Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.1) [Rev.L3.

0]
Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability

11.1 Set Language

A. Set Notation
⚫ A set is a collection of objects (called its elements).

⚫ Presentation of sets:
1. The listing method
e.g. A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
B = {n, i, c, e}
C = {Head, Tail}

2. The property-description method

e.g. A = {x: x is a positive odd number smaller than 10}
B = {x: x is a letter in the word "nice"}
C = {x: x is an outcome of tossing a coin}

Note: 1. The order of the elements is not significant.

{a, b, c} = { b, c, a}
2. Repeated elements are counted as a single element.
{1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3} = {1, 2, 3}
3. For a set without any element, we denote it by the symbol . This set is called the empty set.
4. A set contains all the elements under consideration in a certain context is called the
universal set, which is denoted by U.
e.g. In throwing a dice, the universal set is U = {1,2,3,4,5,6}.
e.g. In tossing two coins, the universal set is U ={H,T}.

⚫ Common symbols in the relationship between sets and elements:

Symbol Usage Examples A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
If p is an element of set A, we write p A.
If q is not an element of A, we write q A.
If A contains all the elements of B, them B is a subset of A If B = {1, 9}, then
and we write B A.
If B is not a subset of A, we write B A. If B = {1, 2, 3}, then

⚫ Venn Diagram
Venn diagrams are pictorial representation of sets.
In Venn diagrams, sets are usually represented using circles or ovals. A a b
c d e

B. Union, Intersection and Complement of Sets

⚫ The union of A and B, denoted by A B, is the set

that contains all the elements in both A and B.

e.g.1 If A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10} and B = {5, 10, 15, 20}, find A B.

Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.2) [Rev.L3.0]
⚫ The intersection of A and B, denoted by A B, is the set
that contains all the common elements in A and B

e.g.2 If A = {a, d, e, k, g} and B = {x, y, d, o}, find A B.

Solution:

Note: If A B = , then A and B are disjoint. A B

e.g.3 If A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10} and B = {1, 3, 5, 7},

find A B.
Solution:

⚫ The (relative) complement of B in A, denoted by A\B, A B

is the set that contains the elements in A which are not in B.
A\B
e.g.4 If A = {3, 4, 5} and B = {1, 2, 3, 4}, find A\B and B\A.
Solution:

U
⚫ If every element of A are elements of U, then U\A is called the
absolute complement of A and is denoted by A .

e.g.5 If A = {1, 2, 3} and U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, find A .

Solution:

e.g.6 Let E = {a, b, c, d} and F = {a, b, c, d, e, f}. Which of the following is/are incorrect?
A. E F = {a, b, c, d, e, f}
B. E F = {a, b, c, d}
C. E\F = {e, f}
D. F\E = {e, f}
Answer:

e.g.7 Let E = {x : x is an integer and 0 < x 10}, F = {x : x is a square of an integer and 0 < x < 10}.
Which of the following is/are correct?
A. F = {1, 4, 9}
B. E\F = {2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8}
C. F\E = E=
Answer:
F=

11.2 Using Set Language in Probability

A. Sample Spaces and Events

⚫ The collection of all possible outcomes is called the sample space.
⚫ An event is a subset of the sample space.
e.g. In throwing a dice, sample space S = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 }.
If E is the event of getting an even number, E = ___________________
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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.3) [Rev.L3.0]
B. Solving Probability Problems using Set Concept

Number of outcomes favourable to the event E n(E) Note: n(A) represents the
P(E) = =
Total number of possible outcomes n(S) no. of elements in the set A

e.g.8 In a bag, there are 5 red marbles, 3 green marble and 2 black marbles. A ball is drawn from the
bag at random. Find the probability that a red marble is drawn.
Solution:

⚫ Note: 1. P(a certain event) =

2. P(an impossible event) =

3. P(E)

e.g.9 Consider the experiment:

“Each student tosses a coin 10 times and records the number of heads obtained.”

Then,

Total number of tosses =

Total number of heads obtained =

Hence, experimental probability of getting a head =

Further question: How should we change the experiment so that this result is closer to the
1
theoretical probability 2 ?
Answer: .

⚫ Exercises
1. A bag contains 7 white balls, 6 blue balls and 8 yellow balls. If a ball is drawn at random, what is the
probability that it is blue?
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.4) [Rev.L3.0]
2. A fair dice is thrown once.
(a) Find the event of getting a multiple of 2 and hence the probability.
(b) Find the event of getting a number less than 3 and hence the probability.
Solution:

3. A card is selected at random from a standard pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability of getting
(a) a black card, (b) a “King”, (c) a “heart”.
Solution:

4. Kelvin throws a dice 60 times and the results are recorded below.
Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Frequency 12 10 11 7 9 11
What is the experimental probability of each of the following events?
(a) Getting a “1” or a “3”.
(b) Getting a number divisible by 3.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.5) [Rev.L3.0]
5. A box contains 4 pairs of red socks and some pairs of white socks. Betty chooses a sock at random and it
1
is known that the probability of getting a white sock is .
3
(a) Find the number of pairs of white socks on the box.
(b) Betty puts 5 more pairs of black socks together with the chosen one into the box. If she chooses a
sock at random, find the probability that she gets a black sock.
Solution:

11.3 Addition Law of Probability

A. Mutually Exclusive Events and Non-mutually Exclusive Events.

⚫ Two events are mutually exclusive if they cannot occur at the same time.

E F
Note that E F = . P(E F) =

e.g. In drawing a card from a pack of 52 playing cards,

E is the event of drawing a red card,
F is the event of drawing a black card,
G is the event of drawing the number 2.
Which of these are mutually exclusive events?
Answer:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.6) [Rev.L3.0]
B. Addition Law of Probability
e.g.1 A card is chosen randomly from a pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability of
(a) getting a “spade card,
(b) getting a “5”,
(c) getting a “spade card” or a “5”.
Solution:

⚫ Addition Law of Probability

A B
For any two events A and B,
P(A B) =

A B
For two mutually exclusive events A and B,
P(A B) =

In general, if A1, A2, A3, … , An are mutually exclusive events, we have

P(A1 A2 … An) =

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.7) [Rev.L3.0]
e.g.2 The balls marked 1 to 20 inclusively are placed inside a black bag. One ball is selected at one time.
Find the probability that
(a) the number is a multiple of “3”,
(b) the number is a multiple of “4”,
(c) the number is a multiple of “3” and a multiple of “4”,
(d) the number is a multiple of “3” or “4”.
Solution:

e.g.3. A letter is chosen from the word “MATHEMATICS”.

(a) What is the probability of choosing the letter “O”?
(b) What is the probability of choosing the letter “A” or “T”?
Solution:

e.g.4 A card is drawn at random from an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability that it is
either an “Ace” or a “King”.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.8) [Rev.L3.0]
e.g.5 In an examination, the probabilities for John of getting different grades are stated below.
Grade A B C D E F
Probability 0.12 0.3 x 0.18 0.10 0.08
(a) Find the value of x.
(b) Find the probability that John will get Grade C or above.
(c) Find the probability that he will get Grade D or below.
Solution:

C. Complementary Events

The event that A does not occur is called the complementary event of A, which is denoted by A .
Hence, we have

P(A A) =
P(A ) =

e.g. In throwing a dice, P(getting an even number or an odd number) = 1

e.g.6 Mr. Lau is going to have a meeting. The probabilities that he will arrive on time and earlier are 0.38
and 0.48 respectively. Find the probability that
(a) he will not be late for the meeting,
(b) he will be late for the meeting.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.9) [Rev.L3.0]
e.g.7 A number is chosen at random from all two-digits numbers. Find the probability that the number is
(a) less than 40,
(b) a multiple of 5,
(c) not a multiple of 5.
Solution:

11.4 Multiplication Law of Probability for Independent Events

Two events A and B are said to be independent events if the occurrence of B is not affected by the
occurrence or non-occurrence of A and vice-versa.

e.g. In tossing a coin and throwing a dice, find the probability that a head and an even number is obtained.
(We know that the event of getting a head is independent of the event of getting an even number)
Solution:

Hence, we have the multiplication Law of probability for two independent events A and B,

If A and B are independent events, then P(A B) =

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.10) [Rev.L3.0]
In general, if A1, A2, A3,…, An are independent events, we have

P(A1 A2 … An) =

e.g.1 There are 2 rooms in a house. Room A has 1 boy and 1 girl, while room B has 2 boys and 1 girl. If
a child is selected at random from each room, what is the probability of getting 2 boys?
Solution:

e.g.2 Mr. Chan has to pass through 3 sets of traffic lights on the way to his office. Suppose the lights are
either red or green and they are independently of each another. Given P(a light is red) is 0.4. Find
the probability that
(a) only the first light will be red,
(b) all of them will be green.
Solution:

e.g.3 The probabilities that B and C can solve a problem are 0.8 and 0.65 respectively. Find the
probability that
(a) B can solve the problem but C cannot,
(b) only one of them can solve the problem,
(c) the problem can be solved.
Solution:

Self-learning

(a) What does P(B|A) mean?

(b) Write down the formula on P(B|A).

________________________________

________________________________________

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WS on Chapter 10 Permutation and Combination 5C3 Name:__________________(___)
Full Mark: 40 marks

Section A (2 marks@)
1. How many ways can one select a face card or a spade from a deck of 52 playing cards?
A. 21
B. 22
C. 25
D. 26

2. There are 60 applicants applying for 2 different posts in a company.

Find the number of ways that the posts be filled?
A. 60 × 2
B. 60!
C. 3540
D. 1770

3. Two girls and four boys are grouped into 2 groups of 3.If the girls must be assigned to different groups,
How many groupings are there?
A. 6
B. 12
C. 15
D. 20

4. There are 6 boys and 7 girls in a dance club. 5 members are selected from the club to form a team. If
there must be at least a boy and a girl in the team, how many different selections are there?
A. 165
B. 315
C. 1260
D. 6930

5. Among 11 members of a committee, there are 2 couples, 4 people are selected to form a sub-
committee. Mo more than one person from each couple can join the sub-committee. Find the number
of possible ways to form a sub-committee.
A. 847
B. 119
C. 224
D. 259

Question 1 2 3 4 5
Answer
Section B (30 marks)
9. Five families A,B,C,D,E are allocated to five different apartments which are in a row.
Find the number of possible arrangements if
(a) There are no restrictions. (2 marks)
(b) Families A and B must be arranged to apartments next to each other. (2 marks)
(c) Families A and B must not be arranged to apartments next to each other. (2 marks)

10. Four couples line up at a bus stop. Find the number of possible arrangements if
(a) there are no restrictions. (2 marks)
(b) all the ladies line up in front, followed by the gentlemen. (2 marks)
(c) all couples are not separated. (2 marks)

11. 5 cards are selected from a deck of 52 playing cards.

How many different combinations are there if there are
(a) 3 Queens and 2 Jacks? (2 marks)
(b) all cards of the same suit? (2 marks)
12. Consider the numerals 0,1,3,5,6,7 and 9.
(a) How many 7-digit numbers can be formed without repetition? (2 marks)
(b) How many 4-digit numbers can be formed without repetition? (2 marks)
(c) Among the numbers in (b), how many of them are NOT divisible by 5? (2 marks)

13. Mr and Mrs Fung invite 10 friends to their house warming party.
(a) (i) When their friends arrive, Mr and Mrs Fung shake hands with each of them.
How many hand-shakings are there? (2 marks)
(a) (ii) If everyone in the house shakes hand with each other,
How many hand-shakings are there? (2 marks)
(b) By the end of the party, they take a photo.
They are arranged in 2 rows of 6, find the number of possible arrangements if
(i) Mr and Mrs Fung stand in different rows. (2 marks)
(ii) Mr and Mrs Fund stand next to each other. (2 marks)
Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.11) [Rev.L3.0]
11.5 Conditional Probability and Multiplication Law of Probability for Dependent Events

