Nature of Chapter:

1. If you know basics of Permutations and Combinations, then you are good to
go with this chapter.

2. Apart from basic definition of probability of an event, this chapter is about

just 3-4 good concepts, thats it. Problem arises majorly because of not
able to understand what exactly question says

3. For concept building and better understanding of this chapter, do focus a

lot on Multiplication theorem.

4. To be good at this chapter you need to solve more questions first topic
wise.
 Weightage of Probability (Last 5 years)
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Average

JEE Main 3.8 % 4.1 % 3.8 % 4.3 % 4.0 % 4.00 %

Jee Advanced 15 % 5% 13 % 8% 8% 9.80 %

 Probability
● Classical Probability
● Conditional Probability and Independent Events
● Total Probability law
● Bayes’ Theorem
● Random Variable and Probability Distribution
● Bernoulli’s trial and Binomial Distribution
 Probability
Critical Topics
● Conditional Probability
● Bayes’ Theorem
● Multiplication theorem
Classical Probability
 Classical Probability
We have been doing this basic definition of probability from 10th class.
 (a) Out of 10 men & 8 women, a committee of 3 persons is
Q
made randomly. Find the probability that it consists
of 2 men & 1 women.
(b) A box contains 6 red balls & 5 black balls. 4 balls are
selected randomly. Find the probability that 3 are red
and 2 are black.
(c) An urn contains 8 white balls & 2 green balls. A sample
of 3 balls is selected randomly. Find the probability
that the sample contains at least one green ball.
 (a) Out of 10 men & 8 women, a committee of 3 persons is
Q
made randomly. Find the probability that it consists
of 2 men & 1 women.
 (a) Out of 10 men & 8 women, a committee of 3 persons is
Q
made randomly. Find the probability that it consists
of 2 men & 1 women.

Solution:

Here, total number of ways = 18C3 = 816

n(S) = 816
Required number of ways = 10C2 × 8C1 = 360
n(A) = 360
 (b) A box contains 6 red balls & 5 black balls. 4 balls are
Q
selected randomly. Find the probability that 3 are red
and 2 are black.

Remark

In such cases balls are always considered distinct,

even if balls of same colour are given to be identical.
 (b) A box contains 6 red balls & 5 black balls. 4 balls are
Q
selected randomly. Find the probability that 3 are red
and 2 are black.

Solution:
 (c) An urn contains 8 white balls & 2 green balls. A sample
Q
of 3 balls is selected randomly. Find the probability
that the sample contains at least one green ball.

Remark

In such cases balls are always considered distinct,

even if balls of same colour are given to be identical.
Solution:

Total number of balls in the urn = 10

Three balls can be drawn in 10C3 ways = 120 ways.
Let A be the event “at least one green ball is selected”.
The favourable outcomes contains either one green ball or two green balls.

Hence, the number of outcomes favourable to one green ball = 2C1 x 8C2 = 2 x 28 = 56
Similarly, the number of outcomes favorable to two green balls = 2C2 x 8C1 = 1 x 8 = 8
Hence, the probability of at least one green ball is P (at least one green ball)
= P (one green ball) + P(two green balls)
 If the letters of the word ‘REGULATIONS’ are randomly
Q
arranged, then the probability that there are exactly
four letters between R and S is

D
 If the letters of the word ‘REGULATIONS’ are randomly
Q
arranged, then the probability that there are exactly
four letters between R and S is

D
 If the letters of the word ‘REGULATIONS’ are randomly
Q
arranged, then the probability that there are exactly
four letters between R and S is

Solution:
Total cases = 11 !

Number of favourable cases = 2 ! x 9C4 x 4 ! x 6 !

Hence, required probability =

 IIT 1998
Seven white balls and three black balls are randomly
Q
placed in a row. The probability that no two black balls
are adjacent, is

D
 IIT 1998
Seven white balls and three black balls are randomly
Q
placed in a row. The probability that no two black balls
are adjacent, is

D
Solution:
 JEE Main 2020
Out of 11 consecutive natural numbers if three numbers are
Q
selected at random (without repetition), then the probability
that they are in A.P. with positive common difference, is

D
 JEE Main 2020
Out of 11 consecutive natural numbers if three numbers are
Q
selected at random (without repetition), then the probability
that they are in A.P. with positive common difference, is

D
 JEE Main 2020
Out of 11 consecutive natural numbers if three numbers are
Q
selected at random (without repetition), then the probability
that they are in A.P. with positive common difference, is
Solution:

For an A.P. of three terms, we must select two even numbers

or two odd numbers from given numbers and third number
will be fixed automatically.

