MCQ – Probability

1. Who gave the definition of probability?

a) Euclid b) Simon Laplace c) Archimedes d) Einstein
Answer: b
Explanation: The definition of probability was given by Pierre Simon Laplace in the year 1795. Probability can be
defined as the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes to the total number of possible outcomes.

2. What is the sum of the probability of occurring an event E and the probability of not occurring the event E?
a) 0 b) -1 c) 1 d) ∞
Answer: c
Explanation: Probability of occurring an event E = P(E)
Probability of not occurring the event E = P(E)
P(E) + P(E) = 1

3. What is the name of the event for which the probability is zero?
a) Impossible event b) Random event c) Exhaustive events d) Mutual events
Answer: a
Explanation: An event that doesn‟t occur in any possible scenario is called an impossible event. The probability of
an impossible event is always zero.

4. What is the probability of a sure event?

a) 0 b) 1 c) 2 d) 3
Answer: b
Explanation: An even that is certain to occur is called a sure event or a certain event. The probability of a sure event
or a certain event is always one and it will never exceed over one.

5. What kind of an event is getting a head or a tail when a coin is tossed?

a) Impossible event b) Equal event c) Exhaustive event d) Equally likely
Answer: d
Explanation: If two or more events have an equal chance of occurrence then that kind of an event is called an
equally likely event. Here, The chance of getting a head or a tail is equal so, it is an equally likely event.

6. The probability of occurring an event is 0.45. Find the probability of not occurring the event.
a) 0.5 b) 0.45 c) 0.55 d) 0.1
Answer: c
Explanation: The probability of occurring an event be P(E) = 0.45
The probability of not occurring the event = P(E)
P(E) + P(E) = 1
0.45 + P(E) = 1
P(E) = 0.55

7. What is the probability of selecting 8 blue balls from 10 green balls?

a) 1 b) 0 c) 0.23 d) 0.5
Answer: b
Explanation: Selecting 8 blue balls from 10 green balls is an impossible event. An event that doesn‟t occur in any
possible scenario is called an impossible event. The probability of an impossible event is always zero.

8. What is the probability of getting even numbers when a die is rolled?

a) 12 b) 32 c) 14 d) 1
Answer: a
Explanation: Total number of outcomes are {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} = 6
Even numbers in total outcomes are {2, 4, 6} = 3
P(E) = Number off favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes
= 36
= 12
9. What is the probability of getting factors of 3 when a die is rolled?
a) 13 b) 23 c) 16 d) 0
Answer: a
Explanation: Total number of outcomes are {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} = 6
Factors of 3 in total outcomes are {3, 6} = 2
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes
= 26
= 13

10. A bag contains 3 black, 2 brown, 4 blue balls. What is the probability of getting a brown ball?
a) 19 b) 79 c) 29 d) 49
Answer: c
Explanation: Total number of outcomes = 3 + 2 + 4 = 9
Favorable outcomes of getting a brown ball = 2
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes =29

11. A bag contains 3 black, 7 brown, 4 green marbles. What is the probability of getting a green ball?
a) 19 b) 79 c) 27 d) 49
Answer: c
Explanation: Total number of outcomes = 3 + 7 + 4 = 14
Favorable outcomes of getting a green ball = 4
P(E) Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes =414
= 27

12. What is the probability of getting a vowel in the English alphabet?

a) 121 b) 519 c) 526 d) 2126
Answer: c
Explanation: Total number of outcomes = 26
Favorable outcomes of getting a vowel = {a, e, i, o, u} = 5
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes =526

13. What is the probability of getting the letter „E‟ in the English alphabet?
a) 121 b) 519 c) 526 d) 126
Answer: d
Explanation: Total number of outcomes = 26
Favorable outcomes of getting „E‟ = {E} = 1
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes =126

14. What is the probability of getting a black card from the deck of playing cards?
a) 12 b) 552 c) 526 d) 126
Answer: a
Explanation: Total number of outcomes = 52
Favorable outcomes of getting a black card = 26
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes =2652
= 12

15. What is the probability of getting a card of Queen from the deck of playing cards?
a) 12 b) 113 c) 526 d) 152
Answer: b
Explanation: Total number of outcomes = 52
Favorable outcomes of getting a card of Queen = 4
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes Total number of outcomes =452
= 113
16. Probability is __________________________
a) Number of outcomes in favour of event
b) Total number of possible outcomes
c) Ratio of number of outcomes in favour to total number of outcomes
d) Ratio of total number of outcomes to number of outcomes in favour
Answer: c
Explanation: Probability is chance of an outcome to appear. It is the ratio of number of outcomes in favour to total
number of outcomes.

17. Probability of getting head on an unbiased coin is ________

a) 1/4 b) 1 c) 0 d) 1/2
Answer: d
Explanation: An unbiased coin can have head or tail as outcome i.e. there are two possible outcomes.
So, probability of getting head on an unbiased coin is 1/2.

