MATHEMATICS

Probability of an Event

Computes the probability of equally likely

outcomes.

Specific Objectives

1. Computes the probability of an event using theoretical probabilities.

2. Solves problems that involves probability of an event.

Materials

● Pen
● Bond paper or intermediate paper

Lesson
In this section, we will investigate methods of making predictions like
probability. But before that, let’s have the terms that are needed for this chapter.
Suppose we roll a six sided number cube. Rolling a six sided number cube
is an example of an experiment. Or an activity with an observable result. The
numbers on the cube are possible results, or outcomes, of this experiment. The
set of all possible outcomes of an experiment is called the sample space of the

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experiment. The sample space for this experiment is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. An event is any
subset of a sample space.
The likelihood of an event is known as probability. The probability of an
event p is a number that always satisfies 0 ≤ p ≤ 1, where 0 indicates an impossible
event and 1 indicates a certain event. A probability model is a mathematical
description of an experiment listing all possible outcomes and their associated
probabilities. For instance, if there is a 1% chance of winning a raffle and a 99%
chance of losing the raffle, a probability model would look much like Table 1.

The sum of the probabilities listed in a probability model must equal 1, or

100%.

Computing the Probabilities of Equally Likely Outcomes

Let S be a sample space for an experiment. When investigating probability,
an event is any subset of S. When the outcomes of an experiment are all equally
likely, we can find the probability of an event by dividing the number of outcomes
in the event by the total number of outcomes in S. Suppose a number cube is
rolled, and we are interested in finding the probability of the event “rolling a
number less than or equal to 4.” There are 4 possible outcomes in the event and
4 2
6 possible outcomes in S, so the probability of the event is 6 = 3.

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Worked Example 1
A six-sided number cube is rolled. Find the probability of rolling an odd
number.

Solution:
The event “rolling an odd number” contains three outcomes. There are 6
equally likely outcomes in the sample space. Divide to find the probability of the
event.
𝟑 𝟏
𝑷(𝑬) = =
𝟔 𝟐

Worked Example 2

A ticket is randomly selected from a basket containing 3 green, 4 yellow

and 5 blue tickets. Determine the probability of getting:
a. A green ticket
b. A green or yellow ticket
c. An orange ticket
d. A green, yellow or blue ticket.
Solution:
The sample space is {G, G, G, Y, Y, Y, Y, B, B, B, B, B}
which has 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 outcomes.
3 1
a. 𝑃(𝐺) = 12
=4
3+4 7
b. 𝑃(𝑎 𝐺 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑌) = 12
= 12
0
c. 𝑃(𝑂𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒) = =0
12
3+4+5
d. 𝑃(𝐺, 𝑌, 𝑜𝑟 𝐵) = =1
12

Worked Example 3

An ordinary 6-sided die is rolled once. Determine the chance of:

a. Getting a 6
b. Not getting a 6

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 c. Getting 1 or 2
d. Not getting 1 or 2
Solution:
The sample space of possible outcomes is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
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a. 𝑃(6) = 6
5
b. 𝑃(𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎 6) = 𝑃(1,2,3,4, 𝑜𝑟 5) =
6
2 1
c. 𝑃(1 𝑜𝑟 2) = 6 = 3
4 2
d. 𝑃(𝑛𝑜𝑡 1 𝑜𝑟 2) = 𝑃(3,4,5, 𝑜𝑟 6) = 6 = 3

In Example 5 notice that

P(6) + P(not getting a 6) = 1
and that P(1 or 2) + P(not getting a 1 or 2) = 1.

This is no surprise as getting a 6 and not getting a 6 are complementary

events where one of them must occur.

EXERCISES

Directions: Write your answers on the space provided. All answers must be
handwritten. Make sure to submit your HSMGW on time.

BASIC

A. Answer the following problems.

1. A marble is randomly selected from a box containing 5 green, 3 red and 7
blue marbles. Determine the probability that the marble is:
a. Red
b. Green

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 c. Blue
d. Not red
e. Nether green nor blue
f. Green or red
2. A carton of a dozen eggs contains eight brown eggs. The rest are white.
What is the probability that the egg selected at random is
a. Brown
b. White
3. A dart board has 36 sectors labelled 1 to 36. Determine the probability that
a dart thrown at the center of the board hits:
a. A multiple of 4
b. A number between 6 and 9 inclusive
c. A number greater than 20
d. A multiple of 13
e. 9
f. An odd number that is a multiple of 3
g. A multiple of 4 and 6
h. A multiple of 4 or 6

INTERMEDIATE
A. Solve the following problems.
1. What is the probability that a randomly chosen person has his or her
next birthday:
a. On a Tuesday
b. On a weekend
c. In July
d. In January or February
2. List the six different orders in which Antti, Kai and Neda may sit in a row.
If the three of them sit randomly in a row, determine the probability
that:
a. Anniti sits in the middle
b. Anniti sits at the left end
c. Anniti sits at the right end

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 d. Kai and Neda are seated together
3. List the 8 possible 3-child families according to the gender of the
children. For example, GGB means “the first is a girl, the second is a girl,
the third is a boy”. Assuming that each of these is equally likely to occur,
determine the probability that a randomly selected 3-child family
consists of:
a. All boys
b. All girls
c. Boy then girl then girl
d. Two girls and a boy
e. A girl for the eldest
f. At least one boy

ADVANCED
A. Answer the following problems.
1. List, in systematic order, the 24 different orders in which four people A,
B, C and D may sit in a row. Determine the probability that when the
four people sit at random in a row:
a. Person A sits on one end
b. Person B sits on one of the two middle seats
c. Persons A and B are together
d. Persons A, B, and C are seated together, not necessarily in that order.
2. A pair of dice is rolled.
a. Two 3’s
b. A 5 and a 6
c. A 5 or a 6
d. At least one 6
e. Exactly one 6
f. No sixes
g. A sum of 7
h. A sum of greater than 8
i. A sum of 7 or 11
j. A sum of no more than 8

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References

Alferez, M. S., & Duro, M. A. (2007). 4.9: Factoring Trinomials. In MSA Intermediate
Algebra (pp. 100-103). Rizal, Philippines: MSA Publishing House.

Wallace, T. (2010). Chapter 6: Factoring. In Beginning and Intermediate Algebra

(pp. 212-233). Creative Commons Attribution.

Urban, Paul, Robert Haese, Sandra Haese, Michael Haese, and Mark Humphries.
2008. Mathematics For the International Student. 2nd Ed. Australia: Haese &
Harris Publications.