Required probability
 3 numbers are randomly drawn from the set
Q
{1, 2, 3, …., 300}. Find the probability that sum
of these 3 numbers is divisible by 3
Solution:
Here, numbers can be arranged as

So here, if we choose all three numbers from any column

Then sum will be divisible by 3
Also, if we take one each from each column, then also
sum will be divisible by 3
Solution:
⸫ Required number of ways = (3 × 100C3) + (100C1 × 100C1 × 100C1) n(A) = 11617

Total number of ways n(S) = 300C3

 Two numbers x and y are chosen at random (without replacement)
Q
from amongst the numbers 1, 2, 3, . . . ., 2007. The Probability that
x3 + y3 is divisible by 3 is

D
 Two numbers x and y are chosen at random (without replacement)
Q
from amongst the numbers 1, 2, 3, . . . ., 2007. The Probability that
x3 + y3 is divisible by 3 is

D
Solution:
 Twelve distinct balls are distributed among three
Q
boxes. What is the probability that the first box will
contain 3 balls?
Solution:
Since each ball can go to any one of the three boxes, there are 3 ways in
which a ball can go to any one of the three boxes. Thus there are 312 ways
in which 12 balls can be placed in 3 boxes.
Number of ways in which 3 balls out of 12 can be put in the first box is 12C3.
Now the remaining 9 balls are to be placed in 2 boxes and this can be
done in 29 ways.
Hence the total number of favourable cases = 12C3 x 29

So, the required probability =

 JEE Main 27th June, 2022 Shift-2

If a point A(x, y) lies in the region bounded by the y-axis

Q
and the straight lines 2y + x = 6 and 5x - 6y = 30, then the
probability that y < 1 is:

D
 JEE Main 27th June, 2022 Shift-2

If a point A(x, y) lies in the region bounded by the y-axis

Q
and the straight lines 2y + x = 6 and 5x - 6y = 30, then the
probability that y < 1 is:

D
Solution:
 JEE Main 31st Jan, 2023
Let A be the event that the absolute difference between two
Q
randomly chosen real numbers in the sample space [0, 60] is
less than or equal to a. If , then ‘a’ is equal to ____
 JEE Main 31st Jan, 2023
Let A be the event that the absolute difference between two
Q
randomly chosen real numbers in the sample space [0, 60] is
less than or equal to a. If , then ‘a’ is equal to ____

Ans: 10
Solution:

F (0, 60) E (60 - a, 60) D (60, 60)

G (0, a) C (60, 60 - a)

O A (a, 0) B (60, 0)
 Recall

Odds in favour of event A

Odds against event A

 Recall

Odds in favour of event A

Odds against event A

Q A single fair die is rolled. Find the odds in favour of
rolling a number greater than 3.
Q A single fair die is rolled. Find the odds in favour of
rolling a number greater than 3.

Solution:
In a single roll of die, the numbers greater than 3 are 4, 5, 6.
Thus, n(S) = 6 and n(A) = 3
∴ odds in favour of rolling a number greater than 3 is
 A card is drawn from a pack of 52 cards. A gambler
Q
bets that it is a spade or an ace. What are the odds
against his winning this bet?
 A card is drawn from a pack of 52 cards. A gambler
Q
bets that it is a spade or an ace. What are the odds
against his winning this bet?

Solution:
 The chance of an event happening is square of chance of
Q
second event happening but the odds against first is
cube of odds against the second. Find chances of events
Solution:
Let first event is A and second event is B
Then, according to question
P(A) = (P(B))2 ….(i) and
Using (i),

Let P(A) is x and P(B) is y

Solving (i) and (ii), we get
 Recall

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
Q If
then find the value of p.
Q If
then find the value of p.

Solution:
 JEE Advanced 2021, P2

A number is chosen at random from the set {1, 2, 3, . . . 2000}.

Q
Let p be the probability that the chosen number is a multiple
of 3 or a multiple of 7. Then the value of 500p is ____
 JEE Advanced 2021, P2

A number is chosen at random from the set {1, 2, 3, . . . 2000}.