18. Probability of getting tail on an unbiased coin is ________

a) 1/4 b) 1 c) 0 d) 1/2
Answer: d
Explanation: An unbiased coin can have head or tail as outcome i.e. there are two possible outcomes.
So, probability of getting tail on an unbiased coin is 1/2.

19. Probability of getting an even number on dice is ___________

a) 1 b) 1/2 c) 1/3 d) 0
Answer: b
Explanation: There are six possible outcomes on dice i.e. 1 to 6.
Even numbers on dice are 2,4,6 i.e. three outcomes in favour of the event.
So, probability of getting an even number on dice is 3/6 = 1/2.

20. Probability of getting an odd number on dice is ___________

a) 1 b) 1/2 c) 1/3 d) 0
Answer: b
Explanation: There are six possible outcomes on dice i.e. 1 to 6.
Odd numbers on dice are 1,2,3 i.e. three outcomes in favour of the event.
So, probability of getting an odd number on dice is 3/6 = 1/2.

21. Probability of getting prime number on dice is ___________

a) 1/2 b) 1/4 c) 1/3 d) 1
Answer: a
Explanation: There are six possible outcomes on dice i.e. 1 to 6.
Prime numbers on dice are 2,3,5 i.e. three outcomes in favour of the event.
So, probability of getting a prime number on dice is 3/6 = 1/2.

22. Probability of getting composite number on dice is ___________

a) 1/2 b) 1/4 c) 1/3 d) 1
Answer: c
Explanation: There are six possible outcomes on dice i.e. 1 to 6.
Composite numbers on dice are 4,6 i.e. two outcomes in favour of the event.
So, probability of getting a composite number on dice is 2/6 = 1/3.

23. Probability of getting 7 on a dice is ________

a) 1/2 b) 0 c) 1 d) 1/3
Answer: b
Explanation: There are six possible outcomes on dice i.e. 1 to 6.
7 does not appear on a dice so probability of getting 7 on a dice is zero.
24. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what are total number of possible outcomes?
a) 2 b) 4 c) 6 d) 8
Answer: b
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH}

25. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what is the probability of getting exactly one head?
a) 1/2 b) 1/3 c) 1/4 d) 3/4
Answer: a
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH} out of which {HT, TH} favour the event.
So, probability of getting exactly one head = 2/4 = 1/2.

26. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what is the probability of getting exactly one tail?
a) 1/2 b) 1/3 c) 1/4 d) 3/4
Answer: a
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH} out of which {HT, TH} favour the event.
So, probability of getting exactly one tail = 2/4 = 1/2.

27. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what is the probability of getting at least one head?
a) 1/2 b) 1/3 c) 1/4 d) 3/4
Answer: d
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH} out of which {HH, HT, TH} favour the event.
So, probability of getting at least one head = 3/4.

28. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what is the probability of getting at most one head?
a) 1/2 b) 1/3 c) 1/4 d) 3/4
Answer: d
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH} out of which {HT, TH, TT} favour the event.
So, probability of getting at most one head = 3/4.

29. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what is the probability of getting all heads?
a) 1/2 b) 1/3 c) 1/4 d) 3/4
Answer: c
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH} out of which {HH} favour the event.
So, probability of getting all heads = 1/4.

30. If two coins are tossed simultaneously what is the probability of getting no heads?
a) 1/2 b) 1/3 c) 1/4 d) 3/4
Answer: c
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 4.
{HH, TT, HT, TH} out of which {TT} favour the event.
So, probability of getting no heads = 1/4.

31. If n coins are tossed simultaneously what is the total number of outcomes?
a) 2n-2 b) 2n-1 c) 2n d) 2n+1
Answer: c
Explanation: If n coins are tossed simultaneously total number of possible outcomes are 2n.
For 2 coins, it is 4. For 3 coins it is 8 etc.
32. If four dice are rolled simultaneously then what is the total number of possible outcomes?
a) 6 b) 36 c) 216 d) 1296
Answer: d
Explanation: If four dice are rolled simultaneously then total number of possible outcomes is 64=1296.

33. If two dice are simultaneously rolled then what is probability of getting sum 4?
a) 1/6 b) 1/4 c) 1/12 d) 1/9
Answer: c
Explanation: If two dice are simultaneously rolled then total number of possible outcomes is 6*6 =36.
We can get 4 as sum in these cases {(1,3), (2,2), (3,1)}. So, probability of getting sum 4 is 3/36 = 1/12.

34. If two dice are simultaneously rolled then what is probability of getting sum 11?
a) 1/6 b) 1/4 c) 1/9 d) 1/18
Answer: d
Explanation: If two dice are simultaneously rolled then total number of possible outcomes is 6*6 =36.
We can get 11 as sum in these cases {(5,6), (6,5)}. So, probability of getting sum 11 is 2/36 = 1/18.

