence find the value of n. [3]

Answers
(1st part) 3n  80 ; (2nd part) n  30
5n  170

NJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q7

Ten circular stickers for temperature taking purposes, each of them indistinguishable apart from
their colours, are placed in an opaque box.

(a) It is given that four of the stickers are purple, two are blue and the remaining stickers are
pink, orange, yellow and green. Suppose four stickers are given to 4 people, such that each
person receives exactly one sticker. Find the number of ways this can be done if

(i) all four stickers are of different colours, [1]

(ii) there are no restrictions on the colours of the stickers. [3]

(b) The 10 stickers labelled with distinct alphabets “A” to “J” are to be packed into zip-lock
bags, which may come in different sizes. Bags of the same size are considered to be
indistinguishable.

(i) Suppose five zip-lock bags of different sizes are used to contain 2 stickers each. How
many ways can this be done? [1]

(ii) Suppose instead that a large-sized bag is used to contain 4 stickers, two medium-sized
bags are used to contain 2 stickers each and a small-sized bag is used to contain the
remaining 2 stickers. How many ways can this be done? [2]

Answers
(a)(i) 360 ; (a)(ii) 627 ; (b)(i) 113400 ; (b)(ii) 9450
NYJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

This question is about arrangements of all ten letters in the word EXCELLENCE.
(i) Find the number of arrangements in which the letters are not in alphabetical order. [2]
The letters are now arranged in a circle.
(ii) Find the number of arrangements that can be made with all E’s together and no other
adjacent letters the same. [4]
Answers
(i) 37799

(ii) 84

PJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

(a) Three boys and three girls are to be seated in two rows of three chairs each. How many
ways can it be done if
(i) boys and girls must alternate, [2]
(ii) two particular girls must sit next to each other? [2]

(b) How many ways can six people be seated around two identical round tables such that there
is at least one person at each table? [3]
Answers
(a)(i) 72

(a)(ii) 192

(b) 274

RI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6
For events A and B it is given that P( A)  0.5 and P( B ')  0.35.

(a) Given that events A and B are not independent, find the range of values of P( A  B ) .
[2]

(b) Given that P( A | B ')  0.6, find

(i) P( A  B ), [3]

(ii) P( A '  B ' ). [1]

 Answers
(a) [0.65, 1] \{0.825} (b)(i) 0.86 (b)(ii) 0.71

RI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q10
Amy has four identical star shaped ornaments and six identical heart shaped ornaments.

(a) Find the number of ways in which Amy can arrange the ten ornaments in a line.
[1]

The star shaped ornaments are coloured Red, Green, Yellow and Purple, and the heart shaped
ornaments are then coloured Red, Green, Yellow, Purple, Black and White.

(b) Find the number of ways in which Amy can arrange the ten ornaments in a line such
that exactly five heart shaped ornaments are next to each other. [3]

(c) Amy then decides to arrange the ten ornaments in a circular manner. Find the number
of ways in which all ornaments of the same colour are next to each other. [2]

(d) Amy randomly distributes the ten ornaments into one group of four and two groups of
three.

(i) Show that the probability that the black and white ornaments are in the same
4
group is . [3]
15

(ii) Find the probability that there are at least two heart shaped ornaments in the
group of four given that the black and white ornaments are in the same group.
[3]
Answers
123
(a) 210 (b) 345600 (c) 1920 (d)(ii)
140

RVHS Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6

(a) During a class reunion, 4 men and 6 women decide to stand in a row to take a class
photograph. Find the number of ways that they can do so if
(i) there is no restriction, [1]
(ii) at least 2 men stand together, [2]
(iii) exactly 5 women stand together. [3]

(b) The 10 persons then sit at a round table for dinner. Find the probability that 2 particular
 women sit opposite each other. [2]
Answers
1
(a)(i) 3,628,800, (ii) 3,024,000, (iii) 345,600, (b)
9

SAJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6

A committee of eight people is to be chosen from 15 men and 7 women.

