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Understanding Probability Basics

The document provides an overview of probability, including definitions of random experiments, outcomes, events, sample spaces, and types of events such as mutually exclusive and independent events. It also outlines the axioms of probability and presents various problems with solutions to illustrate how to calculate probabilities in different scenarios. Additionally, it discusses the addition theorem of probability and provides examples of calculating combined probabilities.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
2 views39 pages

Understanding Probability Basics

The document provides an overview of probability, including definitions of random experiments, outcomes, events, sample spaces, and types of events such as mutually exclusive and independent events. It also outlines the axioms of probability and presents various problems with solutions to illustrate how to calculate probabilities in different scenarios. Additionally, it discusses the addition theorem of probability and provides examples of calculating combined probabilities.

Uploaded by

sebenkingsley
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PROBABILITY

PROBABILITY
PROBABILITY
• Probability refers to the study of randomness and uncertainty.

• Probability is a measure of how likely an event is to occur.

For example

• Today there is a 60% chance of rain.

• The odds of winning the lottery are a million to one.

• List some of the examples you can think?


PROBABILITY IN EVERY DAY LIFE

4
Random Experiment
• An experiment whose result is uncertain.
• It is not possible to predict the outcome in advance.
Possible Outcome
• The result of a random experiment is called an outcome.

Example
• Tossing a coin and getting up
head or tail is an outcome.
• Throwing a die and getting a number
between 1 to 6 is also an outcome.
Event

• Any possible outcome of a random experiment is called an event.


• The probability of an event denoted by P(E), is the likelihood of that event
occurring.

Note
• Performing an experiment is called a trial and outcomes are termed as
event.
Sample Space
• The set of all experimental outcomes for an experiment
is called as sample space and is denoted by S.
Exhaustive Events (Sample Space)
• Tossing a coin,
S= { H,T} where H=head, T=Tail
n(S)=2
• Tossing two coins, S= {HH,HT,TH,TT}
n(S)=4
• Throwing a die, S={1,2,3,4,5,6}
n(s)=6
• Throwing two dice, n(S)=36
Mutually Exclusive Events
Mutually Exclusive Events

• If A and B are mutually exclusive then (AꓵB)=φ , (disjoint)

• If A and B are mutually exclusive then P(AꓵB)=0


• If A and B are mutually exclusive then P(AUB)=P(A)+P(B)
Independent Events
• Two events are said to be independent when the actual happening of
one does not influence in any way the happening of the other.

• In tossing a coin the event of getting head in the first toss is


independent of getting a head in the second toss, third toss, etc.

• The results obtained by throwing a die are independent of the results


obtained by drawing a king from a pack of cards.

• Note: If A and B are independent, then P(AꓵB)=P(A)P(B).


Independent or Dependent?
• A number cube is rolled twice.
• It is raining outside and the parade is cancelled.
• The first roll of a number cube is 4 and the sum of the first two rolls is 5.
• It is sunny and a movie theatre changes its movie.
• Two cards are drawn, one after the other, from a deck of cards. The first
card drawn is not replaced.
• Mr. A got an A grade on his Math test so he will get an A on his Science
test.
Independent or Dependent?
• A number cube is rolled twice. (Independent)
• It is raining outside and the parade is cancelled. (Dependent)
• The first roll of a number cube is 4 and the sum of the first two rolls is 5.
(Dependent)
• It is sunny and a movie theatre changes its movie. (Independent)
• Two cards are drawn, one after the other, from a deck of cards. The first
card drawn is not replaced. (Dependent)
• Mr. A got an A grade on his Math test so he will get an A on his Science
test. (Independent)
Range of Probability
Axioms of Probability
For a finite sample space S,

Axiom 1: 0 ≤ P(E) ≤ 1 for each event E in S

Axiom 2: P(S) = 1.

Axiom 3: If A and B are mutually exclusive events in S, then


P(AUB) = P(A)+P(B).
Problems
Find the probability of getting a number less than 5 in a single throw of a die?
Problems
Find the probability of getting a number less than 5 in a single throw of a die?