35. A coin is tossed and a dice is rolled simultaneously what is total number of possible outcomes?
a) 2 b) 6 c) 12 d) 24
Answer: c
Explanation: If a coin is tossed and a dice is rolled simultaneously then total number of possible outcomes will be
2*6 =12.

36. A coin is tossed and if head come then a red dice is rolled and if tail come then a blue dice is rolled then what is
the possible number of outcomes?
a) 6 b) 12 c) 24 d) 72
Answer: b
Explanation: If head come on coin then red dice can have 6 outcomes so total 1*6 = 6 outcomes. And if tail come on
coin then blue dice can have 6 outcomes so total 1*6 = 6 outcomes.
So, total number of possible outcomes = 6 + 6 = 12.

37. If 4 bulbs are there each of which can be defective or non-defective then what is the total number of possible
outcomes?
a) 8 b) 16 c) 4 d) 2
Answer: b
Explanation: Each bulb can have two cases i.e. either defective or non-defective. Then total number of outcomes
will be 24 = 16.

38. If 4 bulbs are there each of which can be defective or non-defective then what is the probability that all the bulbs
are defective?
a) 1/8 b) 1/16 c) 1/4 d) 1/2
Answer: b
Explanation: Each bulb can have two cases i.e. either defective or non-defective. Then total number of outcomes
will be 24 = 16.
So, the probability that all the bulbs are defective is 1/16.

39. If 4 bulbs are there each of which can be defective or non-defective then what is the probability that at least one
bulb is non- defective?
a) 7/8 b) 15/16 c) 3/4 d) 1/2
Answer: b
Explanation: Each bulb can have two cases i.e. either defective or non-defective. Then total number of outcomes
will be 24 = 16.
Probability that all the bulbs are defective is 1/16.
So, the probability that at least one bulb is non-defective is 1-1/16 = 15/16.
40. The probability can be negative.
a) True b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: Since probability is the ratio of number of outcomes in favour to total number of possible outcomes
and number (counting) cannot be negative so, probability cannot be negative.

41. Set which contains all possible outcomes is __________________

a) event b) empty set c) sample space d) probability
Answer: c
Explanation: Set which contains all possible outcomes is called sample space. It can also be called universal set.

42. Any subset of sample space is known as _____________

a) event b) empty set c) sample space d) probability
Answer: a
Explanation: Any subset of sample space is known as event. Event means occurrence of some particular outcomes.

43. Which symbol denote impossible event?

a) S b) Φ c) β d) μ
Answer: b
Explanation: Impossible event has no outcome in favour. So, it is denoted by empty set Φ.

44. What is the probability of impossible event?

a) 0 b) 1 c) 1/2 d) 1/4
Answer: a
Explanation: Impossible event has no outcome in favour. And probability is ratio of number of outcomes in favour
to the total number of possible outcomes. So, probability of impossible event is zero.

45. Which symbol denotes sure event?

a) S b) Φ c) β d) μ
Answer: a
Explanation: Sure event has all outcomes in favour.
So, it is denoted by sample space S.

46. What is the probability of a sure event?

a) 0 b) 1 c) 1/2 d) 1/4
Answer: b
Explanation: Sure event has all outcomes in favour i.e. number of outcomes in favour equal to the total number of
possible outcomes.
And probability is ratio of number of outcomes in favour to the total number of possible outcomes.
So, probability of sure event will be 1.

47. Which of the following cannot be the value of probability?

a) 1 b) -1 c) 0 d) 1/2
Answer: b
Explanation: Since probability is ratio of number of outcomes in favour to the total number of possible outcomes.
So, it cannot be negative.

48. Which of the following cannot be the value of probability?

a) 1 b) 1/4 c) 0 d) 2
Answer: d
Explanation: Since probability is ratio of number of outcomes in favour to the total number of possible outcomes.
And number of outcomes in favour are always less than or equal to total number of possible outcomes. So,
probability is always less than or equal to 1.
49. What is the probability of getting a number greater than 6 on dice?
a) 0 b) 1/2 c) 1/3 d) 1
Answer: a
Explanation: Since number greater than 6 cannot appear on dice so probability of getting a number greater than 6 is
zero.

50. If an event has only one sample point then it is called _________________
a) simple event b) compound event c) impossible event d) sure event
Answer: a
Explanation: If an event has only one sample point then it is called simple event.
e.g. All heads on tossing n coins.

51. If an event has more than one sample point then it is called _____________
a) simple event b) compound event c) impossible event d) sure event
Answer: b
Explanation: If an event has more than one sample point then it is called compound event.
e.g. at least one head appears on tossing n coins.