Find the number of ways in which the committee can be chosen if it consists of at least 2
women. [3]

The chosen committee consists of 6 men (Allen, Ben, Calvin, Donald, Edwin and Felix) and 2
women (Gina and Hazel).
At a meeting, the committee members are seated at a rectangular table as shown in the diagram
below, with seats labelled 1 to 8.

1 2 3 4

TABLE

5 6 7 8

Find the number of possible seating arrangements if Gina and Hazel must be seated at any two
of the corner seats labeled 1, 4, 5 or 8. [2]

Answers

268290 ; 8640
SAJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q8

2
For two mutually exclusive events A and B, it is given that P  A  0.65 and P  B | A '  .
7

(i) Show that P  B   0.1 . [2]

For a third event C, it is given that P  A  C   0.39 .

(ii) Find P  C ' | A . [2]

It is given that B and C are independent and P  A ' B ' C   0.15 .

(iii) Find P  B  C  . [2]

(iv) Hence or otherwise, determine whether the events A and C are independent. [1]

Answers

(ii) 0.4

(iii) 0.06

(iv) independent

SRJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q10

(a) A group of twelve people consists of one pair of sisters, one set of three brothers, a
family of three and 4 others.
(i) The twelve people are grouped into three groups of 4. Find the number of
ways where the family of three are together. [2]
(ii) The twelve people are arranged randomly in a line. Find the number of ways
that the sisters are not together and the brothers are all separated. [3]
11 2 1
(b) For events A and B, it is given that P  A   , P  B   and P  A  B   .
20 5 4
(i) Find the probability where event A occurs or event B occurs but not both. [1]
(ii) Find the probability where event B has occurred but not A. [1]
1
For a third event C, it is given that P  C   and that A and C are independent,
2
(iii) Find the range of values of P  A ' B ' C  . [3]
 Answers
(a)(i) 1890
(a)(ii) 220631040
9
(b)(i)
20
3
(b)(ii)
20
3 9
(b)(iii)  P  A ' B ' C  
40 40

TJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

5 French, 3 Croatian and 2 Belgian dancers were invited to perform at a charity event, where a
dinner was held to welcome them. In how many ways can these dancers be seated at a round table
if those of the same nationality must sit next to one another? [2]

For the opening item, the dancers were randomly divided into two groups of 3 dancers each and
one group of 4 dancers. Find the number of ways this can be done. [2]

At the end of the performance, 5 of the 10 dancers were chosen to pose for photographs. Find the
number of ways the dancers can be arranged in a row, if exactly 3 of the chosen dancers are of the
same nationality. [3]
Answers
2880 ; 2100 ; 14520

TPJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q6

Find the number of ways in which the letters of the word DIGITISE can be arranged if
(i) there are no restrictions, [1]
(ii) G and S must not be next to each other, [2]
(iii) consonants (D, G, T, S) and vowels (I, E) must alternate, [3]
(iv) between any two Is there must be at least 2 other letters. [3]
Answers
(i) 6720
(ii) 5040
(iii) 192
(iv) 480
VJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q5

Twelve cards, numbered from 1 to 12 are arranged in a straight line. Find the number of ways this
can be done if

(i) there are no restrictions, [1]

(ii) the cards numbered 2 and 3 are together, and all the six even numbered cards are adjacent.
[3]

The twelve cards are arranged in a circle. Find the number of ways this can be done if all the
cards numbered as multiples of 3 are separated. [2]

Six of the cards are selected at random, without replacement. Find the probability that at least
two of the chosen cards are even numbered. [3]

Answers
(i) 479001600

887
(ii) 172800 ; 8467200 ;
924

YJC Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q7

Ten cards each has a single letter or a digit written on them. The letters are A, B, C, D, E and the
digits are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
(i) Find the number of ways in which the 10 cards can be divided into two sets with
each set consisting of 5 cards. [1]

Find the number of ways of arranging the ten cards in a row such that
(ii) all the consonants are next to each other and all the digits are next to each other,
[2]
(iii) the letters must be in alphabetical order from left to right. [2]

The ten cards are now arranged at random in a circle.

(iv) Find the probability that no two odd digits are next to each other. [3]
Answers
5
(i) 126 (ii) 17280 (iii) 30240 (iv)
12