UNIT # 12 PROBABILITY

Name:……………………………

Þ 12.1 –Mutually Exclusive Events

1. There are 12 balls in a bag.
Here are the numbers,

1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 5 8 8 9

A ball is chosen at random. Find the probability that the numbers is

a) 1

b) Not 1

c) More than 6

d) An even number

e) An odd number

2. A runner is in a race.
The probability that he will win is 0.1,
The probability that he will come second is 0.25,
The probability that he will come third is 0.45.
Work out the probability that he will
a) Come first or second.

b) Not be in the first three.

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3. The temperature at midday tomorrow will be higher, lower or the same as the temperature at the
midday today.
The probability that the temperature will be higher is 15%.
The probability that the temperature will be lower is 65%.
Work out the probability that the temperature will
a) Not be higher.

b) Not be lower.

c) Be the same.

4. There are 50 cars in a car park.

15 cars are silver, 8 cars are white and 9 cars are black.
A car is chosen at random. Work out the probability that the car is
a) Black or white

b) Not silver,

c) Neither silver nor black

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5. There are 5 colours on a spinner. This table shows the probabilities of landing on different colours.
Colour Blue Green Yellow Orange Red
Probability 0.35 0.1 0.25
Find the probability of landing on

a) Green or blue

b) Not blue

c) Orange and red are equally likely.

Find the probability of not landing on red.

6. There are 12 coloured counters in a bag.

The counters are black, white or grey.
A counter is chosen at random. The probability that the counter is not black is ¾.
The probability that the counter is not white is 2/3.
Work out the probability that the counter is grey.

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 Answers

Þ 12.2 –Independent Events

1. You roll a red dice and a blue fair dice.
a) Explain why getting an event even number on the red dice and getting an odd number on
the blue dice are independent events.
b)
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c) Are getting an even number on the red dice and getting an even number on the blue dice
independent events? Explain your answer.

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d) Explain why getting an even number on the red dice and getting an odd number on the red
dice are not independent events.

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2.
I. Here are two events.
A. There is a thunderstorm.
B. Zara is late for school.
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 Explain how these two events could be not independent.

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II. Here are another two events.

A. Arun is late for school on Monday.
B. Arun is late for school on Tuesday.
Do you think these events are independent?

Give a reason for your answer.

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3. There are 8 balls in a Bag.

Four balls are white and numbered 1 to 4.
Four balls are black and numbered 1 to 4.
A ball is chosen at random.

a.
I. Find the probability that the ball is White and 4

II. Find the probability that the ball is White.

III. Find the probability that the ball is 4.

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 b. The ball is white. What is the probability that it is 4?

c. The ball is black. What is the probability that it is 4?

d. Event R is ‘the ball is white’. Event F is ‘the ball is 4’

Explain why these events are independent.

4.
a. You roll a fair dice. Work out the probability that the number you get is
I. Less than 4

II. More than 2

III. A multiple of 3

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 b. You roll a fair dice and get an even number.
Work out the probability that the number is,
I. Less than 4

II. More than 2

III. A multiple of 3

c. Show that getting an even number and getting a multiple of 3are independent events.

5. You roll a fair dice three times. You get a 2 each time.
Which of these statements is correct? Give a reason for your answer.
A. The probability of a 2 next time is more than 1/6.

B. The probability of a 2 next time is less than 1/6.

C. The probability of a 2 next time is 1/6.

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6. The names of 3 boys and 3 girls are put in a hat.
One name is chosen at random.
The name is not replaced in the hat.
Then a second name is chosen at random.
Event A is the first person is a girl.
Event B is the second person is a girl.

a. Show that the two events are not independent.

b. Suppose the first name is replaced before the second is taken.

Are the events independent this time?

Give a reason for your answer.

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Þ 12.3 – Combined Events.

1. Arun and Sofia are each playing a tennis match.

The probability that Arun wins his match is 0.4.
The probability that Sofia wins her match is 0.8.
Find the probability that:
a. They both win

b. Arun loses.

c. Sofia loses.

d. They both lose.

2. Marcus rolls a fair dice twice.

Work out the probability that:
a. The first roll is 6.

b. Both rolls are 6.

c. The first roll is not 6.

d. Neither roll is 6.

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3. Zara is taking a driving test.
The test is in two parts: a theory test and a practical test.
P (Zara passes theory test) = 0.7 and
P (Zara passes practical test) = 0.6.

Work out the probability that Zara

a. Passes both tests.

b. Fails the theory test.

c. Fails the theory test and passes the practical test.

4. A spinner has three colours, red, white and blue.

P (Red) = 1/8
P (White) = ¼
The spinner is spun twice. Find the probability of landing on
a. Red both times

b. White then red

c. Red then white

d. White then blue

e. Blue both times

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5. There are two trains. The probability that the first train is late is 0.25.
The probability that the second train is late is 0.4.

a. Complete the tree diagram and write in the probabilities.

b. Find the probability that:

i. Both trains are late

ii. Neither train is late

iii. At least one train is on time.

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6. There are two boxes of red and blue pencils.
A pencil is taken at random from each box.
The probability of choosing a red pencil from the first box is 0.6.
The probability of choosing a red pencil from the second box is 0.35.
a. Complete the three diagram.

b. Find the probability of choosing

i. Two red pencils

ii. No red pencils

iii. A red pencil from the second box but not from the first.

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Þ 12.4 – Chance experiments.
1. Four coins are flipped together.
The number of heads is recorded.
This is repeated 50 times.
The table shows the results.

Work out these relative

frequencies.
Give your answers as decimals.
a. 2 heads

b. More than two heads

c. Less than two heads

2. A spinner has two colours, Red(R) and Blue (B).

Here are the results of 20 spins:

a. Work out the relative frequency of Red.

Here are the results of another 20 spins.

b. Work out the relative frequency of red based on all 40 spins.

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3. A coin is flipped until it shows a head and the number of flips is recorded.
This is repeated 50 times. Here are the results.

Work out the relative frequency of

a. One flip to get a head.

b. 3 or more flips to get a head.

4. A spinner is divided into 10 equal sector.

Some of the sectors are coloured green.
Here are the results of 500 spins.
The table shows the frequency of landing on green after different numbers of spins.

a. Show that after 25 spins the relative frequency of landing on green green is 0.68.

b. Find the relative frequency of landing on green after

i. 100 spins

ii. 200 spins

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 iii. 500 spins

5. Zara looks at the cars passing her school.

She counts how many cars are silver.
She writes down the total after every 10 cars.
Here are the results.

a. Complete the table the relative frequencies.

b. Draw a graph to show the changing relative frequencies.

c. Estimate the probability of a silver car.

6. Marcus flips two coins. After every 20 flips he records the frequency of two heads.
Here are his results:

a. Complete the table for relative frequencies.

b. Draw a graph to show the changing relative frequencies.

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