MEP Y8 Practice Book A

10 Probability - Two Events

10.1 Recap: Basic Probability for One Event
In this section we revise the use of probabilities for single events, remembering that:

number of successful outcomes

Probability of an event =
number of possible outcomes

Example 1
A tube of sweets contains 10 red sweets, 7 blue sweets, 8 green sweets and 5 orange
sweets. If a sweet is taken at random from the tube, what is the probability that it is:
(a) red,
(b) orange,
(c) green or red,
(d) not blue ?

Solution

There are 30 sweets in the tube.

(a) There are 10 red sweets in the tube, so

10
p ( red ) =
30
1
=
3

(b) There are 5 orange sweets in the tube, so

5
p (orange) =
30
1
=
6

166
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

(c) There are 8 green sweets and 10 red sweets in the tube, so
8 + 10
p (green or red) =
30
18
=
30
3
=
5

(d) There are 23 sweets that are not blue in the tube, so
23
p ( not blue) =
30

Example 2
Nine balls, each marked with a number from 1 to 9, are placed in a bag and one
ball is taken out at random. What is the probability that the number on the ball is:
(a) odd,
(b) a multiple of 3,
(c) a 5,
(d) not a 7 ?

Solution
There are 9 possible outcomes in each case.
(a) There are 5 possible odd numbers, so
5
p (odd ) =
9

(b) There are 3 numbers that are multiples of 3, so

3
p ( multiple of 3) =
9
1
=
3

(c) There is only 1 ball numbered 5, so

1
p (5) =
9

(d) There are 8 numbers that are not 7, so

8
p ( not 7) =
9

167
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.1

Exercises
1. There are 16 girls and 8 boys in the tennis club. One of these is chosen at
random to enter a competition. What is the probability that a girl is chosen?

2. A bag contains 8 blue balls, 7 green balls and 5 red balls. A ball is taken at
random from the bag. What is the probability that the ball is:
(a) red,
(b) blue,
(c) green,
(d) yellow?

3. A card is taken at random from a standard 52-card pack of playing cards.

What is the probability that it is:
(a) a seven,
(b) a heart,
(c) a red card,
(d) a red six ?

4. If you roll a fair dice, what is the probability that the number you get is:
(a) 5
(b) an odd number,
(c) a number greater than 1,
(d) a multiple of 4 ?

5. Ishmail writes a computer program that produces at random one of the digits
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
What is the probability that the program produces:
(a) an even number,
(b) a multiple of 4,
(c) a number less than 7,
(d) a multiple of 5 ?

6. The police line up 10 people in an identity parade; only one of the people is
the criminal. A witness does not recognise the criminal and so chooses a
person at random. What is the probability that:
(a) the criminal is chosen,
(b) the criminal is not chosen ?

168
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

7. There are 18 boys and 17 girls in a class. One of these pupils is selected at
random to represent the class. What is the probability that the pupil selected
is a girl?

8. In Hannah's purse there are three £1 coins, five 10p coins and eight 2p coins.
If she takes a coin at random from her purse, what is the probability that it is:
(a) a £1 coin,
(b) a 2p coin,
(c) not a £1 coin,
(d) a £1 coin or a 10p coin ?

9. Some of the children in a class write down the first letter of their surname on
a card; these cards are shown below:

W M G S J
S E S A
W H H E
M T S I

(a) One of these cards is taken at random. What is the probability that the
letter on it is:
(i) W,
(ii) S or T,
(iii) J or M,
(iv) not H
(v) a vowel ?
(b) Which letter is the most likely to be chosen?

10. Rachel buys a new CD, on which is her favourite track, 8 other tracks she
likes and 2 tracks that she does not like. She sets her CD player to play at
random. What is the probability that the first track it plays is:
(a) Rachel's favourite,
(b) a track that she likes,
(c) a track that she does not like ?

169
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

10.2 Outcomes with Two Events

When two events take place at the same time, it is important to list all the possible
outcomes in some way. There are three possible approaches: systematic listing,
using a table or using a tree diagram.

Example 1
Caitlin and Dave each buy a chocolate bar from a vending machine that sells Aero,
Bounty, Crunchie and Dime bars.
List the possible pairs of bars which Caitlin and Dave can choose.