Q
Let p be the probability that the chosen number is a multiple
of 3 or a multiple of 7. Then the value of 500p is ____

Ans: 214
Solution:
Given, set = {1, 2, 3, …., 2000}
Let E1 = Event that it is a multiple of 3 = {3, 6, 9, …., 1998}
∴ n(E1) = 666 and
E2 = Event that it is a multiple of 7 = {7, 14, …, 1995)
∴ n(E2) = 285
E1 ∩ E2 = multiple of 21 = {21, 42, …., 1995}
n(E1 ∩ E2) = 95
∴ P(E1 ∪ E2) = P(E1) + P(E2) - P(E1 ∩ E2)
 Remark

As we use Venn diagram for cardinality problems

of sets, same way Venn diagrams are used here in
probability problems.
Q If A and B are two events such that

D
Q If A and B are two events such that

D
Q If A and B are two events such that

Solution:
 IIT 2002

Q If &

then P(B ∩ C) =

D
 IIT 2002

Q If &

then P(B ∩ C) =

D
 IIT 2002

Q If &

then P(B ∩ C) =

Solution:
Here,
C c
e b B
f g
a d
A
Observation
Observation
Conditional Probability &
Independent Events
 Conditional Probability

Probability of occurrence of event A given that event B has already

occurred is known as conditional probability.

i.e.

d
a c b
A B
 Conditional Probability

Probability of occurrence of event A given that event B has already

occurred is known as conditional probability.

i.e.

d
a c b
A B
Q (a) If , & then find

P(A ∪ B).

(b) Two dice are thrown. Find the probability that sum of
the numbers coming up on them is 9, if it is known
that the number 5 always occurs on the first die.
Q (a) If , & then find

P(A ∪ B).
Solution:

Given,

Similarly,
Q (b) Two dice are thrown. Find the probability that sum of
the numbers coming up on them is 9, if it is known
that the number 5 always occurs on the first die.
Solution:
 JEE Main 28th July, 2022

Q Let A and B be two events such that

And Consider S1: S2 :

then

A Both (S1) and (S2) are true

B Both (S1) and (S2) are false

C Only (S1) is true

D Only (S2) is true

 JEE Main 28th July, 2022

Q Let A and B be two events such that

And Consider S1: S2 :

then

A Both (S1) and (S2) are true

B Both (S1) and (S2) are false

C Only (S1) is true

D Only (S2) is true

Solution:
Q If ,

then find
Solution:

Given,
d
a c b
A B

Here, a + b + c + d = 1
Using (1), (2) and (3)
0.5 + 0.4 + d = 1
d = 0.1
b = 0.2, c = 0.2
 Multiplication theorem

Observation

(a)

This is called multiplication theorem.

 Multiplication theorem

Observation

(a)

This is called multiplication theorem.

General:
Lets first do few questions on multiplication theorem & then we will pick
independent events examples.
 A bag contains 20 balls of which 8 are red & 12 are
Q
blue. 3 balls are taken out one by one without
replacement. Find the probability that first &
second are blue & third is red.
Solution:

Let event B1 represent 1st ball drawn is blue

B2 represent 2nd ball drawn is blue
R3 represents 3rd ball drawn is red
We require,
 There are 10 cards, 5 of these have ‘I’ & other 5 have ‘T’
Q
printed on them. 3 cards are drawn one by one without
replacement & are kept in same order, then probability of
making the word IIT is

D
 There are 10 cards, 5 of these have ‘I’ & other 5 have ‘T’
Q
printed on them. 3 cards are drawn one by one without
replacement & are kept in same order, then probability of
making the word IIT is

D
 There are 10 cards, 5 of these have ‘I’ & other 5 have ‘T’
Q
printed on them. 3 cards are drawn one by one without
replacement & are kept in same order, then probability of
making the word IIT is

Solution:
Here we need two cards to be taken out as ‘I’ card
and one ‘T’ card
 Multiplication theorem
Observation

Observe that multiplication theorem comes

into play when order matters.
 Remark

Drawing ‘r’ cards one by one without replacement & drawing ‘r’
cards randomly, are equivalent if order does not matter.
 Remark

Drawing ‘r’ cards one by one without replacement & drawing ‘r’
cards randomly, are equivalent if order does not matter.

Eg: There are 10 cards, 5 of them have ‘I’ & other five have ‘T’ printed
on them. 3 cards are draw one by one without replacement then
probability of getting 2 I’s & 1 T is:
 Remark

Drawing ‘r’ cards one by one without replacement & drawing ‘r’
cards randomly, are equivalent if order does not matter.

