Mount Zion International School

Pudukkottai

PROBABILITY: PYQ
Class 12 - Mathematics

1. If for any two events A and B, P(A) = 4

and P(A ∩ B) =
7
, then P ( B
) is equal to [1]
5 10 A

a) 1

10
b) 1

c) d)
7 17

8 20

2. A bag contains 4 red and 4 black balls, another bag contains 2 red and 6 black balls. One of the two bags is [1]
selected at random and a ball is drawn from the bag which is found to be red. Find the probability that the ball is
drawn from the first bag.

YA
a) 1

5
b) 1

c) 2

3
d) 1

3. If A and B are two independent events such that P(A) = 1

and P(B) = 1
, then P ( B
is [1]
AI
)
3 4 A

a) 1

8
b) 1

c) 3
d) 1
NH

4 4

B
4. For two events A and B, if P(A) = 0.4, P(B) = 0.8 and P ( ) = 0.6, then P(A ∪ B) is: [1]
A

a) 0.24 b) 0.96
KA

c) 0.3 d) 0.48
¯
¯¯¯

5. ¯
For any two events A and B, if P(A ) =
1 ¯
, P(B ) =
2
and P(A ∩ B) = 1
, then P ( A
) equals: [1]
2 3 4 ¯¯
¯¯
B

a) 1

4
b) 3

c) d)
8 1

9 8

¯
6. X and Y are independent events such that P(X ∩ Y) = 2

5
and P(X) = 3

5
. Then P(Y) is equal to: [1]

a) 2

3
b) 1

c) 1

5
d) 2

7. There are three coins. One is a two headed coin (having head on both faces), another is a biased coin that comes [1]
up heads 75% of the time and third is an unbiased coin. One of the three coins is chosen at random and tossed, it
shows heads, what is the probability that it was the two headed coin?

a) 4

9
b) 5

c) 1

9
d) 2

A B
8. If P( ) = 0.3, P(A) = 0.4 and P(B) = 0.8, then P( ) is equal to: [1]
B A

a) 0.4 b) 0.3

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 c) 0.6 d) 0.06
9. The probability that A speaks the truth is and that of B speaking the truth is . The probability that they [1]
4 3

5 4

contradict each other in stating the same fact is:

a) 4

5
b) 1

c) d)
3 7

20 20

10. A bag contains 3 white, 4 black and 2 red balls. If 2 balls are drawn at random (without replacement), then the [1]
probability that both the balls are white is:

a) b)
1 1

18 12

c) d)
1 1

24 36

11. A family has 2 children and the elder child is a girl. The probability that both children are girls is: [1]

a) 3

4
b) 1

c) 1

8
d) 1

B
12. If for two events A and B, P(A - B) = 1
and P(A) = 3
, then P ( ) is equal to [1]
5 5 A

YA
a) 1

2
b) 2

c) 2

3
d) 3

A B
13. If A and B are two events such that P ( ) = 2 × P( ) and P(A) + P(B) = 2
, then P(B) is equal to [1]
AI
B A 3

a) 5

9
b) 4

c) d)
2 7
NH

9 9

14. Two events E and F are independent. If P(E) = 0.3, P(E ∪ F)=0.5 then P(E|F) - P(F|E) equals [1]

a) 3

35
b) 2

c) d)
1 1
KA

7 70

B
15. If P(A ∩ B) = 1 ¯
and P(A ) =
3
, then P ( ) is equal to: [1]
8 4 A

a) 2

3
b) 1

c) 1

6
d) 1

16. 12 cards numbered 1 to 12 (one number on one card), are placed in a box and mixed up thoroughly. Then a card [2]
is drawn at random from the box. If it is known that the number on the drawn card is greater than 5, find the
probability that the card bears an odd number.
¯ ¯
17. A and B are independent events such that P(A ∩ B) = 1
and P(A ∩ B) = 1
. Find P(A) and P(B). [2]
4 6

