LESSON 13: PROBABILITY OF EVENTS

Probability is the measure of how probable an event occurs. If each of the outcomes in a sample
space has an equal chance of occurring, then the probability of an event E, which is represented by P(E) is:

number of outcomes∈the event n(E)

P(E) =
number of outcomes∈the sample space n(S)

Steps to find the probability:

1. List the outcomes of the experiment (Sample Space).
2. Count the number of all possible outcomes of the experiment (Sample Space).
3. Count the favorable outcomes/ (Event).
4. Use the formula.

Example 1: A numbered balls from 1 to 15 is placed in the jar. Find the probability of getting an odd number.

Solution:
Sample Space = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15} n(S) = 15 total possible outcomes
Event = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15} n(E) = 8 total number of outcomes (odd number)
n(E) 8
So, P(E) = =
n(S) 15
Example 2: What is the probability of getting a number divisible by 3 when a die is rolled once?
Solution:
Sample Space = {1,2,3,4,5,6} n(S) = 6 total possible outcomes
Event={3,6} n(E) = 2 Total number of outcomes (divisible by 3)
n(E) 2 1
Then, P(E) = = or
n(S) 6 3

A compound event is one in which there is more than one possible outcome. Determining the probability of
compound events involves finding the probability of each event and then determining how to combine them.

Example 1: If three coins are tossed, what is the probability of getting exactly two heads? You need to know
how many outcomes are possible. This may be done by using a tree diagram.

n(S) = 8 Total possible outcomes

n(E) = 3 Total number of outcomes (exactly two heads)
3
So, P ( E )=
8
Example 2: Two dice are rolled. What is the probability of getting a sum of 6?
S = {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (1,6),
(2,1), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), (2,5), (2,6),
(3,1), (3,2), (3,3), (3,4), (3,5), (3,6)
(4,1), (4,2), (4,3), (4,4), (4,5), (4,6),
(5,1), (5,2), (5,3), (5,4), (5,5), (5,6),
(6,1), (6,2), (6,3), (6,4), (6,5), (6,6),}
E = {(1,5), (2,4), (3,3), (4,2), (5,1)
n(S) = 36 Total possible outcomes
n(E) = 5 Total number of outcomes (sum of 6)
 5
So, P ( E )=
36