Eg: There are 10 cards, 5 of them have ‘I’ & other five have ‘T’ printed
on them. 3 cards are draw one by one without replacement then
probability of getting 2 I’s & 1 T is:
 A bag contains 8 white and 4 black balls. Balls are drawn
Q
one by one without replacement till all the black balls are
drawn. The probability that the procedure of drawing
balls will come to an end at the 6th draw is ____.
Solution:

The drawing procedure ends at 6th draw

If 4th black ball comes at 6th draw
Hence in 1st five draws there will be 3 black balls and 2 white balls

So required probability
 Independent Events
Observation

Two events are independent if

i.e
 Independent Events

NOTE

If A & B are independent events then so are ,

 JEE Advanced 2013
Four persons independently solve a certain problem correctly
Q
with probabilities Then, the probability that the
problem is solved correctly by at least one of them, is

D
 JEE Advanced 2013
Four persons independently solve a certain problem correctly
Q
with probabilities Then, the probability that the
problem is solved correctly by at least one of them, is

D
 JEE Advanced 2013
Four persons independently solve a certain problem correctly
Q
with probabilities Then, the probability that the
problem is solved correctly by at least one of them, is

Solution:
Probability that the problem is solved correctly by atleast
one of them = 1 – (Problem not solved by all)
 JEE Main 24th Feb, 2021
When a missile is fired from a ship, the probability that it is
Q
intercepted is and the probability that the missile hits the
target, given that it is not intercepted, is If three missiles
are fired independently from the ship, then the probability
that all three hit the target, is:

D
 JEE Main 24th Feb, 2021
When a missile is fired from a ship, the probability that it is
Q
intercepted is and the probability that the missile hits the
target, given that it is not intercepted, is If three missiles
are fired independently from the ship, then the probability
that all three hit the target, is:

D
 JEE Main 24th Feb, 2021
When a missile is fired from a ship, the probability that it is
Q
intercepted is and the probability that the missile hits the
target, given that it is not intercepted, is If three missiles
are fired independently from the ship, then the probability
that all three hit the target, is:

Solution:
 Recall

(a) If A & B are independent events then P(A ∩ B) = P(A) x P(B)

(b) If A & B are Mutually Exclusive events then P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B)
 JEE Main 2014

Q Let A & B be two events such that ,

& where stands for complement of event A. Then

events A & B are

A Independent but not equally likely

B Independent & equally likely

C ME & independent

D Equally likely but not independent

 JEE Main 2014

Q Let A & B be two events such that ,

& where stands for complement of event A. Then

events A & B are

A Independent but not equally likely

B Independent & equally likely

C ME & independent

D Equally likely but not independent

Solution:

As
 JEE Main 26th Aug, 2021
Let A and B be independent events such that
Q
P(A) = p, P(B) = 2p. The largest value of p, for
which P (exactly one of A, B occurs) = , is:

D
 JEE Main 26th Aug, 2021
Let A and B be independent events such that
Q
P(A) = p, P(B) = 2p. The largest value of p, for
which P (exactly one of A, B occurs) = , is:

D
Solution:
 Ram plays 3 games of chess with Shyam. Probability that
Q
Ram wins it 0.5, that he loses is 0.3 while for tie its 0.2. Find
the probability that Ram wins exactly 2 games.
 Ram plays 3 games of chess with Shyam. Probability that
Q
Ram wins it 0.5, that he loses is 0.3 while for tie its 0.2. Find
the probability that Ram wins exactly 2 games.

Ans: 0.375
Solution:
Here let A, B and C be the events of Ram winning, losing
and Tie for a game

Now, out of two games, either he can win 2 and draw 1 or

win 2 and tie 1
⸫ Required probability
= 3(0.5)2 (0.3) + 3(0.5)2(0.2)
= 0.375
 In a tournament of 4 matches between India & Australia,
Q
probability of India winning a match is 0.6, for India losing
a match is 0.3, while match ends in a tie with probability 0.1
India wins the tournament if it wins at least 3 matches.
Find probability that India wins the tournament.
Solution:

Given, P(A) = 0.6

P(B) = 0.3

P(C) = 0.1
⸫ Required probability
 Two persons A and B throw a die alternately till one of
Q
them gets a ‘three’ and wins the game. If A starts the
game, then find the probability that A wins the game.
Solution:
Let A be the event that A gets three and B be the event that B gets three
Probability that A wins the game
= P(A) + P(A’) P(B’) P(A) + P(A’) P(B’) P(A’) P(B’) P(A) + …… ∞
Total Probability law
 Total Probability Law
first let’s consider an example to understand it before
formulating it formally.
 Three bags contains white & black balls as per :
Q
Probabilities of selecting Bag 1, Bag 2 & Bag 3
are 0.2, 0.3 & 0.5 respectively. A ball is randomly
selected. Find the probability that ball is white.
Solution:
Let event E1 = Ball is drawn from Bag 1
E2 = Ball is drawn from Bag 2
E3 = Ball is drawn from Bag 3
A = White ball is selected.
Probability of ball drawn is white
 NOTE

In above question, had probabilities of Bag 1, 2 & 3 been not given,

then we would have taken it to be 1/3 for all the three bags
 There are two bags, one of which contains 3 black and
Q 4 white balls while the other contains 4 black and 3 white
balls. A die is cast. If the face 1 or 3 turns up, a ball is
taken from the first bag, and if any other face turn up, a
ball is chosen from the second bag. Find the probability
of choosing a black ball.
 There are two bags, one of which contains 3 black and
Q 4 white balls while the other contains 4 black and 3 white
balls. A die is cast. If the face 1 or 3 turns up, a ball is
taken from the first bag, and if any other face turn up, a
ball is chosen from the second bag. Find the probability
of choosing a black ball.

Solution:
 Remark

This is nothing but Total Probability.

E1 E3
A

E2
 JEE Main 2019
An urn contains 5 red and 2 green balls. A ball is drawn at
Q
random from the urn. If the drawn balls is green, then a red
ball is added to the urn and if the drawn ball is red, then a
green ball is added to the urn; the original ball is not returned
to the urn. Now, a second ball is drawn at random from it. The
probability that the second ball is red, is

D
 JEE Main 2019
An urn contains 5 red and 2 green balls. A ball is drawn at
Q
random from the urn. If the drawn balls is green, then a red
ball is added to the urn and if the drawn ball is red, then a
green ball is added to the urn; the original ball is not returned
to the urn. Now, a second ball is drawn at random from it. The
probability that the second ball is red, is

D
 JEE Main 2019
An urn contains 5 red and 2 green balls. A ball is drawn at
Q
random from the urn. If the drawn balls is green, then a red
ball is added to the urn and if the drawn ball is red, then a
green ball is added to the urn; the original ball is not returned
to the urn. Now, a second ball is drawn at random from it. The
probability that the second ball is red, is

Solution:
 IIT 1997
16 players S1, S2, …., S16 play in tournament. They are divided
Q
into 8 pairs at random. From each pair a winner is decided on
the basis of game played between the two Assume that all
players are of equal strength then, find probability that:
(a) S1 is among 8 winners
(b) exactly one of S1 & S2 is among 8 winners.
Solution:
(a) As all players are of equal strength, so in any
pair probability of both players is
Hence probability that S1 is among winners is

(b) E1 = S1 & S2 are paired

E2 = S1 & S2 are not paired
A = exactly one of S1 & S2 wins.

(Favourable ways: (S1, S2),

Total ways: (S1, S2), (S1, S3), …., (S1, S16))
Solution:

(P(S1 wins & S2 lose) + P(S1 lose & S2 wins))

Bayes’ Theorem
 Bayes’ Theorem

Now, let’s pick Bayes’ theorem. Again first let’s consider an example to
understand it before formulating it formally.
 There are 3 bags which are known to contains white &
Q
black balls as:

Probabilities of Bag 1, 2 & 3 being selected is 0.2, 0.3 & 0.5

respectively. A ball is drawn at random & is found to be
white. Find the probability that it came from Bag 1.
 Remark

(a) Baye’s Theorem:

(b) Whenever the outcome of an experiment is given &

probability of it being occurring through a particular
path is asked, then Baye’s theorem is applied. Paths
are denoted by Ei’s & outcome is denoted by A.
Solution:
Let E1 = Bag 1 is selected , E2 = Bag 2 is selected
E3 = Bag 3 is selected , A = White ball is drawn.