18. Two fair dice are thrown simultaneously. If X denotes the number of sixes, find the mean of X. [2]
19. A coin is tossed once. If a head comes up, a die is thrown but if a tail comes up, the coin is tossed again. Find the [2]
probability of obtaining a head and the number 6.
20. Bag I contains 3 red and 4 black balls and Bag II contains 4 red and 5 black balls. One ball is transferred from [2]
Bag I to Bag II and then a ball is drawn from Bag II. The ball so drawn is found to be red in colour. Find the
probability that the transferred ball is black.
21. Three friends A, B and C got their photograph clicked. Find the probability that B is standing at the central [2]
position, given that A is standing at the left corner.
22. A pair of dice is thrown and the sum of the numbers appearing on the dice is observed to be 7. Find the [2]

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 probability that the number 5 has appeared on atleast one die.
23. Suppose that 5% of men and 0.25% of women have grey hair. A grey haired person is selected at random. What [2]
is the probability of this person being male? Assume that there are equal number of males and females.
24. Events A and B are such that P(A) = 1

2
, P(B) = 7

12
and P(A
¯ ¯
∪ B) =
1

4
Find whether the events A and B are [2]
independent or not.
25. A fair coin and an unbiased die are tossed. Let A be the event, Head appears on the coin and B be the event, 3 [2]
comes on the die. Find whether A and B are independent events or not.
26. A man is known to speak truth 3 out of 5 times. He throws a die and reports that it is a number greater than 4. [2]
Find the probability that it is actually a number greater than 4.
27. Given that A and B are two independent events such that P(A) = 0.3 and P(B) = 0.5. Find P(A | B). [2]
28. Two groups are competing for the position on the Board of directors of a corporation. The probabilities that the [2]
first and the second groups will win are 0.6 and 0.4 respectively. Further, if the first group wins, the probability
of introducing a new product is 0.7 and the corresponding probability if 0.3, if the second group wins. Find the
probability that the new product introduced was by the second group.
29. If P(A) = 0.6, P(B) = 0.5 and P(B|A) = 0.4, find P(A ∪ B) and P(A|B). [2]
30. A black and a red dice are rolled. Find the conditional probability of obtaining the sum 8, given that the red die [2]

YA
resulted in a number less than 4.
31. If A and B are independent events with P(A) = 3

7
and P(B) = 2

5
, then find P(A' ∩ B'). [2]
32. In a shop X, 30 tins of ghee of type A and 40 tins of ghee of type B which look alike, are kept for sale. While in [2]
AI
shop Y, similar 50 tins of ghee of type A and 60 tins of ghee of type B are there. One tin of ghee is purchased
from one of the randomly selected shop and is found to be of type B. Find the probability that it is purchased
from shop Y.
NH

33. There are two bags, I and II, Bag I contains 3 red and 5 black balls and Bag II contains 4 red and 3 black balls. [2]
One ball is transferred randomly from Bag I to Bag II and then a ball is drawn randomly from Bag II. If the ball
so drawn is found to be black in colour, then find the probability that the transferred ball is also black.
KA

34. Probabilities of A and B solving a specific problem are 2

3
and 3

5
, respectively. If both of them try independently [2]
to solve the problem, then find the probability that the problem is solved.
35. The probability of finding a green signal on a busy crossing X is 30%. What is the probability of finding a green [2]
signal on X on two consecutive days out of three?
36. A pair of dice is thrown. It is given that the sum of numbers appearing on both dice is an even number. Find the [2]
probability that the number appearing on at least one die is 3.
37. E and F are two independent events such that P(E
¯
) = 0.6 and P(E ∪ F) = 0.6. Find P(F) and P(E
¯
∪ F ).
¯
[2]
38. Suppose that 5 men out of 100 and 25 women out of 1000 are good orators. Assuming that there are equal [2]
number of men and women, find the probability of choosing a good orator.
39. Find [P( ) + P( )] if P(A) = and P (A ∪ B) . [2]
B A 3 2 3
, P (B) = =
A B 10 5 5

40. The probabilities of A, B and C solving a problem independently are 1

2
, 1

3
and 1

4
respectively. If all the three try [2]
to solve the problem independently, find the probability that the problem is solved.
41. There are three coins. One is a two headed coin (having head on both faces), another is a biased coin that comes [2]
up heads 75% of the time and third is an unbiased coin. One of the three coins is chosen at random and tossed, it
shows heads, what is the probability that it was the two headed coin?
42. A bag contains 4 red and 4 black balls, another bag contains 2 red and 6 black balls. One of the two bags is [2]
selected at random and a ball is drawn from the bag which is found to be red. Find the probability that the ball is
drawn from the first bag.