52. If two coins are tossed simultaneously then “Exactly one head appears” is simple event or not.
a) True b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: If two coins are tossed simultaneously then S = {HH, HT, TH, TT}.
“Exactly one head appears” includes HT, TH. It has more than one sample point so it is compound event not simple
event.

53. For every event there exist some complementary event.

a) True b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: Yes, for every event there exist some complementary event. If the event is A then complementary
event is not A.

54. What is a complementary event for “At least one head appears” if two coins are tossed simultaneously?
a) Exactly one head appears b) At least one tail appears
c) At most one tail appears d) None head appears
Answer: d
Explanation: We know complementary of at least one is none. So, complementary event for “At least one head
appears” is none head appears.

55. What is the representation of complementary event of event A?

a) S-A b) A-S c) S d) S+A
Answer: a
Explanation: If the event is A then complementary event is not A.
Not A means S-A. So, complementary event of event A is represented by A‟ = S-A.

56. Event _____________ contains elements which are either in A or in B or in both.

a) A or B b) A and B c) A but not B d) B but not A
Answer: a
Explanation: Event “A or B” contains elements which are either in A or in B or in both. It is also called union of the
two sets.

57. Event “A or B” is represented by _____________

a) A∪B b) A∩B c) A∩B‟ d) A‟∩B
Answer: a
Explanation: Event “A or B” contains elements which are either in A or in B or in both. It is also called union of the
two sets and is represented by A∪B.
58. Event “A and B” is represented by _____________
a) A∪B b) A∩B c) A∩B‟ d) A‟∩B

Answer: b
Explanation: Event “A and B” contains elements which are both in A and B. It is also called intersection of two sets
and is represented by A∩B.

59. Event _____________ contains elements which are present in both A as well as B.
a) A or B b) A and B c) A but not B d) B but not A View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Event “A and B” contains elements which are in A as well as B. It is also called intersection of the two
sets.

60. Event _____________ contains elements which are present in A and absent in B.
a) A or B b) A and B c) A but not B d) B but not A
Answer: c
Explanation: Event “A but not B” contains elements which are present in A but not in B.
It is represented by A-B or A∩B‟.

61. Event _____________ contains elements which are present in B and absent in A.
a) A or B
b) A and B
c) A but not B
d) B but not A
Answer: d
Explanation: Event “B but not A” contains elements which are present in B but not in A.
It is represented by B-A or B∩A‟.

62. Event “A but not B” is represented by _____________

a) A∪B b) A∩B c) A∩B‟
d) A‟∩B
Answer: c
Explanation: Event “A but not B” contains elements which are present in A but not in B.
It is represented by A-B or A∩B‟.

63. Event “B but not A” is represented by _____________

a) A∪B b) A∩B c) A∩B‟ d) A‟∩B
Answer: d
Explanation: Event “B but not A” contains elements which are present in B but not in A.
It is represented by B-A or B∩A‟.

64. If A∩B=ϕ then set is said to be mutually exhaustive.

a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Explanation: If A∩B=ϕ then set is said to be mutually exclusive not mutually exhaustive. If both sets A and B have
no element in common then it is a pair of mutually exclusive sets.

65. If A∪B=S then set is said to be mutually exhaustive.

a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Explanation: If A∪B=S then set is said to be mutually exhaustive. If both sets A and B have together form sample
space then it is a pair of mutually exhaustive sets.
66. Two dice are thrown simultaneously. Let A be the event of getting sum less than 4 and B be the event of getting
sum not more than 4. Find set “A or B”.
a) {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
b) {}
c) {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
d) {(1,3), (2,2), (3,1)}
Answer: c
Explanation: A = {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
B= {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
“A or B” contains elements of either A or B or both.
So, A or B = {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}.

67. Two dice are thrown simultaneously. Let A be the event of getting sum less than 4 and B be the event of getting
sum not more than 4. Find set “A and B”.
a) {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
b) {}
c) {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
d) {(1,3), (2,2), (3,1)}
Answer: a
Explanation: A = {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
B= {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
“A and B” contains elements present in both A and B.
So, A and B = {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}.

68. Two dice are thrown simultaneously. Let A be the event of getting sum less than 4 and B be the event of getting
sum not more than 4. Find set “A and not B”.
a) {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
b) {}
c) {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
d) {(1,3), (2,2), (3,1)}

Answer: b
Explanation: A = {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
B= {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
“A and not B” contains elements which are in A but not in B.
So, A and not B = {}.

69. Two dice are thrown simultaneously. Let A be the event of getting sum less than 4 and B be the event of getting
sum not more than 4. Find set “B and not A”.
a) {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
b) {}
c) {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
d) {(1,3), (2,2), (3,1)}
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: A = {(1,1), (1,2), (2,1)}
B= {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1)}
“B and not A” contains elements which are in B but not in A.
So, B and not A = {(1,3), (2,2), (3,1)}.