Probability

Using Venn Diagrams

Venn diagrams are a very useful way of representing Probabilities. They
can also help you answer multi-part questions.
S

A B
A rectangle labelled S
represents the
Sample Space

Circle A represents Circle B represents

the Probability of the Probability of
event A event B

5B
 Probability
S
Using Venn Diagrams A B

The Area in the middle represents the

Probability of A and B happening together.

‘n’  ‘and’ S
The whole area represents the Probability A B
of A or B happening (or them together).

S
The area outside of A represents the A B
Probability of A not happening.

5B
 Probability
Using Venn Diagrams
A card is selected at random from a pack of 52 playing cards. Let A be the event
that the card is an ace, and D be the event that the card is a diamond. Draw a Venn
diagram to show this information.

1) Always fill in the middle first. The

middle represents an ace and a S
diamond.
 1 card A D
2) There are 4 aces in total, one of
which has already been filled in
3 1 12
 3 cards extra in ‘A’
3) There are 13 diamonds, one of which
has been filled in
 12 extra cards in ‘D’
36
4) 52 cards in total, subtract the 16
that have been used
 36 cards left outside the circles

5B
 Probability
Using Venn Diagrams
A card is selected at random from a pack of 52 playing cards. Let A be the event
that the card is an ace, and D be the event that the card is a diamond. Draw a Venn
diagram to show this information.

1
52 S
‘Probability of an Ace and a Diamond’

16 4 A D
52 13
‘Probability of an Ace or a Diamond’
3 1 12
48 12
52 13
‘Probability of it not being an Ace’
36
12 3
52 13
‘Probability of it not being an Ace, and being a Diamond’

5B
 Probability
Using Venn Diagrams
In a class of 30 students, 7 are in the choir, 5 are in the school band and 2 are in
both the choir and the band. Draw a Venn diagram to show this information.

1) Always fill in the middle first. The

middle represents choir and band.
 2 students S
2) There are 5 students in the band, in
total. 2 are already on the diagram. B C
 3 students extra in ‘B’
3) There are 7 students in the choir, 2 3 2 5
of which are already on the diagram.
 5 more students in ‘C’
4) 30 students in total, 10 already
filled in. 20
 20 students outside the circles

5B
 Probability
Using Venn Diagrams
In a class of 30 students, 7 are in the choir, 5 are in the school band and 2 are in
both the choir and the band. Draw a Venn diagram to show this information.

‘Probability of not being in the band’

S

B C

3 2 5

20

You could also have got 25

/30 by counting the parts not in the ‘B’ circle.

5B
 Probability
Using Venn Diagrams
A vet surveys 100 clients. She finds out the following:
25 have dogs 53 have cats 40 have fish
15 have dogs and cats 10 have cats and fish 11 have dogs and fish
7 have dogs, cats and fish

S
1) Always fill in the middle first. The D C
middle represents all 3 pets
6 8 35
2) Then fill in the parts where 2
circles overlap. Remember to take
away the middle from each. 7
4 3
3) After this you can fill in the rest,
based on what you have already
completed 26

4) Remember to work out how many F 11

people have no pets (add up the
numbers in the circle, and subtract
from 100)
5B
 Probability
Using Venn Diagrams
A vet surveys 100 clients. She finds out the following:
25 have dogs 53 have cats 40 have fish
15 have dogs and cats 10 have cats and fish 11 have dogs and fish
7 have dogs, cats and fish

6 3 S
D C
100 50
6 8 35
60 3
7
100 5 4 3

11 26
100
F 11

5B
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Addition Rule

If P(A) = a and P(B) = b

S
And we let the intersection =i

Then we can label a Venn diagram as

A B
follows:

The intersection  i a-i i b-i

The rest of A  a – i
The rest of B  b – i
The Area in the circles 1 – (a + b – i)
 (a – i) + i + (b – i)
a+b–i
So the remainder will be 1 – (a + b – i)

5C
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Addition Rule

If P(A) = a and P(B) = b

S
And we let the intersection =i

A B
The Probability of A or B is the whole
of the area inside the circles
P(A or B) = (a – i) + (b – i) + i
a-i i b-i
P(A or B) = a – i + b – i + i
P(A or B) = a + b - i
1 – (a + b – i)

P(A or B) = a + b - i

Rearranged you can also

get this formula

5C
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Addition Rule
A and B are two events such that P(A) = 0.6, P(B) = 0.7 and P(A or B) =
0.9.
Calculate: a) S
b)
c)
A B
d)
0.2 0.4 0.3
a)

0.1

Now you know the intersection, you can draw a Venn diagram!

5C
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Addition Rule
A and B are two events such that P(A) = 0.6, P(B) = 0.7 and P(A or B) =
0.9.
Calculate: b)
c) S
d)
A B
b)
0.2 0.4 0.3
‘Probability of not A’
c)
0.1
‘Probability of not A, or B’
d)

‘Probability of not A, and B’

5C
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
Conditional Probability is where the probability of an event is affected
by whether another event has already occurred or not.

 For example, the probability of choosing an ace from a pack of cards

will be affected if a random card has been removed

We have learnt the ‘addition’ rule, and now we will learn the
‘multiplication rule’

 The multiplication rule will allow us to solve problems involving

conditional probability

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
Two fair spinners are both numbered 1-4. They are thrown together and the sum
recorded. Given that at least one spinner lands on a 3, find the probability of the
spinners indicating a sum of 5.
Using the sample space:
4 5 6 7 8
 We only consider the results that
Spinner 2

3 4 5 6 7 have a 3 as one of the numbers

(there are 7 possibilities here)
2 3 4 5 6
 Out of these, 2 have a sum of 5
1 2 3 4 5
 So P(sum of 5 | at least one 3)
1 2 3 4
Spinner 1
 2/7

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
We are going to work out the formula for the probability of event B, given that
event A has happened.

We are saying that A has

A B
happened, and so are only
including the ‘A’ area
a-i i b-i
As A has happened, the ‘A’
area represents all the
possibilities

‘i’ is the part of the

So the probability B happens, given A has: circle where B has
happened

The vertical line

means ‘given’ 5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
We are going to work out the formula for the probability of event B, given that
event A has happened.

A B

a-i i b-i

Re-arranging, we
get…

OR

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
C and D are two events such that P(C) = 0.2, P(D) = 0.6 and P(C|D) = 0.3.

Find: a) b) c)
P(D) = 0.6, so
subtract 0.18
We will construct a Venn Diagram to
help…
We need the probability of the
C D
intersection:
0.02 0.18 0.42

0.38

P(C) = 0.2, so
subtract 0.18 The probabilities
must add up to 1

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
C and D are two events such that P(C) = 0.2, P(D) = 0.6 and P(C|D) = 0.3.

Find: a) b) c)

a)
C D

0.02 0.18 0.42

0.38

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
C and D are two events such that P(C) = 0.2, P(D) = 0.6 and P(C|D) = 0.3.

Find: a) b) c)
0.9 0.38 0.42

b)
C D
‘Probability of not C and not D’
0.02 0.18 0.42

c)
‘Probability of not C and D’ 0.38

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
Let A and B be events such that P(A) = 3/10, P(B) = 2/5 and = 1/2.

Find: a) b) P(B) = 2/5 in total

We will construct a Venn Diagram to 2
/5 – 1/5
help…
We need the probability of the
intersection: A B
1 1 1
10 5 5
Denominators
must be the 1
same 2

P(A) = 3/10 in total 1 - (1/10 + 1/5 + 1/5)

3
/10 – 1/5 1 - (1/10 + 2/10 + 2/10)
3
/10 – 2/10 1 - (5/10)
5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
Let A and B be events such that P(A) = 3/10, P(B) = 2/5 and = 1/2.

Find: a) b) 2
3

a) A B
1 1 1
10 5 5

1
2

5D
 Probability
Formulae from the Venn Diagram – The Multiplication Rule
Let A and B be events such that P(A) = 3/10, P(B) = 2/5 and = 1/2.

Find: a) b) 2
3

b) A B
1 1 1
10 5 5

1
2

P(A’) = 1 – P(A)
= 1 – 3/10

5D
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
You will have seen Tree Diagrams at GCSE level, and they can also be used to
represent conditional probabilities.

The number of spectators at an event is dependent on the weather. On a rainy

day, the probability of a big turnout is 0.4. However, if it does not rain, there is
a probability of 0.9 that there will be a big turnout. The weather forecast gives
a 0.75 probability of rain. Show this on a tree diagram.