Try to observe we need to find

 JEE Main 29th July, 2022
Bag I contains 3 red, 4 black and 3 white balls and Bag II
Q
contains 2 red, 5 black and 2 white balls. One ball is transferred
from Bag I to Bag II and then a ball is draw from Bag II. The ball
so drawn is found to be black in colour. Then the probability,
that the transferred ball is red, is:

D
 JEE Main 29th July, 2022
Bag I contains 3 red, 4 black and 3 white balls and Bag II
Q
contains 2 red, 5 black and 2 white balls. One ball is transferred
from Bag I to Bag II and then a ball is draw from Bag II. The ball
so drawn is found to be black in colour. Then the probability,
that the transferred ball is red, is:

D
Solution:

3R 2R
4B 5B
3W 2W

A : Drawn ball from bag II is black

B : Red ball transferred
Q Box 1 contains 4 red and 5 white balls, box 2 contains
3 red and 2 white. 2 balls are drawn from box I and are
transferred to box II. 1 ball is then drawn from box II. Find
the probability that transferred balls were both red
given that ball drawn from box II is white.
Solution:
E1 = Both red balls are drawn , E2 = Both white balls are drawn
E3 = 1 red and 1 white ball is drawn
A = white ball is drawn from box II
 JEE Main 25th Jan, 2023

25% of the population are smokers. A smoker has 27 times

Q
more chances to develop lung cancer than a non smoker.
A person is diagnosed with lung cancer and the probability
that this person is a smoker is k/10 Then the value of k is ____
 JEE Main 25th Jan, 2023

25% of the population are smokers. A smoker has 27 times

Q
more chances to develop lung cancer than a non smoker.
A person is diagnosed with lung cancer and the probability
that this person is a smoker is k/10 Then the value of k is ____

Ans: 9
Solution:
 In a test, an examinee either guesses or copies or knows the answer to a
Q
multiple choice question with four choices. The probability that he makes a
guess is and the probability that he copies the answer is . The probability
that his answer is correct given that he copies it is . The probability that his
answer is correct, given that he guesses it is . The probability that he knew
the answer to the question given that he correctly answered, is
Solution:
 A man is known to speak truth 3 out of 4 times. He throws
Q
a die and reports that it is a six. Find the probability that
it is actually a six.
Solution:
Let E1, E2 and A be the events defined as follows:
E1 = six occurs, E2 = six does not occur, and A = the man reports that it is a six.
We have
Now, P(A/E1) = Probability that the man reports that there is a six on the die given
that six has occured on the die
= Probability the man speaks truth
And, = Probability that the man reports that there is six on the die given
that six has not occured on the die
= Probability that the man does not speak truth

We have to find P(E1/A) i.e., the probability that there is six on the die given that
the man has reported that there is six.
Solution:

By Baye’s rule, we have

Random Variable & It’s
Probability Distribution
 Random Variable & Its Probability Distribution

Random Variable:
Let S be the sample space associated with given experiment. The real
valued function ‘X’ whose domain is S is called a random variable.
 Random Variable & Its Probability Distribution

Random Variable:
Let S be the sample space associated with given experiment. The real
valued function ‘X’ whose domain is S is called a random variable.

Probability Distribution Function:

If a random variable takes value x1, x2, …., xn with respective probabilities
P1, P2, …., Pn. Then

is called Probability Distribution Function of ‘x’.

Eg: Two coins are tossed simultaneously. Let ‘X’ be the
number of tails appeared then
S = {HH, HT, TH, TT}
X = No. of tails appeared.
Here X is a random variable & its PDF is
Q The probability distribution of a random variable X
is given below:

(i) Determine the value of k.

(ii) Determine P(X ≤ 2) and P(X > 2)
Solution:
 JEE Main 24th June, 2022

Q A random variable X has the following Probability

distribution:
X 0 1 2 3 4

P(X) k 2k 4k 6k 8k

The value of P(1 < X < 4 | X ≤ 2) is equal to :

D
 JEE Main 24th June, 2022

Q A random variable X has the following Probability

distribution:
X 0 1 2 3 4

P(X) k 2k 4k 6k 8k

The value of P(1 < X < 4 | X ≤ 2) is equal to :

D
Solution:
 Random Variable & Its Probability Distribution

Remark

(a) Mean (or Expectation) of X i.e.

Here,
 Random Variable & Its Probability Distribution

Remark

(a) Mean (or Expectation) of X i.e.

Here,

(B) Variance of X i.e.