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43. A die marked 1, 2, 3 in red and 4, 5, 6 in green is tossed. Let A be the event number is even and B be the event [2]
number is marked red. Find whether the events A and B are independent or not.
44. Often it is taken that a truthful person commands, more respect in the society. A man is known to speak the truth [3]
4 out of 5 times. He throws a die and reports that it is a six. Find the probability that it is actually a six.
Do you also agree that the value of truthfulness leads to more respect in the society?
45. An urn contains 5 red and 5 black balls. A ball is drawn at random, its colour is noted and is returned to the urn. [3]
Moreover, 2 additional balls of the colour drawn are put in the urn and then a ball is drawn at random. What is
the probability that the second ball is red?
46. Bag I contains 3 white and 4 black balls, while Bag II contains 5 white and 3 black balls. One ball is transferred [3]
at random from Bag I to Bag II and then a ball is drawn at random from Bag II. The ball so drawn is found to be
white. Find the probability that the transferred ball is also white.
47. Ramesh appears for an interview for two posts, A and B, for which the selection is independent. The probability [3]
for his selection for Post A is (1/6) and for Post B, it is (1/7). Find the probability that Ramesh is selected for at
least one post.
48. A car manufacturing factory has two plants, X and Y. Plant X manufactures 70% of cars and plant Y [3]
manufactures 30%. 80% of the cars at plant X and 90% of the cars at plant Y are rated of standard quality. A car

A
is chosen at random and is found to be of standard quality. What is the probability that it has come from plant X?
49.

50.
IY
A bag contains 3 red and 7 black balls. Two balls are selected at random one by one without replacement. If the
second selected ball happens to be red, what is the probability that the first selected ball is also red?
A black and a red dice are rolled. Find the conditional probability of obtaining a sum greater than 9, given that
[3]

[3]
HA
the black die resulted in a 5.
51. Given three identical boxes I, II and III each containing two coins. In box I both coins are gold coins, in box II, [3]
both are silver coins and in the box III, there is one gold and one silver coin. A person chooses a box at random
and takes out a coin. If the coin is of gold, what is the probability that the other coin in the box is also of gold?
N

52. In a bolt factory, three machines, A, B, C, manufacture 25%, 35% and 40% of the total production respectively. [3]
KA

Of their respective outputs, 5%, 4% and 2% are defective. A bolt is drawn at random from the total product and
it is found to be defective. Find the probability that it was manufactured by the machine C.
53. In a school, there are 1000 students, out of which 430 are girls. It is known that out of 430, 10% of the girls [3]
study in class XII, what is the probability that a student chosen randomly studies in class XII, given that the
chosen student is a girl?
54. There are three coins. One is a coin having tails on both faces, another is a biased coin that comes up tails 70% [3]
of the time and the third is an unbiased coin. One of the coins is chosen at random and tossed, it shows tail. Find
the probability that it was a coin with tail on both the faces.
55. One bag contains 4 white and 5 black balls. Another bag contains 6 white and 7 black balls. A ball is transferred [3]
from first bag to the second bag and then a ball is drawn from the second bag. Find the probability that the ball
drawn is white.
56. A card from a pack of 52 playing cards is lost. From the remaining cards of the pack, two cards are drawn at [3]
random (without replacement) and both are found to be spades. Find the probability of the lost card being a
spade.
57. An urn contains 4 balls. Two balls are drawn at random from the urn (without replacement) and are found to be [3]
white. What is the probability that all the four balls in the urn are white?
58. A man is known to speak truth 3 out of 4 times. He throws a die and reports that it is a six. Find the probability [3]
that it is actually a six.

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59. Three machines E1, E2 and E3 in a certain factory producing electric bulbs, produce 50%, 25% and 25% [3]

respectively, of the total daily output of electric bulbs. It is known that 4% of the bulbs produced by each of
machines E1 and E2 are defective and that 5% of those produced by machine E3 are defective. If one bulb is

picked up at random from a day's production, calculate the probability that it is defective.
60. A bag contains 5 red and 4 black balls, a second bag contains 3 red and 6 black balls. One of the two bags is [3]
selected at random and two balls are drawn at random (without replacement) both of which are found to be red.
Find the probability that the balls are drawn from the second bag.
61. A bag contains 4 balls. Two balls are drawn at random (without replacement) and are found to be white. What is [3]
the probability that all the balls in the bag are white?
62. Probabilities of solving a specific problem independently by A and Bare 1

2
and 1

3
respectively. If both try to [3]
solve problem independently, then find the probability that
i. problem is solved.
ii. exactly one of them solves the problem.
63. Assume that each born child is equally likely to be a boy or a girl. If a family has two children, then what is the [3]
conditional probability that both are girls? Given that

YA
i. the youngest is a girl?
ii. at least one is a girl?
64. In answering a question on a multiple choice questions test with four choices in each question, out of which only [3]
AI
one is correct, a student either guesses or copies or knows the answer. The probability that he makes a guess is 1

and the probability the he copies is also 1

4
. The probability that the answer is correct, given that he copied it is
. Find the probability that he knows the answer to the question, given that he correctly answered it.
3
NH

65. In answering a question on a multiple choice test, a student either knows the answer or guesses. Let be the [3]
3

probability that he knows the answer and 2

5
be the probability that he guesses. Assuming that a student who
guesses at the answer will be correct with probability 1

3
. What is the probability that the student knows the
answer, given that he answered it correctly?
KA

66. A man is known to speak truth 7 out of 10 times. He threw a pair of dice and reports that a doublet appeared. [3]
Find the probability that it was actually a doublet.
67. P speaks truth in 70% of the cases and Q in 80% of the cases. In what percent of cases are they likely to agree in [5]
stating the same fact? Do you think, when they agree, means both are speaking truth?
68. A speaks truth in 75% of the cases, while B in 90% of the cases. In what percent of cases are they likely to [5]
contradict each other in stating the same fact? Do you think that statement of B is true?
69. Coloured balls are distributed in three bags as shown in the following table: [5]

Bag Colour of Balls

Black White Red

I 1 2 3

II 2 4 1

III 4 5 3

A bag is selected at random and then two balls are randomly drawn from selected bag. They happen to be black
and red. What is the probability that they come from bag I?
70. Consider the experiment of tossing a coin. If the coin shows head, toss it again, but if it shows tail, then throw a [5]

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 die. Find the conditional probability of the event that the die shows a number greater than 4, given that there
is atleast one tail.
71.
¯
¯¯
If A and B are two independent events such that P (A ∩ B)
¯
=
2 ¯
¯¯¯
and P (A ∩ B) =
1
, then find P(A) and [5]
15 6

P(B).
72. A card from a pack of 52 playing cards is lost. From the remaining cards of the pack three cards are drawn at [5]
random (without replacement) and are found to be all spades. Find the probability of the lost card being a spade.
73. Bag I contains 3 red and 4 black balls while another Bag II contains 5 red and 6 black balls. One ball is drawn at [5]
random from one of the bags and it is found to be red. Find the probability that it was drawn from Bag II.
74. Bag A contains 3 red and 5 black balls, while bag B contains 4 red and 4 black balls. Two balls are transferred at [5]
random from bag A to bag B and then a ball is drawn from bag B at random. If the ball drawn from bag B is
found to be red, find the probability that two red balls were transferred from A to B.
75. An insurance company insured 3000 cyclists, 6000 scooter drivers and 9000 car drivers. The probability of an [5]
accident involving a cyclist, a scooter driver and a car driver are 0·3, 0·05 and 0·02 respectively. One of the
insured persons meets with an accident. What is the probability that he is a cyclist?

A
IY
N HA
KA

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