The rain is the independent event

0.4 B (ie – it affects the probability of
R the other), so it comes first.
0.75  P(R) = 0.75
0.6 B’
 P(R’) = 0.25

0.9 B
0.25 The second set of possibilities are a high
R’ turnout (B), or not (B’)

0.1  The probabilities are different

B’
depending on whether it rained or not…
5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
0.4 B
R
0.75
0.6 B’

0.9 B
0.25
R’
0.1 B’

You can use the Multiplication rule to work out probabilities.

‘Probability of a big turnout and rain’

5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
0.4 B
R
0.75
0.6 B’

0.9 B
0.25
R’
0.1 B’

You can use the Multiplication rule to work out probabilities.

‘Probability of not a big turnout and rain’

5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
0.4 B
R
0.75
0.6 B’

0.9 B
0.25
R’
0.1 B’

You can use the Multiplication rule to work out probabilities.

‘Probability of a big turnout and not rain’

5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
0.4 B
Checking…
R
0.75  0.3 + 0.45 +
0.6 B’ 0.225 + 0.025
1
0.9 B
0.25
R’
0.1 B’

You can use the Multiplication rule to work out probabilities.

‘Probability of not a big turnout and not rain’
Basically, remember to
multiply along each
‘path’

5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
0.4 B
R
0.75
0.6 B’

0.9 B
0.25
R’
0.1 B’

Calculate the probability of a big turnout.

There are 2 ways of
having a big turnout

5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
A bag contains 7 green beads and 5 blue beads. A bead is taken at random, the
colour recorded and the bead is not replaced. A second is then taken and the
colour recorded. Find P(1 Green and 1 Blue).
One less Green
6 There is the possibility of Green
Blue the same as G2
to begin with
11 or Blue both times.
7 G1  P(G1) = 7/12
12 5 B2  P(B1) = 5/12
11
7
11 G2
5 The second set of possibilities depend on
12 B1 what colour was taken the first time.
There will be 11 left, and one less of
4 B2
Green the same either Green or Blue.
as to begin with
11

One less Blue

5E
 Probability
Tree Diagrams
A bag contains 7 green beads and 5 blue beads. A bead is taken at random, the
colour recorded and the bead is not replaced. A second is then taken and the
colour recorded. Find P(1 Green and 1 Blue).

6 As we want one of each, there are

11 G2
2 possible routes:
7 G1  
7 x 5 = 35  
12 5 B2
11 12 11 132

7
11 G2 5 x 7 = 35
5 12 11 132
12 B1
4 B2
11

5E
 Probability
Mutually Exclusive and Independent Events S
When 2 events cannot happen at the same
A B
time, they are Mutually Exclusive.

If we apply this to the Addition Rule:

The Addition Rule for Mutually

exclusive Events

You can also work backwards. If the above is

true then the events are Mutually Exclusive.

5F
 Probability
Mutually Exclusive and Independent Events
When one event has no effect on another, they are said to be independent.

So the Probability of A, given B, is just the same as the probability of A on its

own.

Applying this to the Multiplication Rule.

The Multiplication Rule for

Independent Events
Again, you can work backwards. If you put the numbers you are given into the
above formula, and it works, then the events are independent.

5F
 Probability
Mutually Exclusive and Independent Events Construct a
Events A and B are Mutually Exclusive and Venn Diagram
P(A) = 0.2 and P(B) = 0.4

Calculate: S
a)
A B

0.2 0.4
b)
0.4

Mutually Exclusive, so the

c) circles are separate

5F
 Probability
Mutually Exclusive and Independent Events Construct a
Events C and D are Independent and P(C) = 1/3 Venn Diagram
and P(D) = 1/5

Calculate: S
a)
C D

4
/15 1
/15 2
/15

b) /15
8

P(C) = 1/3 in total so: P(D) = 1/3 in total so:

c)

5F
 Summary
• We have now finished all the topics for Probability

• You must remember both the Addition Rule and the

Multiplication Rule. If you aren’t sure, think ‘what am
I trying to find out?’

• The best way to solve a problem is to draw a diagram

to help, when you have enough information to do so

• You also need to remember how the rules vary for

Mutually Exclusive and Independent Events