Solution
Caitlin Dave
A A
A B
A C
A D
B A
B B
B C
B D A = Aero
B = Bounty
C A
C = Crunchie
C B
D = Dime
C C
C D
D A
D B
D C
D D

170
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Example 2
A fair dice is rolled and an unbiased coin is tossed. Draw a table to show the
possible outcomes.

Solution
Possibilities DICE
for coin Possibilities
1 2 3 4 5 6
for dice
H H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6
COIN
T T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

The table shows that there are 12 possible outcomes.

Example 3
Draw a table to show all the possible total scores when two fair dice are thrown at
the same time.

Solution

DICE B
1 2 3 4 5 6
The table shows that there are 36
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
possible outcomes, and gives the
D 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 total score for each outcome.
I
C 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
From the table it can be seen that
E
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 there are 6 outcomes that give a
A 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 score of 7.
6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Example 4
Use a tree diagram to show the possible outcomes when two unbiased coins are
tossed.
OUTCOMES
Coin B
H HH
Solution
Coin A H
The diagram shows that there
are 4 possible outcomes. T HT
H TH
T

T TT

171
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.2

Example 5
In a drawer there are some white socks and some black socks. Tim takes out one
sock and then a second. Draw a tree diagram to show the possible outcomes.

OUTCOMES
Second Sock
Solution B BB
First Sock
There are four possible B
outcomes, of which two will
W BW
will produce two socks of the
same colour. B WB
W

W WW

Exercises
1. Copy and complete the table to show COIN B
all possible outcomes when 2 fair
coins are tossed. H T
H
COIN A
T

2. Two spinners are numbered 1 to 4 as shown in the diagram:

(a) Copy and complete the table
below, to show all possible
1 2 1 2
outcomes when they are spun,
writing the total score for 4 3 4 3
each outcome.

SPINNER B
1 2 3 4
S 1
P
I 2
N A
N 3
E
R 4

(b) What is the total number of possible outcomes?

(c) How many outcomes give a score of 5 ?

172
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

3. Two fair dice are renumbered using −2 , −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 instead of the

usual numbers. The two dice are thrown in the normal way.
(a) Draw a table to show the total score for each of the possible
outcomes.
(b) How many ways are there of scoring 0 ?

4. The two spinners shown in the diagram opposite,

2
are spun at the same time: 1 3
1 2
(a) Draw a table to show all possible 5 4 3
outcomes, and the total score for each outcome.
(b) How many different outcomes are there?
(c) How many outcomes give a score of 6 ?

5. In a bag there are red and blue counters. Two counters are taken out of the
bag at random.
(a) Copy and complete the tree diagram below, to show all outcomes:

OUTCOMES
2nd Counter
RR
1st Counter
R

(b) How many outcomes include a red counter?

(c) How many outcomes include a blue counter?

6. (a) Draw a tree diagram to show all possible outcomes when two
unbiased coins are tossed.
(b) Extend your tree diagram to show the possible outcomes when three
unbiased coins are tossed.
(c) How many outcomes are there when three unbiased coins are tossed?
(d) How many outcomes are there when four unbiased coins are tossed?

7. In a jar there are three different types of sweets, eclairs, mints and toffees;
two sweets are taken at random.
(a) Draw a tree diagram to show the possible outcomes.
(b) How many of the outcomes include a toffee?
(c) How many of the outcomes include a mint and a toffee?
173
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.2

8. A red dice, a blue dice and a green dice are put into a bag; all the dice are
fair. One is then taken out and rolled. The colour of the dice and the score
shown are recorded.
(a) How many possible outcomes are there?
(b) How many outcomes include a 5 ?

9. In a game, two fair dice are rolled and the scores are multiplied together.
(a) Draw a table to show the possible outcomes and their scores.
(b) How many ways are there of scoring 12 ?
(c) How many ways are there of scoring 18 ?

10. A bag contains a mixture of red, green and white balls. Three balls are
taken at random from the bag.
(a) Write down all possible outcomes.
(b) How many outcomes include a red ball?
(c) How many outcomes include a red or a white ball?
(d) How many outcomes include a red and a green ball?

10.3 Probability Using Listings

When the outcomes for two events are equally likely, the probabilities of
particular outcomes can be found.