Here is nothing but mean value of ‘X’ i.e. E(X)

 JEE Main, 13th Apr 2023
A coin is biased so that the head is 3 times as likely to
Q
occur as tail. This coin is tossed until a head or three
tails occur. If X denotes the number of tosses of the coin,
then the mean of X is-

D
 JEE Main, 13th Apr 2023
A coin is biased so that the head is 3 times as likely to
Q
occur as tail. This coin is tossed until a head or three
tails occur. If X denotes the number of tosses of the coin,
then the mean of X is-

D
Solution:

x 1 2 3

P(X)
 JEE Main 28th July, 2022

Q A bag contains 4 white and 6 black balls. Three balls

are drawn at random from the bag. Let X be the
number of white balls, among the drawn balls. If 𝝈2 is
the variance of X, then 100 𝝈2 is equal to _____.
 JEE Main 28th July, 2022

Q A bag contains 4 white and 6 black balls. Three balls

are drawn at random from the bag. Let X be the
number of white balls, among the drawn balls. If 𝝈2 is
the variance of X, then 100 𝝈2 is equal to _____.

Ans: 56
 JEE Main 28th July, 2022

Q A bag contains 4 white and 6 black balls. Three balls

are drawn at random from the bag. Let X be the
number of white balls, among the drawn balls. If 𝝈2 is
the variance of X, then 100 𝝈2 is equal to _____.

Solution:
Bernoulli’s Trials & Binomial
Distribution
 Bernoulli’s Trials & Binomial Distribution
Bernoulli trial
Trials of a random experiment are called Bernoulli trials if

(a) There are finite number of trials

(b) Trials are independent
(c) Each trial has exactly two outcomes: Success or failure
(d) Probability of success remains same in each trial
 Bernoulli’s Trials & Binomial Distribution
Binomial Distribution
It can be easily observed that when Bernoulli’s trial is repeated ‘n’ times,
then probability of getting ‘r’ successes and n – r failures is

given by
 Bernoulli’s Trials & Binomial Distribution
Binomial Distribution
It can be easily observed that when Bernoulli’s trial is repeated ‘n’ times,
then probability of getting ‘r’ successes and n – r failures is

given by
Where random variable ‘X’ is representing number of successes, p is
probability of success & q is probability of failure

Clearly p + q = 1

Remark

Here, X is said to follow binomial distribution with parameters ‘n’ & ‘p’
 A drunkard takes a step forward or backward with
Q
then what is the probability that

after 3 steps,
(i) he is 1 step ahead of initial position.
(ii) he is 1 step away from initial position.
Solution:
(i) Here, if he take 2 steps forward and
1 step backward, then he is 1 step
ahead of initial position.
Using Binomial distribution, We get
(ii) Here, if he take 1 step forward and 2
steps backward, then he is 1 step
away from initial position.
Using Binomial distribution, We get
 The least number of times a fair coin must be tossed so
Q
that the probability of getting at least one head is at least
0.8, is

A 7

B 6

C 5

D 3
 The least number of times a fair coin must be tossed so
Q
that the probability of getting at least one head is at least
0.8, is

A 7

B 6

C 5

D 3
Solution:
Suppose the coin is tossed n times.
Let X be the number of heads obtained.
Then, X follows a binomial distribution with parameters n and
Now, P(X ≥ 1) ≥ 0.8 ⇒ 1 - P(X = 0) ≥ 0.8
⇒ 1 - nC0 p0 (1 - p)n ≥ 0.8

n ≥ 3.
 Bernoulli’s Trials & Binomial Distribution

If X follows Binomial distribution where trial is repeated n times &

probability of success is p then it is written as: X : B(n, p)

NOTE

If X : B(n, p) then:
(a) E(X) = np (b) V(X) = npq
 JEE Main 2019
Let a random variable X have a binomial distribution with
Q
mean 8 and variance 4. If then k is equal to

A 121

B 1

C 17

D 137
 JEE Main 2019
Let a random variable X have a binomial distribution with
Q
mean 8 and variance 4. If then k is equal to

A 121

B 1

C 17

D 137
Solution:
 JEE Main 26th July, 2022

The mean and variance of a binomial distribution are

Q
and respectively. If then
P(X = 4 or 5) is equal to:

D
 JEE Main 26th July, 2022

The mean and variance of a binomial distribution are

Q
and respectively. If then
P(X = 4 or 5) is equal to:

D
Solution: