2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Previous Year Questions: Probability

Previous Year Questions 2024

Q1: A bag contains 3 red balls, 5 white balls and 7 black balls. The probability that a ball drawn from the
bag at random will be neither red nor black is: (CBSE 2024)
(a) 1/3
(b) 1/5
(c) 7/15
(d) 8/15

Ans: (a)
No. of red balls = 3
No. of white balls = 5
No. of black balls = 7
Total balls = 15
Probability that ball drawn is neither red nor black = 5/15 = 1/3

Q2: The probablity of getting a bad egg in a lot of 400 eggs is 0.045. The number of good eggs in the lot is:
(CBSE 2024)
(a) 18
(b) 180
(c) 382
(d) 220

Ans: (c)
Probability of getting bad in the lot = 0.045
Let the no. of bad eggs = x
∴ Probability of bag eggs
No. of bad eggs
=
Total eggs

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⇒ 0.045 = x/400
⇒ x = 400 × 0.045
⇒ x = 18
No. of bad eggs = 18
No. of good eggs = 400 – 18
= 382

Q3: Two dice are thrown together. The probablity that they show different numbers is: (CBSE 2024)
(a) 1/6
(b) 5/6
(c) 1/3
(d) 2/3

Ans: (b)
Total outcomes, when two dice are thrown
= {(1, 1)(1, 2)(1, 3)(1, 4)(1, 5)(1, 6)
(2, 1)(2, 2)(2, 3)(2, 4)(2, 5)(2, 6)
(3, 1)(3, 2)(3, 3)(3, 4)(3, 5)(3, 6)
(4, 1)(4, 2)(4, 3)(4, 4)(4, 5)(4, 6)
(5, 1)(5, 2)(5, 3)(5, 4)(5, 5)(5, 6)
(6, 1)(6, 2)(6, 3)(6, 4)(6, 5)(6, 6)}
Favourable outcomes= {(1, 2)(1, 3)...(2, 1), (2, 3)... (3, 1)(3, 2)(3, 4)...(4, 1)...(6, 5)}
No. of favourable outcomes = 30
Total outcomes = 36
So, P(E) = 30/36
= 5/6

Q4: Assertion (A): In a cricket match, a batsman hits a boundary 9 times out of 45 balls he plays. The
probability that in a given ball, he does not hit the boundary is 4/5.
Reason (R): P(E) + P(not E) = 1. (CBSE 2024)
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion (A).
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct explanation of assertion (A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason (R) is true.

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Ans: (a) Assertion:

Total balls (outcomes) = 45
No. of times boundaries hit = 9
(E = hitting the boundary) = 9/45
= 1/5
∴ P(E= not hitting the boundary)
1 4
=1- =
5 5
Reason: This is a fundamental property of probability:
The sum of the probability of an event P(E) and the probability of its complement P(not E) is always equal to 1.
Thus, Reason (R) is also true.

Previous Year Questions 2023

Q5: In a group of 20 people. 5 can't swim. If one person is selected at random, then the probability that
he/she can swim is (2023)
(a) 3/4
(b) 1/3
(c) 1
(d) 1/4

Ans: (a)
Total number of people = 20
Number of people who can't swim = 5
Number of people who can swim = 20 - 5 = 15
∴ Required probability = 15/20 = 3/4

Q6: The probability of happening of an event is denoted by p and the probability of non-happening of the
event is denoted by q. The relation between p and q is (2023)
(a) p + q = 1
(b) p = 1, q = l
(c) p = q - 1
(d) p + p + 1 = 0

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Ans: (a)
Probability of happening of an event + Probability of non - happening of an event
∴ p +q = 1

Q7: A girl calculates that the probability of her winning the first prize In a lottery Is 0.08. If 6000 tickets are
sold, how many tickets has she bought? (2023)
(a) 40
(b) 240
(c) 480
(d) 750

Ans: (c)
Probability of winning first prize = Ticket bought by girl / Total ticket sold
⇒ 0.08 = Ticket bought by girl / 6000
⇒ Ticket bought by girl = 0.08 x 6000 = 480

Q8: Two dice are thrown together. The probability of getting the difference of numbers on their upper
faces equals to 3 is (CBSE 2023)
(a) 1/9
(b) 2/9
(c) 1/6
(d) 1/12