A. Concept of Conditional Probability

For any two events A and B, the probability of event B given that event A has occurred is denoted by P(B A).

e.g.1 There are 3 white balls and 2 red balls in a box. Two balls are drawn from the box one by one
without replacement.
(a) Given that the first ball drawn is red, find the probability that the second ball drawn is white.
(b) Given that the first ball drawn is white, find the probability that the second ball drawn is white.
Solution:
After a red ball has been drawn
3W 2R

After a white ball has been drawn

3W 2R

B. Multiplication Law of Probability for Dependent Events

Two events A and B are said to be dependent events if the occurrence of B is affected by the occurrence
or non-occurrence of A and vice-versa.

e.g. Suppose a box contains 2 white balls and 4 black balls. 2 balls are drawn from the box without
replacement. Find the probability that they are both black?
(The probability of getting a black ball in the 2nd draw is affected by the outcome of the 1st draw.)
Solution:

Hence, we have the multiplication Law of probability for two dependent events A and B,

P(A B) =

e.g.1 There are 3 white balls and 2 red balls in a box. Two balls are drawn from the box one by one
without replacement. Find the probability that
(a) the first ball drawn is red and the second ball drawn is white
(b) the two balls are of different colours
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.12) [Rev.L3.0]

e.g.2 If 2 cards are selected from an ordinary pack of 52 cards, what is the probability of getting
(a) two red cards,
(b) two Aces,
(c) both cards of the same suits. (Hint: 4 suits: diamond, spade, club and heart)
Solution:

e.g.3 In a game of lucky draw of a flat, there are 5 keys where only one of them can open the door of the flat.
The player can choose the keys twice one by one without replacement.
(a) Find the probability that he can open the door of the flat
(i) in his first attempt,
(ii) in his second attempt.
(b) Find his probability of winning the flat.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.13) [Rev.L3.0]
1 3
e.g.4 The probabilities of Amy going to work by bus and by minibus are 4 and 4 respectively. If she
1
takes a bus, the probability of being late for work is . If she takes a mini-bus, the probability of
8
1
being late for work is . Find the probability that she will be late for work on a particular day.
2
Solution:
Hint: A tree diagram may be quite helpful in this question.

7
e.g.5 The probability that Jack will study for the test is . If he studies for tomorrow's test, the probability
8
4
that he will pass the test is . If he does not study for the test , the probability that he will pass the
5
1
test is 10. Find the probability that he will fail the test.
Solution:

Note: If A and B are independent events, then

(i) P(A B) =
(ii) P(B A) =
(iii)P(A B) =

Exercises
1. A room has 4 boys and 5 girls. If 2 children are chosen at random from the room, find the probability that
(a) both of them are boys,
(b) they are of different genders.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.14) [Rev.L3.0]
2. There are 2 bags A and B. Bag A contains 3 red balls and 2 white balls, while Bag B contains 1 red ball, 1
white ball and 2 black balls. A ball is first chosen randomly from bag A and put into bag B. Then a ball
is chosen randomly from bag B. Find the probability that
(a) the last ball drawn is red,
(b) the last ball drawn is black.
Solution:

3. There are 3 conference rooms in a community centre. In room A, there is a social worker and two
students. In room B, there is a student and a teacher. In room C, there is a social worker.
(a) Simon enters one of the rooms at random and talks to a person at random. What is the probability
that he talks to
(i) a teacher?
(ii) a student?
(iii) a social worker?
(b) Later, Janet also enters one of the rooms at random and talks to a person at random. What is the
probability that
(i) both Simon and Janet talk to a teacher?
(ii) both Simon and Janet talk to a social worker in the same room?
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.15) [Rev.L3.0]
More on Conditional Probabilities
P (B given that A has happened)

