GCSE Maths – Probability

Enumeration, Venn Diagrams, Tree Diagrams

and Tables
Notes

WORKSHEET

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Enumeration
An enumeration is an ordered and complete list of items in a population. In GCSE maths,
this means knowing how to list combinations and sets of events, as well as using theoretical
probability to find the likelihood of specified events.

Systematic Listing
Possible combinations can be found by listing. If you have the numbers 1, 2 and 3 and want
to find out how many 3-digit numbers can be made, start by listing all the three-digit numbers
beginning with 1, then 2, then 3: 123, 132, 213, 231, 312, 321. By systematically working
through the options, we can be sure that no combinations have been missed.

Product Rule (Higher Only)

When finding the number of possible combinations or combined outcomes, the product
rule can be applied. The product rule is:

If there are 𝑥𝑥 outcomes of Event 1 and 𝑦𝑦 outcomes of Event 2, then there 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 combined
outcomes.

In a mathematical problem, this means multiplying all the possibilities of multiple events
together.

For example, if you have 10 shirts and 8 pairs of trousers, then you could wear 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖 (10 × 8)
different outfits. This applies for any number of events, as long as none of them are
limited – if you have already chosen a shirt, then your possible choices of shirt reduce to 1.
There are now only 𝟖𝟖 (1 × 8) possible outfits you could wear.

Similarly, if you have 10 shirts, 8 pairs of trousers and 4 ties, then you could wear 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐
(10 × 8 × 4) different outfits.

Systematic listing can be represented in different ways, including lists, tables and diagrams.

Probability Notation
These are some key terms and ideas in probability – many of these are covered in more
detail in the other Probability revision notes.

• Theoretical probability is the mathematical likelihood of something happening. It is

always given a value between 0 and 1.
• An event is the outcome of an action or experiment.
• The sample space is all possible outcomes.
• The target outcome is the outcome that we want to find the probability of occurring.
• The possible outcomes are all the outcomes in the sample space.
• A population is the overall group of people, values or items that can be grouped by
a common characteristic.
• A sample is a smaller sub-group of a population.

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Types of Events
Events are independent if the probability of one outcome occurring does not affect the
probability of another outcome occurring.

Events are dependent if the probability of one outcome occurring does affect the probability
of another outcome occurring.

Events are mutually exclusive if they cannot both occur.

Probability Notation
As well as key terms, we can use notation to describe events and their theoretical
probability.

• 𝑃𝑃(𝐴𝐴) means the probability of outcome A.

• 𝑃𝑃(𝐴𝐴 ∪ 𝐵𝐵) means the probability of outcome A or outcome B.
• 𝑃𝑃(𝐴𝐴 ∩ 𝐵𝐵) means the probability of outcome A and outcome B.
• 𝑃𝑃(𝐵𝐵′) means the probability of not outcome B.

Set Notation
Set notation is used in mathematics to show a list of outcomes.

Set notation uses curly brackets {} known as braces. Everything listed inside the braces is an
element of the set.

• ℤ is the set of integer numbers.

• ℕ is the set of natural number. This is the set of positive integers {1, 2, 3, 4, …}.

• 𝜉𝜉 is the universal set. The universal set is the whole set we are considering in a
question or problem. It is used frequently in Venn diagrams.

• A ⊂ B means that A is a subset of B. This means every element in set A must also
be an element in set B.

Set notation can be used to describe a situation. For example,

𝑍𝑍 = {𝑥𝑥 ∶ 𝑥𝑥 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 20}

means 𝑍𝑍 is the set of numbers 𝑥𝑥 such that 𝑥𝑥 is a factor of 20, i.e. 𝑍𝑍 is the set of factors of
20. It could also be written as 𝑍𝑍 = {1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20}.

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Tables and Grids
Types of tables and grids can be used to show the outcomes of combined events. This is
when two events have outcomes that are considered together, instead of separately.

Tree Diagrams
Frequency trees are a visual method of recording the possible outcomes of an event with
multiple steps. You can use the tree to find the probability of any outcome occurring.

Venn Diagrams
A Venn diagram is a visual method of showing the relationship between sets. It uses circles
to group elements of sets together, which often overlap to show shared sub-groups.

A Venn diagram begins with the universal set, shown by a rectangular box and labelled with
the symbol 𝜉𝜉. This means that the box contains every element of the given set. Within the
universal set there are subsets, shown inside circles.

The subset A includes all

𝝃𝝃 the factors of 20. It could
A 3 6 7 8 also be written
This universal set symbol 1
denotes all numbers 20 and 9 11 12 13 𝐴𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20}
2 4 5
below. This could also be where 𝐴𝐴 ⊂ ξ.
written {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 20 14 15 16
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
17 18 19
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20}.

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Intersect (∩)
If a set has multiple sub-sets, their circles can overlap in a Venn diagram. This is the
intersect, and contains elements that are in set A and set B – which is written as A ∩ B. In
the diagram below, A ∩ B is shaded.

• 𝜉𝜉 is the set of numbers less than 20: 𝜉𝜉 = {1, 2, 3, … 18, 19, 20}
• A is the set of factors of 20: 𝐴𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20}
• B is the set of factors of 16: 𝐵𝐵 = {1, 2, 4, 8, 16}

𝝃𝝃
A B
5 1
8
3 10 2
16 18
6 20 4
19
7
9 11 12 13 14 15 17

The Venn diagram would look like this, with the common terms of 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵 in the
intersection. 𝝃𝝃 contains everything within the box, and the circles represent subsets A and B.