Ans: (c)
Total number of outcomes = 6 x 6 = 36
Favourable outcomes are {(1,4), (2, 5), (3, 6), (4, 1), |5. 2), (6.3)} i.e., 6 in number
∴ Required probability = 6/36 = 1/6

Q9: A card is drawn at random from a well-shuffled pack of 52 cards. The probability that the card drawn is
not an ace is (2023)
(a) 1/13
(b) 9/13
(c) 4/13
(d) 12/13

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Ans: (d)
Total number of cards = 52
Number of ace card =4
∴ Number of non ace card = 52 - 4 = 48
∴ Required probability = 48/52 = 12/13

Q10: DIRECTIONS; In the question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
Choose the correct option out of the following: (CBSE 2023)
Assertion (A): The probability that a leap year has 53 Sundays is 2/7.
Reason (R): The probability that a non-leap year has 53 Sundays is 5/7.
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion
(A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

Ans: (c)
The leap year has 366 days, i.e, 52 weeks and 2 days.
∴ Required probability = 2/7
The non-leap year has 365 days. i.e.. 52 weeks and 1 day.
∴ Required probability = 1/7
Therefore, assertion is true but reason is false.

Q11: A bag contains 5 red balls and n green balls. If the probability of drawing a green ball is three times
that of a red ball, then the value of n is (2023)
(a) 18
(b) 15
(c) 10
(d) 20

Ans: (b)
Probability of drawing a green ball = 3 x Probability of drawing a red ball

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

n 5
=3×
5+n 5+n
Cancel the denominator 5+n (since it is common and non-zero):
n = 3×5
∴ n = 15

Q12: A bag contains 4 red, 3 blue and 2 yellow balls. One ball Fs drawn at random from the bag. Find the
probability that the drawn ball is (i) red and (ii) yellow. (2023)

Ans: Number of red balls =4

Number of blue balls = 3
Number of yellow balls = 2
Total number of balls = 4 + 3 + 2= 9
(i) P(drawing a red balI) = 4/9
(ii) P(drawing a yellow ball) = 2/9

Q13: If a fair coin is tossed twice, find the probability of getting 'almost one head'. (CBSE 2023)

Ans: Let A be the event of getting atmost one head, and S be the sample space.
S = (HH, HT, TH, TT) and A = (HT, TH, TT)
⇒ n(S) = 4
Also, n(A) = 3
Required probability = n(A) / n(S)
= 3/4

Previous Year Questions 2022

Q14: The probability of getting two heads when two fair coins are tossed together, is (2022)
(a) 1/3
(b) 1/4
(c) 1/2
(d) 1

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Ans: (b)
Sample space = {(H,H), (H,T), (T,H), (T,T)}
∴ Number of total outcomes = 4
Favourable outcomes = {(H,H)}
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 1
∴ Required probability = 1/4

Q15: In a single throw of a die. the probability of getting a composite number is (2022)
(a) 1/3
(b) 1/2
(c) 2/3
(d) 5/6

Ans: (a)
Sample space = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
∴ Number of total outcomes = 6
Favourable outcomes = (4, 6)
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 2
∴ Required probability = 2/6 = 1/3

Q16: The probability that a non-leap year has 53 Wednesdays, is (2022)

(a) 1/7
(b) 2/7
(c) 5/7
(d) 6/7

Ans: (a)
We know that there are 52 complete weeks = 364 days
Since, it is non leap year.
th
So. there will be 52 Wednesdays and remaining 365 day may be any of the days of week
So, total number of ways = 7
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 1
∴ Required probability = 1/7

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Q17: From the letters of the word "MANGO", a letter is selected at random. The probability that the letter
is a vowel, is (2022)
(a) 1/5
(b) 3/5
(c) 2/5
(d) 4/5

Ans: (c)
Total number of letters in the word MANGO are 5.
So, number of total outcomes = 5
Vowels in the word ‘MANGO’ are A, O
So, number of favourable outcomes = 2
∴ Required probability = 2/5

Previous Year Questions 2021

Q18: Case study-based questions is compulsory. Attempt any 4 sub-parts from question. Each sub-part
carries 1 mark. (2021)
During summer break, Harish wanted to play with his friends but it was too hot outside, so he decided to play
some indoor game with his friends. He collects 20 identical cards and writes the numbers 1 to 20 on them (one
number on one card). He puts them in a box. He and his friends make a bet for the chances of drawing various
cards out of the box. Each was given a chance to tell the probability of picking one card out of the box.
Based on the above, answer the following questions:
(i) The probability that the number on the card drawn is an odd prime number, is
(a) 3/5
(b) 2/5
(c) 9/20
(d) 7/20

Ans: (d)
Card numbered from {1,2, 3, ...., 20}
Total number of possible outcomes = 20

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Odd prime numbers from 1 to 20 = {3, 5, 7, 11,13,17,19)

Total number of favourable outcomes = 7
Hence, the probability that the number on the card drawn is an odd prime number = 7/20
(ii) The probability that the number on the card drawn is a composite number Is
(a) 11/20
(b) 3/5
(c) 4/5
(d) 1/2 [2021, 1 Mark]

Ans: (a)
Total number of composite numbers between 1 to 20 = [4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20)
Total number of favourable outcomes = 11
So, the probability that the number on the drawn card is a composite number = 11/20
∴ Required Probability = 11/20
(iii) The probability that the number on the card drawn is a multiple of 3, 6 and 9 Is
(a) 1/20
(b) 1/10
(c) 3/20
(d) 0

Ans: (c)
Multiple of 3 = {3, 6, 9,12,15, 18}
Multiple of 6 = (6, 12, 18)
Multiple of 9 = (9, 18)
Total number of favourable outcomes = 1
Hence the probability that the card is a multiple of 3, 6 and 9 = 1/20
∴ Required Probability = 1/20
(iv) The probability that the number on the card drawn is a multiple of 3 and 7 is
(a) 3/10
(b) 1/10
(c) 0
(d) 2/5 [2021, 1 Mark]

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Ans: (c)
Multiple of 3 between 1 to 20 = {3, 6, 9, 12,15, 18}
Multiple of 7 between 1 to 20 = (7,14)
∴ Multiple of 3 and 7 = 0
∴ Total number of favourable outcomes = 0/20
∴ Required Probability = 0
(v) If all cards having odd numbers written on them are removed from (lie box and then one card is drawn
from the remaining cards, the probability of getting a card having a prime number is
(a) 1/20
(b) 1/10
(c) 0
(d) 1/5

Ans: (b)
If all odd number cards are removed then remaining cards which are left = {2,4, 6, 8,10,12,14,16, 18, 20}
Now, prime number cards in remaining cards = 1
So, the probability of getting a prime number from the remaining cards = 1/10

Previous Year Questions 2020

Q19: The probability of an event that is sure to happen, is _______. (2020)

Ans: The probability of an event that is sure to happen is 1.

Q20: If the probability of an event E happening is 0.023, then P(E) = ________. (2020)

Ans: Given, P(E) =0.023

P(E) = 1- P(E) = 1 - 0.023 = 0.977

Q21: A letter of English alphabet Is chosen at random. What Is the probability that the letter is a
consonant? (CBSE 2020)

Ans: Total number of English alphabets = 26

Number of consonants = 26 - 5 = 21
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 21

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P (chosen letter is a consonant) = 21/26

Q22: A die is thrown once. What is the probability of getting a number less than 3? (2020)

Ans: Total number of outcomes = 6

Favourable outcomes are {1.2} i.e.. 2 in number
∴ Required probability = 2/6 = 1/3

Q23: If tire probability of winning a game is 0.07, what is the probability of losing it? (2020)

Ans: Given, probability of winning a game is 0.07

∴ Probability of losing it = 1 - 0.07 = 0.93

Q24: A jar contains 18 marbles. Some are red arid others are yellow. If a marble is drawn at random from
the jar. the probability that it is red is 2/3. Find the number of yellow marbles in the jar. (2020)

Ans: There a re 18 marbles in the jar.