Example 1
Look at the list of chocolate bars which can be chosen by Caitlin and Dave in
Example 1 of section 10.2. What is the probability that they both choose the
same type of chocolate bar?

Solution
There are 16 different outcomes and all are equally likely.
In 4 of these outcomes both Caitlin and Dave choose the same type of bar.
So
4 1
p (same type) = or
16 4

174
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Example 2
When two unbiased coins are tossed, determine the probability of obtaining:
(a) two heads,
(b) two tails,
(c) a head and a tail.

Solution
The table shows the possible outcomes:
H T
In this situation there are 4 outcomes that are
equally likely. H HH HH
T TH TH
(a) Here 1 of the 4 outcomes gives 2 heads, so
1
p (2 heads) =
4

(b) Here 1 of the 4 outcomes gives 2 tails, so

1
p (2 tails) =
4

(c) Here 2 of the outcomes gives a head and a tail, so

2
p ( head and a tail) =
4
1
=
2

Example 3
Two fair dice are rolled at the same time. What is the probability that the total
score is:
(a) 6,
(b) greater than 9,
(c) less than 7 ?

Solution 1 2 3 4 5 6
The table show the possible outcomes. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
There are 36 equally likely scores. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
(a) There are 5 outcomes that give a
score of 6, so 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
5
p (6) = 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
36

175
10.3 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

(b) There are 6 outcomes that give a score greater than 9, so

6
p (greater than 9) =
36
1
=
6
(c) There are 15 outcomes that give scores of less than 7, so
15
p (less than 7) =
36
5
=
12

Exercises
1. Use information from the table in Example 3 to answer this question:
When two fair dice are thrown, what is the probability that the total score is:
(a) 9, (b) an odd number,
(c) greater than 10, (d) less than 8 ?

2. The diagram shows two spinners which are

both spun. 1 1
What is the probability that the 4 2 7 3
total score on the two spinners is: 3 5
(a) 7, (b) 6,
(c) greater than 10, (d) less than 5 ?

3. An unbiased coin is tossed and a fair dice is thrown. Use a table of

outcomes to determine the probability of each of the following:
(a) obtaining a head and a 3,
(b) obtaining a tail and an even number,
(c) obtaining a head and a prime number.

4. The two spinners shown in the diagram are R B R B

both spun. E L E L
D U D U
(a) Draw up a table to show the possible E E
GREEN YELLOW
outcomes.
(b) What is the probability that both
spinners show the same colour?
(c) What is the probability of obtaining a yellow and a red?
(d) What is the probability of obtaining a red and a blue?

176
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

5. The diagram shows two spinners that are spun at the same time:

1 2 0 1
3 4 –1 2

Use a table to determine the probability of obtaining a total score of:

(a) 6 (b) 0 (c) 1 (d) 3

6. For the spinners in question 5, determine the probability of obtaining a total

score that is:
(a) an even number,
(b) greater than 1,
(c) less than 1,
(d) less than 6.

7. Two unbiased coins are tossed at the same time. What is the probability of
obtaining:
(a) at least one head,
(b) no heads ?

8. Three unbiased coins are tossed at the same time. Use a tree diagram to show
the outcomes and determine the probability of obtaining:
(a) 3 heads,
(b) at least 1 head,
(c) at least 2 heads.

9. Two fair dice are rolled and the scores on each dice are multiplied together to
give a total score. What is the probability of getting a total score:
(a) of 12,
(b) of 20,
(c) greater than 25,
(d) less than 30,
(e) that is an even number ?

10. If 4 unbiased coins are tossed at the same time, what is the probability of
obtaining the same number of heads as tails?

177
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

10.4 Multiplication Law for Independent Events

Probabilities can be assigned to tree diagrams, and then multiplication can be used
to determine the probabilities for combined events.
OUTCOMES PROBABILITIES
p (A) A AA p ( A) × p ( A )

p (A) A
p ( B)
B A B p ( A) × p ( B)
p ( B) p (A) A B A p ( B) × p ( A)
B
p ( B)
B B B p ( B) × p ( B)

Note: Here we have an experiment with two possible outcomes, A and B, and the
experiment is repeated once. It is assumed that the probability of either A
or B remains the same when the experiment is repeated; in this case, we say
that A and B are independent events.

Example 1
Two fair dice are rolled. Use a tree diagram to determine the probability of
obtaining:
(a) 2 sixes, (b) 1 six, (c) no sixes.

Solution
The tree diagram is shown below:
OUTCOMES PROBABILITIES
1 1 1 1
6 6, 6 × =
6 6 6 36
1 6 5
6 6 1 5 5
NOT 6 6, NOT 6 × =
6 6 36
5 1
6 NOT 6, 6 5 1 5
6 6 × =
NOT 6 6 36
6 5
6 5 5 25
NOT 6 NOT 6, NOT 6 × =
6 6 36

1 36
(a) p (2 sixes) = total =
36
=1
36
Note that these probabilities
5 5 10 5
(b) p (1 six) = + = = add up to 1. This will always
36 36 36 18 be so when the probabilities
25 are added from the outcome
(c) p ( no sixes) = of the tree diagram.
36 This is a very useful means
of checking your working.
178
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Example 2
A bag contains 4 red balls and 3 green balls. A ball is taken out at random, and
then put back; a second ball is then taken from the bag. What is the probability
that:
(a) both balls are the same colour,
(b) at least one of the balls is green,
(c) the balls are of different colours?

Solution
Use a tree diagram:
2nd Ball OUTCOMES PROBABILITIES
4 4 4 16
1st Ball 7 R R R × =
7 7 49
4 R 3
7 7 4 3 12
G R G × =
7 7 49
3 4
R G R 3 4 12
7 7 × =
7 7 49
G 3
7 3 3 9
G G G × =
7 7 49
49
total = =1
49

(a) p ( both the same) = p ( R R or G G )

= p ( R R ) + p (G G )

16 9
= +
49 49
25
=
49

(b) p (at least one green ball)

= p (G G or G R or R G ) or = 1 − p (R R)
16
= p (G G ) + p (G R ) + p ( R G ) = 1−
49
9 12 12 33
= + + =
49 49 49 49
33
=
49
179
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.4

(c) p ( both different colours) = p ( R G or G R )

= p ( R G ) + p (G R )
12 12
= +
49 49
24
=
49

Note: In probability questions of this type, 'or' means adding the probabilities.

Example 3
On her way to work, Sylvia drives through three sets of traffic lights. The
probability of each set of lights being green is 0.3. What is the probability that
they are all green?

Solution
p (all green) = p (1st green and 2nd green and 3rd green )

= p (1st green ) × p (2nd green ) × p (3rd green )

= 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3 [or 0.33 ]

= 0.027

Note: In probability questions of this type, 'and' means multiplying the

probabilities.

Remember A tree diagram is drawn when it will help you to analyse a problem;
so if it will help, draw one. On the other hand, if you are able to solve a problem
without one (see Example 3 above), then do so.

Example 4
A P
B

Q R
C

D
The diagram shows a model railway track. At each of the junctions P, Q and R,
2
the probability of a train going straight ahead is and the probability of it
3
1
branching to the right is .
3

180
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

A train starts at point A.

(a) What is the probability that it reaches point C?
(b) What is the probability that it reaches point D ?

Solution
1 2 2
(a) p ( right and straight and straight ) = × ×
3 3 3
4
=
27

(b) p (( right and right ) or ( right and straight and right ))

1 1 1 2 1
= × + × ×
3 3 3 3 3
1 2
= +
9 27
5
=
27

Exercises
1. A bag contains 3 red balls and 2 blue balls. A ball is taken at random from
the bag and then put back. A second ball is then taken out of the bag.
What is the probability that:
(a) both balls are red,
(b) both balls are the same colour,
(c) at least one of the balls is red ?

2. Repeat question 1 for a bag with 7 red balls and 3 blue balls.

3. Two fair dice are rolled at the same time. Use a tree diagram to determine
the probability of obtaining:
(a) two even numbers,
(b) at least one even number,
(c) no even numbers.

4. Two fair dice are rolled at the same time. Use a tree diagram to determine
the probability of obtaining:
(a) two multiples of 3,
(b) exactly one multiple of 3,
(c) less than two multiples of 3.

181
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.4
2
5. A coin has been weighted, so that the probability of getting a head is and
5
3
the probability of getting a tail is ; the coin is thrown twice. Determine
5
the probability of obtaining:
(a) 2 heads, (b) no heads, (c) at least one head.

6. The spinner shown in the diagram is spun twice.

Use a tree diagram to determine the probability Red Red
of obtaining:
(a) 2 reds, (b) at least one red, Red Blue

(c) no reds.

7. The spinner in the diagram is spun twice. Determine

the probability of obtaining:
A B
(a) at least one A, (b) at least one B,
A A
(c) two As, (d) two Bs. B

8. The spinner in question 6 is spun 3 times. Use a tree diagram to determine

the probability of obtaining:
(a) 3 reds, (b) 2 reds, (c) at least 1 red.

9. A bag contains 1 red ball, 2 green balls and 4 yellow balls. A ball is taken
from the bag at random. The ball is then put back, and a second ball is
taken at random from the bag.
What is the probability that:
(a) both balls are the same colour,
(b) no yellow balls are taken out,
(c) at least one yellow ball is taken out?

10. Each of 10 balls is marked with a different number from 1 to 10. One ball
is taken at random and then replaced. A second ball is then taken at
random. Determine the probability that:
(a) both balls taken are marked with the number 5,
(b) both balls taken have even numbers,
(c) both balls taken have numbers which are multiples of 3,
(d) at least one of the balls taken has a number greater than 2.

11. On his way to work, Paul has to pass through 2 sets of traffic lights. The
probability that the first set of lights is green is 0.5, and the probability that
the second set of lights is green is 0.4.
What is the probability that both sets of lights are green?

182
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

12. On her way to the theatre, Sheila passes through 3 sets of traffic lights. The
1
probability that each set of lights is green is .
3
(a) What is the probability that none of the lights is green?
(b) What is the probability that two sets of lights are green and the other
set is not green?

13. A B C
P

D E
Q

R
The diagram shows a section of a railway track. At each of the junctions
3
B, C, D and E, the probability of going straight on is .
4
The train starts at A.
(a) What is the probability that it reaches P?
(b) What is the probability that it reaches Q?

14. Z
A (food)

X
R B (nothing)
W

C (water)
Y
A rat leaves position R and starts walking towards B. If it reaches B it gets
nothing, if it reaches A it gets food and if it reaches C it gets water.
At each of the junctions W, X, Y and Z, the probability of going straight on
is 0.6 and the probability of branching off is 0.4.
(a) What is the probability that the rat gets food?
(b) What is the probability that the rat gets water?
(c) What is the probability that it gets nothing?

15. When two fair dice are thrown, what is the probability that the score on the
second dice is higher than the score on the first dice?

183
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

10.5 Conditional Probability

In some situations where events are repeated, the probabilities
will change after the first event. For example, consider a bag
R B
containing 8 red balls and 3 blue balls. B R
R R
8 R R
The probability that a ball taken at random is red is . R B R
11
If a second ball is taken out without the first ball being
replaced, then:

EITHER the first ball was red, so the probability that the second ball is red is
7
, since there are 3 blue balls but only 7 red balls left.
10
OR the first ball was blue, so the probability that the second is red is
8 4
= , since there are 8 red balls but only 2 blue balls left.
10 5
Tree diagrams are very useful for this type of problems.

Example 1
A bag contains 7 yellow balls and 5 red balls. One ball is taken from the bag at
random, and is not replaced. A second ball is then taken from the bag.
Determine the probability that:
(a) both balls are red, (b) both balls are the same colour,
(c) the balls are different colours, (d) at least one ball is yellow.

Solution
The tree diagram below shows the probabilities and outcomes:
2nd Ball OUTCOMES PROBABILITIES
6 7 6 42
1st Ball Y Y Y × =
11 12 11 132
7 Y 5
12 11 7 5 35
R Y R × =
12 11 132
5 7
Y R Y 5 7 35
12 11 × =
12 11 132
R 4
11 5 4 20
R R R × =
12 11 132
132
total = =1
132

184
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

20
(a) p ( both red ) =
132
5
=
33
(b) p ( both the same colour ) = p (Y Y) + p ( R R )
42 20
= +
132 132
62
=
132
31
=
66
(c) p (different colours)
35 35
= 1 − p (same colour ) or p (Y R ) + p ( R Y) = +
132 132
31 70
= 1− =
66 132
35 35
= =
66 66

(d) p (at least one yellow)

42 35 35
= + + or = 1 − p (R R)
132 132 132
112 20
= = 1−
132 132
28 112
= =
33 132
28
=
33

Example 2
There are 4 boys and 5 girls who are hoping to be selected for a school quiz team.
Two of them are selected at random to be in the team.
Determine the probability that:
(a) 2 boys are chosen,
(b) at least 1 girl is chosen,
(c) 1 girl and 1 boy are chosen.