The set 𝑨𝑨 ∩ 𝑩𝑩 = {1, 2, 4}.

Union (∪)
The union on a Venn diagram contains the numbers that are in set A, or set B, or both.
This is written as A ∪ B. In the diagram below, A ∪ B is shaded. It contains everything within
the two circles, as well as the overlap.

𝝃𝝃
A B
5 1
8
3 10 2
16 18
6 20 4
19
7
9 11 12 13 14 15 17

𝝃𝝃 contains everything within the box, and the circles represent subsets A and B.

The set 𝑨𝑨 ∪ 𝑩𝑩 = {1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20}.

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Complement/Not (A′)
The complement on a Venn diagram contains the numbers that are not in set A – this is
written as A′. In the diagram below, A′ is shaded. It contains any part of the diagram that is
not included in set A’s circle.

𝜉𝜉
A B
5 1
8
3 10 2
16 18
6 20 4
19
7
9 11 12 13 14 15 17

𝜉𝜉 contains everything within the box, and the circles represent subsets A and B.

The set 𝑨𝑨′ = {3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19}.

Three-Way Venn Diagrams

Venn diagrams can also represent three sets if they have three circles. The same rules
about intersect, union and complement apply:

• A ∩ B ∩ C is the overlap between all three circles.

• A ∪ B ∪ C is anything inside any circle.

• A ∩ C is the overlap between just A and C circles.

• A′ is anything in the diagram that is not in set A circle.

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Combinations of Sub-Sets
In some questions, sub-sets may be combined to create more complicated rules. You may
be asked to shade the region that represents a particular sub-set. You should work out
which areas need to be shaded by breaking down the instructions for the sub-set and
shading the areas that you know. Combine them to answer the question.

Example: Shade the area on the Venn diagram that represents A′ ∪ B.

𝜉𝜉
A B

Break the instruction down into steps.

Part 1: Shade region A’

Part 2: Shade region B

Shade the first part on the diagram: Shade the region A’

𝜉𝜉
A B

Shade the second part on the diagram: Shade the region B

𝜉𝜉
A B

This area includes both parts of the instruction, so represents A' ∪ B.

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 Summary of Venn Diagram Areas

𝜉𝜉 𝜉𝜉
A B A B

A ∩ B = intersection of A and B A ∪ B to mean union of A and B

𝜉𝜉 𝜉𝜉
A B A B

A′ = everything not in A A′ ∪ B = the union of A′ and B

𝜉𝜉 𝜉𝜉
A B A B

(A ∩ B)′ = everything not in the intersection (A ∪ B) ′ = everything not in the union

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Example: In the Venn diagram,

ξ = people in a village
A = women
B = football players

a) How many people live in the village?

b) Write down P(A ∩ B).
c) A person from the town is chosen at random. What is the probability that they
don’t play football?

𝝃𝝃
A B

50 20 35

120

a) Add up the number of people in the Venn diagram. Don’t count the overlap twice,
as it applies to set A and B.

50 + 20 + 35 + 120 = 225
There are 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐 people in the village.

b) Find the number of people in the intersect A ∩ B. Use this value to calculate the
probability P(A ∩ B).

The intersect is the area of overlap. The number in the overlap is 20, 𝐴𝐴 ∩ 𝐵𝐵 = 20.
There are 225 people who live in the village, so the probability is

20 𝟒𝟒
𝑃𝑃(𝐴𝐴 ∩ 𝐵𝐵) = =
225 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒

c) Find the number of people who don’t play football. This is everyone not in set B.
Use this value to calculate the required probability of selecting someone who
doesn’t play football.

𝐵𝐵′ : 50 + 120 = 170

170 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑
𝑃𝑃(𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑛𝑛′ 𝑡𝑡 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ) = =
225 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒

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Enumeration, Venn Diagrams, Tree Diagrams and Tables – Practice
Questions

1. Janae has 4 shirts, 2 pairs of jeans and 2 pairs of shoes. How many outfits can she
make?

2. Maia flips a coin and rolls a 6-sided die. Fill in the table to show all the possible
outcomes.

Die
1 2 3 4 5 6
Heads
Coin
Tails

3. Here is a Venn diagram. Write down the letters that are in A ∩ B:

𝝃𝝃
A B
X P
G L
Y Q
H M
Z V
I
J

4. There are 60 members in an athletics club.

9 athletes do long jump and hammer throw.

20 athletes do only long jump.
14 athletes do not do long jump or hammer throw.

Complete the Venn diagram, working out how many athletes do only hammer throw.

𝜉𝜉
LJ HT

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 5. Shade the area B’:
A B

6. Shade the area A’ ∩ B:

A B

7. From the Venn diagram, find P(A’ ∪ B).

A B
17
14
23

31

8. Juliana goes to the local leisure centre. She records that 50 people visit that day. Of
those that visit,

30 visited the gym

13 people went swimming
22 people went to the spa
6 people went swimming and went to the spa
11 people went to the spa and visited the gym
12 people went swimming and visited the gym
5 people went swimming, visited the gym and went to the spa

a) Draw a Venn diagram to display this information.

b) How many people visited the leisure centre but did not visit any of the gym, spar
or swimming pool?
c) One person is picked out. What is the probability that they visited the gym and
went swimming?

Worked solutions for the practice questions can be found amongst the worked solutions for the corresponding
worksheet file.

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