∴ Number of possible outcomes = 18
Let there are x yellow marbles in the jar.
∴ Number of red marbles = 18 - x
⇒ Number of favourable outcomes = (18 - x)
∴ Probability of drawing a red marble = (18 - x) / 18
Now. according to the question, = (18 - x) / 18 = 2/3
⇒ 3(18 - x ) = 2 x 18
⇒ 54 -3x = 36
⇒ 3x = 18
⇒x =6
So, number of yellow marbles in jar = 6

Q25: A die is thrown twice. What is the probability that

(i) 5 will come up at least once, an
(ii) 5 will not come up either time? (2020)

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Ans: Since, throwing a die twice or throwing two dice simultaneously are same.
Possible outcomes are:
{(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (1,6),
(2,1), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), (2,5), (2,6),
(3,1), (3,2), (3,3), (3,4), (3,5), (3,6),
(4,1), (4,2), (4,3), (4,4), (4,5), (4,6),
(5,1), (5,2), (5,3), (5,4), (5,5), (5,6),
(6,1), (6,2), (6,3), (6,4), (6,5), (6,6)}
(i) Let N be the event that 5 will come up at least once, the number of favourable outcomes:
=5+6
= 11
11
∴ P(N) =
36
(ii) Let E be the event that 5 does not come up either time, then the number of favourable outcomes:
= [36 - (5 + 6)]
= 25
25
∴ P(E) =
36

2
Q26: If a number x is chosen at random from the numbers -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3. What is the probability that x
≤ 4? (2020)

Ans: Total number of outcomes = {-3, -2, -1,0, 1, 2, 3} i.e. 7.

∴ Number of favourable outcomes = (-2, 1, 0, 1, 2) i.e., 5.
∴ Required Probability = 5/7

Q27: Two dice are thrown simultaneously. What is the probability that the product of the numbers
appearing on the top is 1? (CBSE 2020)

Ans: Total number of possible outcomes = 36

Only one outcome, i.e., (1, 1) has the product of the two numbers as 1.
So, the required probability is 1/ 36 .

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Q28: A Group Housing Society has 600 members, who have their houses in the campus and decided to hold
a Tree Plantation Drive on the occasion of New Year. Each household was given the choice of planting a
saplings of its choice. The number of different types of saplings planted were:
(1) Neem – 125
(2) Peepal – 165
(3) Creepers – 50
(4) Fruit plants – 150
(5) Flowering plants – 110
On the opening ceremony, one of the plants is selected randomly for a prize. After reading the above
passage, answer the following questions.
What is the probability that the selected plant is:
(A) a fruit plant or a flowering plant?
(B) either a Neem plant or a Peepal plant? (CBSE 2020)

Ans: (A) Of the 600 plants, there are 150 fruit plants and 110 flowering plants.
So, required probability
(150 + 110) 260 13
= = i.e.,
600 600 30
=(B) Of the 600 plants, there are 290 (125 + 165) plants which are either neem plants or peepal plants.
So, required probability = 290/600 i.e., 29/60

Q29: If a number x is chosen at random from the numbers –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3. What is the probability that
2
x < 4? (CBSE 2020)

Ans: All possible outcomes are –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3

2
Favourable outcomes are – 1, 0, 1 (As x < 4)
So, required probability = 3/7

Q30: Find the probability that a leap year selected at random will contain 53 Sundays and 53 Mondays.
(CBSE 2020)

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Ans: A leap year has 52 complete weeks + 2 days.

These two days may be
(Sun, Mon), (Mon, Tue), (Tue, Wed), (Wed, Thu), (Thu, Fri), (Fri, Sat) and (Sat, Sun).
Of the 7 possible outcomes, only 1
i.e., (Sun, Mon) is the favourable outcome.
So, required probability is 1/7

Q31: A game in a booth at a Diwali fair involves using a spinner first. Then, if the spinner stops on an even
number, the player is allowed to pick a marble from a bag. The spinner and the marbles in the bag are
represented in the figure.
Prizes are given when a black marble is picked. Shweta plays the game once.

(A) What is the probability that she will be allowed to pick a marble from the bag?
(B) Suppose she is allowed to pick a marble from the bag, what is the probability of getting a prize, when it
is given that the bag contains 20 marbles out of which 6 are black? (CBSE 2020)

Ans: (A) Shweta will be allowed to pick up a marble, only when the spinner stops on an even number.
P(getting an even number) = 5 / 6
Hence, the probability that she will be allowed to pick a marble from the bag is 5 / 6
(B) P (getting a black marble) = 6 / 20 , or 3 / 10 .
∴ Probability of getting a prize is 3 / 10 .

Previous Year Questions 2019

Q32: Cards numbered 7 to 40 were put In a box. Poonam selects a card at random. What is the probability
that Poonam selects a card which is a multiple of 7? (2019)

Ans: Cards are numbered from 7 to 40. i.e. {7,8,9, ......, 40}
So, total number of outcomes = 34
Multiple of 7 lies between 7 to 40 are {7, 14, 21, 28, 35}
∴ Total number of favourable outcomes= 5
∴ Required probability = 5/34

Q33: A card is drawn at random from a pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability of drawing a card
which is neither a spade nor a king. (2019)

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Ans: Total number of cards = 52

Total number of spade cards = 13
Total number of king cards = 4
Total number of spade cards and king cards = 13 + 4 - 1 = 16
[One card is subtracted as it is already included as a king of spade]
∴ Probability of drawing a spade or king card = 16/52
So, probability of drawing a card which is neither a spade nor a king = 1- 16/52
= 9/13

Q34: A pair of dice is thrown once. Find the probability of getting

(i) even number on each dice
(ii) a total of 9. (2019)

Ans: If a pair of dice is thrown once, then possible outcomes are:

{(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (1,6),
(2,1), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), (2,5), (2,6),
(3,1), (3,2), (3,3), (3,4), (3,5), (3,6),
(4,1), (4,2), (4,3), (4,4), (4,5), (4,6),
(5,1), (5,2), (5,3), (5,4), (5,5), (5,6),
(6,1), (6,2), (6,3), (6,4), (6,5), (6,6)}
∴ Number of possible outcomes are 36.
(i) Total possible outcomes of getting even number on each die
= {( 2, 2), ( 2, 4 ), ( 2, 6 ), ( 4, 4 ), (4, 6), (6, 6). (6, 2), (6, 4 ), (4, 2)}
Number of favourable outcomes = 9
∴ Required probability of getting an even number on each die = 9/36 = 1/4
(ii) Total possible outcomes of getting a total of 9
= {(3, 6), (4, 5), ( 5, 4), (6, 3)} which are 4 in number.
∴ Probability of getting a total of 9 = 4/36 = 1/9

Q35: A bag contains some balls of which x are white, 2x are black and 3x are red. A ball is selected at
random. What is the probability that it is (2019)
(i) not red
(ii) white?

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Ans: We have, total number of balls = x + 2x + 3x = 6x

Total number of outcomes =6x
(i) Number of favourable outcomes = 3x
∴ Probability of getting red ball = 3x /6x = 1/2
Now, probability of not getting red ball = 1-1/2 = 1/2
∴ Required probability = 1/2
(ii) Total number of favourable outcomes = x
∴ Probability of getting white ball = x / 6x
∴ Required probability = 1/6

Q36: A die is thrown once. Find the probability of getting a number which
(i) is a prime number
(ii) lies between 2 and 6. (2019)

Ans: Total possible outcomes are f 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, i.e., 6 in number.

(i) Favourable outcomes are {2, 3, 5} i.e.. 3 in number.
∴ P (getting a prime number) = 3/6 = 1/2
(ii) Favourable outcomes are {3, 4, 5} i.e., 3 in number.
∴ P(getting a number lying between 2 and 6) = 3/6 = 1/2

Q37: A game consists of tossing a coin 3 times and noting the outcome each time. If getting the same result
in all the tosses is a success, find the probability of losing the game. (2019)

Ans: When a coin is tossed 3 times, then total possible outcomes are
{HHH, HHT, HTH, THH, HTT, THT, TTH, TTT}
∴ Total number of possible outcomes = 8
Possible outcomes to lose the game are {HHT, HTH, THH, HTT,THT, TTH}
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 6
∴ Required Probability = 6/8 = 3/4

Q38: Cards marked with numbers 5 to 50 (one number on one card) are placed in a box and mixed
thoroughly. One card is drawn at random from the box. Find the probability that the number on the card

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taken out is
(i) a prime number less than 10,
(ii) a number which is a perfect square. (2019)

Ans: Total number of cards = 50 - 5 + 1 = 46

∴ Total number of possible outcomes = 46
(i) Prime numbers less than 10 are 5, 7.
So, number of favourable outcomes = 2
∴ P(getting a prime number less than 10) = 2/46 = 1/23
(ii) Perfect squares from 5 to 50 are 9, 16, 25, 36, 49 i.e., 5 in number.
∴ P (getting a number which is a perfect square) =5/46

Q39: A child has a die whose 6 faces show the letters given below:

The die is thrown once: What is the probability of getting (i) A (ii) B? (2019)

Ans: Total number of faces in a die = 6

(i) Number of favourable outcomes = 3
∴ P(getting A) = 3/6 = 1/2
(ii) Number of favourable outcomes = 2
∴ P (getting B) = 2/6 = 1/3

Previous Year Questions 2017

Q40: A number is selected at random from natural numbers 1 to 20. Find the probability that the selected
number is a prime number. (CBSE 2017)

Ans: Total number of outcomes = 20

Let, E be the event that a number selected is a prime number.
Since, the prime number between 1 to 20 (or favourable cases) are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 8
∴ P(E) = Number of favourable outcomes / Total number of outcomes
= 8/20 = 2/5
Hence, the required probability is 2/5

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Q41: A number is chosen at random from the numbers –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3. What will be the probability
that square of this number is less than or equal to 1? (CBSE 2017)

Ans: The given numbers are {–3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3}

The square of these numbere are {9, 4, 1, 0, 1, 4, 9}
∴ Total numbers of outcomes = 7
The square of numbers that are less than or equal to 1 = {-1, 0, 1}
∴ Number of favourable outcomes = 3
P(getting a square of a number less than or equal to 1) = 3 / 7
Hence, the required probability is 3 / 7 .

Q42: A lot consists of 144 ball pens of which 20 are defective. The customers will buy a ball pen if it is good,
but will not buy a defective ball pen. The shopkeeper draws one pen at random from the lot and gives it to a
customer. What is the probability that
(A) customer will buy the ball pen?
(B) customer will not buy the ball pen? (CBSE 2017)

Ans: (A) Total number of ball pens = 144

∴Total number of outcomes is 144.
Also, the number of defective ball pens = 20
∴ Non-defective ball pens = 144 – 20 = 124 (A)
Let E1 be the event that customer will buy a ball pen i.e., ball pen is non-defective.
∵Total number of non-defective pens = 124
124 31
∴ P(E1) = =
144 36
Hence, the probability that customer will buy the ball pen is 31 / 36 .
(B) Probability of not buying the ball pen
= 1 – Probability of buying the ball pen
= 1 – P(E1)
= 1 – 31 / 36
= 5 / 36
Hence, the probability that the customer will not buy the ball pen is 5 / 36

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

Q43: From a pack of 52 playing cards, Jacks and Kings of red colour and Queens and Aces of black colour
are removed. The remaining cards are mixed and a card is drawn at random. Find the probability that the
drawn card is:
(A) a black queen.
(B) a card of red colour.
(C) a Jack of black colour.
(D) a face card. (CBSE 2017)

Ans: Number of cards removed = (2 + 2 + 2 + 2) = 8

Total number of remaining cards = (52 – 8) = 44
Now, there are 2 jacks and 2 kings of black colour and 2 queens and 2 aces of red colour left.
(A) Number of black queens = 0
∴ P(getting a black queen) = 0 / 44 = 0
(B) Number of red cards = 26 – 4 = 22
∴ P(getting a red card) = 22 / 44 = 1/ 2
(C) Number of jacks of black colour = 2
∴ P(getting a black jack) = 2 / 44 = 1 / 22
(D) We know that jacks, queens and kings are face cards.
∴ Number of remaining face cards = (2 + 2 + 2) = 6
∴ P(getting a face card) = 6/44 = 3 / 22

Previous Year Questions 2016

Q44: In the figure, a disc is shown on which a player spins an arrow twice. The function a / b is formed,
where ‘a’ is the number of sectors on which the arrow stops on the first spin and ‘b’ is the number of the
sector in which the arrow stops on the second spin. On each spin, each sector has an equal chance of
selection by the arrow. Find the probability that the fraction a / b > 1. (CBSE 2016)

Ans: For a / b > 1,

When a = 1, b can not take any value.
When a = 2, b can take one value i.e., 1.
When a = 3, b can take two values i.e., 1, 2.
When a = 4, b can take three values i.e., 1, 2, 3.
When a = 5, b can take four values i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4.

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 2/5/25, 11:07 AM Class 10 Maths Chapter 14 Previous Year Questions - Probability

When a = 6, b can take five values i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Here, total number of possible outcomes is same as when we throw a dice twice.
∴ Total possible outcomes = 36
a 1+2+3+4+5
∴P( >1)=
b 36
= 15/36
= 5 / 12
Hence, the required probability is 5 / 12

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