Probability: Experiments and Outcomes
Probability measures how likely an event is to occur. It is expressed as a ratio of favorable outcomes
to total outcomes, and its value ranges between 0 and 1.
### Key Concepts:
- An experiment is any action or process that generates outcomes (e.g., flipping a coin, rolling a die).
- An outcome is a possible result of an experiment (e.g., heads or tails for a coin flip).
- The probability of an event is calculated as:
Probability = (Number of favorable outcomes) / (Total number of outcomes)
- Events can be:
- Certain (probability = 1)
- Impossible (probability = 0)
- Likely or Unlikely (probability between 0 and 1)
### Solved Examples:
1. What is the probability of rolling a 4 on a six-sided die?
Total outcomes = 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Favorable outcomes = 1 (rolling a 4)
Probability = 1/6
2. What is the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads?
Total outcomes = 2 (heads, tails)
Favorable outcomes = 1 (heads)
Probability = 1/2
3. A bag contains 5 red balls, 3 blue balls, and 2 green balls. What is the probability of drawing a
blue ball?
Total outcomes = 5 + 3 + 2 = 10
Favorable outcomes = 3 (blue balls)
Probability = 3/10
4. What is the probability of picking an Ace from a standard deck of 52 cards?
Total outcomes = 52 cards
Favorable outcomes = 4 (Aces)
Probability = 4/52 = 1/13
5. If two dice are rolled, what is the probability of getting a sum of 7?
Total outcomes = 36 (6 sides on die 1 x 6 sides on die 2)
Favorable outcomes = 6 (1+6, 2+5, 3+4, 4+3, 5+2, 6+1)
Probability = 6/36 = 1/6
### Real-World Applications:
- Probability is used in weather forecasting to predict the likelihood of rain or storms.
- It helps in risk assessment and decision-making in fields like insurance and finance.
- Probability is applied in games, lotteries, and sports to calculate odds and strategies.
### Practice Problems:
1. A bag contains 4 red, 6 blue, and 10 yellow marbles. What is the probability of drawing a yellow
marble?
2. A die is rolled. What is the probability of getting an odd number?
Solution: Total outcomes = 6, Favorable outcomes = 3 (1, 3, 5). Probability = 3/6 = 1/2.
3. A card is drawn from a standard deck. What is the probability of drawing a King or a Queen?
Solution: Total outcomes = 52, Favorable outcomes = 8 (4 Kings + 4 Queens). Probability = 8/52 =
2/13.
4. A spinner has 8 sections numbered 1 to 8. What is the probability of landing on a number greater
than 5?
Solution: Total outcomes = 8, Favorable outcomes = 3 (6, 7, 8). Probability = 3/8.
5. A coin is flipped twice. What is the probability of getting at least one head?
Solution: Total outcomes = 4 (HH, HT, TH, TT), Favorable outcomes = 3 (HH, HT, TH). Probability
= 3/4.