185
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.5

Solution
The tree diagram below shows the outcomes and the probabilities:
OUTCOMES PROBABILITIES
4 5 4 20 5
G G G × = =
8 9 8 72 18
5 G 4
9 8 5 4 20 5
B G B × = =
9 8 72 18
4 5
G B G 4 5 20 5
9 8 × = =
9 8 72 18
B 3
8 4 3 12 3
B B B × = =
9 8 72 18
18
total = =1
18
3
(a) p (2 boys) =
18
1
=
6
5 5 5
(b) p (at least 1 girl) = + +
18 18 18
15
=
18
5
=
6
5 5
(c) p (1 boy and 1 girl) = +
18 18
10
=
18
5
=
9

Note: The questions in Examples 1 and 2 could have been answered without the
use of tree diagrams, but a tree diagram helps greatly with the analysis of
the problem; the same is true for the next example.

Example 3
1
The probability that Ravi does his homework is if he goes out with his friends
10
3
and of he does not go out with his friends. The probability that Ravi goes out
5
3
with his friends is . What is the probability that Ravi does his homework?
4
186
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Solution
Solution 1

p ((goes out and does homework ) or (does not go out and does homework ))
=
p (goes out ) × p (does homework ) + p (does not go out ) × p (does homework )
3 1 1 3
= × + ×
4 10 4 5
3 3
= +
40 20
9
=
40

Solution 2
OUTCOMES PROBABILITIES
1 3 1 3
10
does O D × =
4 10 40
3 out 9
4 10 3 9 27
does not O D' × =
4 10 40
1 3
does O' D 1 3 3
4 5 × =
4 5 20
not out 2
5 1 2 2 1
does not O' D' × = =
4 5 20 10

Note: O' means does not go out, and D' means does not do homework.
3 3
p (does homework ) = +
40 20
9
=
40

Exercises
1. A bag contains 3 pink balls and 2 blue balls. One ball is taken out at random
and not replaced. A second ball is then taken out.
Determine the probability that:
(a) both balls are pink,
(b) both balls are the same colour,
(c) at least one ball is blue.

187
 MEP Y8 Practice Book A
10.5

2. In Tim's drawer there are 6 black socks and 5 white socks. He takes out two
socks at random. What is the probability that he has taken two socks of the
same colour?

3. In a tennis club there are 5 boys and 3 girls in a training squad. Two are
chosen at random to represent the club.
Determine the probability that they are:
(a) both boys,
(b) both girls,
(c) a boy and a girl.

4. Tara has five 10p coins and four 20p coins in her purse. She takes out two
coins at random. What is the probability that she takes out at least 30p?

5. There are 8 footballs in a store cupboard; one is yellow and the others are
white. A pupil takes 2 footballs out of the cupboard at random. What is the
probability that one of them is the yellow ball?

2 1
6. The probability of Jeremy passing a maths exam is if he revises and if
3 3
1
he does not revise. The probability that he revises is . What is the
4
probability of Jeremy passing the maths exam?

7. The probability of Jenny getting to work on time is 0.8 if she gets up before
7 a.m. and 0.4 if she does not get up before 7 a.m. The probability that
Jenny gets up before 7 a.m. is 0.7. What is the probability that Jenny is late
for work?

8. Ian is an inept mountaineer who tends to fall from rock faces. The
probability that he falls is 0.2 if the weather is dry but rises to 0.5 if it is
wet. The probability of wet weather is 0.3. Determine the probability that
Ian falls.

9. A bag contains 7 blue counters, 5 green counters, 2 black counters and

1 white counter. 3 counters are taken at random from the bag, without
replacement. What is the probability that they are all the same colour?

10. Peter and Jane play a game in which they each in turn take a counter at
random from a bag containing 7 red counters and 3 yellow counters. The
winner is the first to get a red counter. Jane goes first. By drawing a tree
diagram, determine the probability that Peter wins the game.

188