Solution:

Possible outcomes S ={1,2,3,4,5,6}

Favourable outcomes E = Getting a number less than 5


i.e, E = {1,2,3,4}

P(E)=n(E)/n(S)=4/6 = 2/3
Problems
A coin is tossed two times. What is the probability of getting
(i) two heads
(ii) Exactly one head
(iii)Atmost one head
Problems
A coin is tossed two times. What is the probability of getting
(i) two heads
(ii) Exactly one head
(iii) Atmost one head

Solution:
S= {HH,HT,TH,TT}
(i) A= getting two heads={HH}
P(A)= 𝑛(𝐴) /𝑛(𝑠) = 1 /4
(ii) B= Exactly one head=={HT, TH}
P(B)= 𝑛(B)/ 𝑛(𝑠) = 2 /4
(iii) C= atmost one head= {0Head, 1Head}={TT,HT,TH}
P(C)= 𝑛(C) /𝑛(𝑠) = 3/ 4
Problems
A bag contains 3 red, 2 green, 7 yellow and 3 blue marbles. What is the
probability of drawing a blue marble?
Problems
A die is thrown,
(i) find probability of getting an odd number
(ii) find probability of getting an even number.
Problems
A die is thrown,
(i) find probability of getting an odd number
(ii) find probability of getting an even number.

Solution: S={1,2,3,4,5,6}
(i) A= {odd numbers}={1,3,5} ;
𝑛(𝐴) 3 1
P(A)= = =
𝑛(𝑠) 6 2

(ii) B= {even numbers }={2,4,6}


𝑛(𝐵) 3 1
P(B)= = =
𝑛(𝑠) 6 2
Problems
A coin is tossed three times, what is the probability of getting
(i) atleast two heads
(ii) exactly two heads
Problems
A coin is tossed three times, what is the probability of getting
(i) atleast two heads
(ii) exactly two heads
Solution:
n(S)= 2 3 = 8

(i) A= atleast two heads={2Heads,3heads}={HHT,HTH,THH,HHH}


P(A)=𝑛(𝐴) /𝑛(𝑠) = 4 /8

(ii) A= exactly two heads ={HHT,HTH,THH}


P(A)=𝑛(𝐴) /𝑛(𝑠) = 3/ 8
Problems
Addition Theorem of Probability
• If A and B are any two events, then

P(AUB) = P(A)+P(B) – P(A∩B).


Problems
If P(A) = 0.37 , P(B) = 0.42 , P (A ∩ B) = 0.09 then find P (A U B) .
Problems
If P(A) = 0.37 , P(B) = 0.42 , P (A ∩ B) = 0.09 then find P (A U B) .

Solution :
P(A) = 0.37 , P(B) = 0.42 , P (A ∩ B) = 0.09

P (A U B) = P (A) + P (B ) − P (A ∩ B)

P (A U B) = 0.37 + 0.42 − 0.09 = 0. 7


Problems
Two dice are rolled together. Find the probability of getting a doublet
or sum of faces as 4.
Problems
Two dice are rolled together. Find the probability of getting a doublet
or sum of faces as 4.
Solution:
When two dice are rolled together, there will be 6×6 = 36 outcomes.
Let S be the sample space. Then n (S) = 36
Let A be the event of getting a doublet and B be the event of getting
face sum 4.
Then A = {(1,1),(2,2),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5),(6,6)}
B = {(1,3),(2,2),(3,1)}
Therefore, A Ո B = {(2,2)}
Then, n (A) = 6 , n (B) = 3 , n (A ∩ B) = 1.
Solution:

Therefore, P (getting a doublet or a total of 4) = P (A U B)

P (A U B) = P (A) + P (B ) − P (A ∩ B) = 6/36 + 3/36 – 1/36 = 8/36 = 2/9

Hence, the required probability is 2/9.

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