B
P(A) A ∵ P(A B) = P(A) P(B | A)
B' P(B | A) =
B
P(A') A'

B'

e.g.1 According to a census in a secondary school, the preference of the taste of orange juice is categorized
as following:
Male Female Total
Sunfill 150 300
Mr. Juicy 400 250
Total
Fill in the blank of the table. Find the probability that
(a) a male who prefers Sunfill is chosen,
(b) a male is chosen given that this person prefers Sunfill.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.16) [Rev.L3.0]
e.g.2 Two fair dice are thrown. What is the probability that
(a) the two numbers shown have a sum of 7,
(b) "3" and "4" are shown given that the sum of the two numbers is 7.
Solution:

e.g.3 (Refer to P.13 e.g. 4)

Suppose Amy is late for work on a particular day. Find the probability that she went to work by bus.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.17) [Rev.L3.0]
e.g.4 Consider a family with 2 children. What is the probability that both children are boys given that
(a) the older child is a boy?
(b) at least one of the child is a boy?
Solution:

Exercise
1. Two different integers are selected at random from the integers 1 through 9 without replacement.
(a) If it is known that the sum is odd, what is the probability that 2 is one of the integers selected?
(b) If it is known that 2 is one of the integers selected, what is the probability that the sum is odd?
Solution:

2. 5% of the LCD monitor screens from a production line have defective in both the horizontal and vertical
controls. However, 8% of them have defective horizontal control. If a monitor screen is found to
have a defective horizontal control, what is the probability that the vertical control is also defective?
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.18) [Rev.L3.0]
3. A student answers a paper of multiple-choice questions. Each multiple-choice question has 4 options.
1
The probability that he knows the answer is . Otherwise, he will choose the option by guessing. If he
2
has chosen the correct answer, what is the probability that he actually knows the answer?
Solution:

4. There are 12 cards in a bag, 5 cards are red and marked with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The
other 7 cards are black and marked with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively. A card is drawn at random
from the bag.
(a) Given that the card drawn is red. Find the probability that it is marked with an odd number.
(b) Given that the number marked on the card drawn is odd. Find the probability that the card is
red.
Solution:

17 2
5. In an A-level class, it is known that 30 of the students take Physics and 5 of the students take both
physics and chemistry.
(a) Given that a student in the class takes physics. Find the probability that he also takes chemistry.
(b) Given that a student in a class take physics. Find the probability that he does not take chemistry.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.19) [Rev.L3.0]
11.6 Using Permutation and Combination to Solve Probability Problems

e.g.1 Two letters are chosen at random from the 26 alphabet letters. Find the probability of getting
(a) “A” and “T”, (b) two vowels.
Solution:

e.g.2 In a room, there are 6 boys and 4 girls. If 2 children are selected at random, find the probability of
selecting 2 boys.
Solution:

e.g.3 Three letters are chosen from the word “ATOMIC” and arranged in the order from left to right. Find
the probability of getting the word “TOM”.
Solution:

e.g.4 Eight boys are running in a 100m race. Find the probability that the first 3 positions are in the order
of Jason, Bobby and Eric respectively.
Solution:

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Class:____ Name:____________________________( ) Book 5 Chapter 11 More about Probability (P.20) [Rev.L3.0]
e.g.5 There are 4 cartons of orange juice and 6 cartons of lemon juice in a refrigerator. If 3 cartons of juice
are selected at random, find the probability of getting the same kind of juice.
Solution:

e.g.6 There is a shipment of 20 television sets, of which 3 are defective. A businessman purchases 4 of
these sets at random. Find the probability that he gets exactly
(a) 3 defective sets,
(b) 2 defective sets.
Solution:

e.g.7 In a summer class, there are 8 boys and 4 girls. At the end of the course, the tutor chooses 3 students
at random and each of them is given a present. Find the probability of that
(a) all the presents are given to boys,
(b) two presents are given to boys and one is given to a girl.
Solution:

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