Chapter 7 Probability II

7.1 Sample Space, S

A sample space is the set of all possible outcomes from an experiment. It can be represented in the form of set notation.
Example: Determine the sample space, S, by listing all the possible outcomes.
a) Tossing a fair coin
b)

A fair six-sided die is rolled.

c)

Randomly drawing a card from the five letter cards, M, A, T, H and S.

{x : 5 x 12, x is an integer}

d)

A number is select at random from the set

e)

.
A ball is picked at random from a bag containing a blue ball, a green ball and a red ball.
.

7.2 Probability of an Event

P A

number of outcomes in A n A

number of outcomes in S
n S

0 P A 1
, where

Number of times event A occurs

p A
Number of trials
If P(A) = 0, then A will not occur.
If P(A) = 1, then A occurs in every trial, that is, it will certainly occur
Example 1: Determine the probability of an event.
Questions
a) A bag contains 7 red balls, 5 green balls and 6 pink balls. A ball is
picked at random. Find the probability for a pink ball is picked.
b)

A letter is selected at random from the word ASSOCIATIONS. Find

the probability of selecting a vowel.

c)

A factory has 24 male and 16 female workers. If a worker is selected

at random, find the probability that
i)
A male worker is selected.
ii)
A female worker is selected.
iii)
If 4 female workers leave the factory and, then, a
worker is selected, find the probability that a female
worker is selected.

Solutions

Example 2:
A bag contains 48 cards. The probability of getting a green

A bag contains 27 blue pens and some black pens. The

card from the bag is

probability of picking a blue pen is

cards in the bag.

1
4

. Find the total number of green

number of pens in the bag.

3
4

. Find the total

A bag contains 24 brown pens and some yellow pens. The

A factory has 21 male workers and some female workers.

probability of picking a brown pen is

The probability of choosing a male worker is

3
7

. Find the total

3
8

. Find

number of pen in the bag.

the total number of workers in the factory.

A bag contains 25 red apples and some green apples. The

A bag contains 18 pink pens and some blue pens. The

probability of choosing a red apple is

probability of picking a blue pen is

5
8

. Find the

number of green apples in the bag.

2
3

. Find the number

of blue pen in the bag.

7.3 Complement of an Event

The complement of an event A is denoted by A'. A' contains all outcomes of the sample space that are not in A.
P(A) + P(A') = 1

A
A

The probability of A is P(A') = 1 P(A)

Example 1: State the complement of each of the following events in words and set notation.
Complement of event in
Complement of event in set
Event
words
notation
a) A fair coin is tossed
A = { head }
A' = A head is not obtained
A' = { tail }
b) A fair dice is tossed

B = An odd number is
obtained

B =

c) A letter is picked at random

from the word DILIGENT

C = The letter I is
obtained

C =

Example 2:
Example
1. Roll a fair six-sided dice. Find
the probability of
(a) getting a multiple of 3
(b) not getting a multiple of 3.
S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Exercise
1. Roll a fair six-sided dice. Find the
2. Roll a fair six-sided dice. Find the
probability of
probability of
(a) getting a number greater than 2
(a) getting number 6
(b) getting a number not greater than 2.
(b) getting a number other than 6.

n(S) = 6
(a) A = {3, 6}
n(A) = 2
2 1

6 3
1
p( A' ) 1
3
2

3
p( A)

(b)
2. The probability of Ali winning a

3
5
game is . What is the probability
of him not winning the game?
3
5
p(win) =
3
5
p(did not win) = 1 2
5
=

3. The probability that an express bus will

1
15
be late is
. Find the probability that the
express bus is not late.

7.4 Combined Event

A B.

A combination of event A or event B is

P(A or B)

= P(A

B)

n( A B )
n( S )

4. There are 24 girls and 16 boys in a

class. 15 of the girls wear spectacles. If a
student is chosen at random from the
class, find the probability that the student
chosen is a girl who does not wear
spectacles.

A B

A combination of an event A and event B is

P(A and B)

= P(A

B)

n( A B )
n( S )

=
Example 1:[SPM07]
Diagram 4 shows ten labeled cards in two boxes.

Box P
Diagram 4
A card is picked at random from each of the boxes.
By listing the outcomes, find the probability that

E
Box Q

a) both cards are labeled with a number

b) one card is labeled with a number and the other card is labeled with a letter.
[5 marks]

Example 2:[SPM08]
Diagram 10 shows three numbered cards in box P and two cards labeled with letters in box Q.

Q
Diagram 10
A card is picked at random from box P and then a card is picked at random from box Q.
By listing the sample of all possible outcomes of the event, find the probability that
a) a card with an even number and the card labeled Y are picked,
b) a card with a number which is multiple of 3 or the card labeled R are picked.
[5 marks]

Example 3:
MRSM13 Diagram shows five cards labeled with letters.

All these cards are put into a box. A card is drawn at random from the box and the letter is recorded. Then the card is put
back into the box before the second card is drawn at random.
(a) List the sample space.
(b) By listing the sample of all the possible outcomes, find the probability that
(i)
The first card is letter R and the second card is a vowel,
(ii)
Both cards with the same letter.
[5 marks]

Example 4:
Diagram shows five cards labeled with letters.

All these cards are put into a box. A two-letter code is to be formed by using any of these two cards. Two cards are picked at
random, one after another, with replacement.
(a) List the sample space.
(b) List all the outcomes of the events and find the probability that
(i)
The code consists of vowels,
(ii)
The code end with the letter B.
[5 marks]

Exercise:[Chapter 7 Probability II]

1. MRSM12 Diagram 10 shows three male athletes in group A and three female athletes in group B.

A team to be formed consisting of a male and a female athlete. This team is going to take part in The Youth
Badminton Tournament 2012.
(a) List the sample space.
(b) List all the possible outcomes of the event. Find the probability that
(i)
A team consists of Chia and a female athlete,
(ii)
A team consists of Nora or Siti.
[5 marks]
2. TRG13 Diagram 10 shows four cards in box P and box Q.

Diagram 10
A card is picked at random from box P and then a card is picked at random from box Q.
(a) List all the elements of the sample space.
(b) List all the possible outcomes and find the probability of the events that the cards picked are:
(i)
Cards chosen labeled with consonant,
(ii)
One card is labeled with a number or the other card is labeled with a letter T.
[6 marks]
3. Diagram shows five cards labelled with letter

All these cards are put into a box. Two cards are picked at random, one after another, without replacement.
(a) List the sample space.
(b) List all the possible outcomes and find the probability of the events that
(i)
Both cards are labelled with vowel,
(ii)
Card labelled C or card labelled S are chosen.
[6 marks]

4. PNG13Diagram shows two spinning discs. Disc K is divided into four equal sectors and disc L is divided into
three equal sectors. The pointers at the centre of the discs are spun simultaneously so that they will stop at
random at one of the sectors.

(a) List the sample space.

(b) List all the possible outcomes and find the probability that
(i)
Both pointers stop at a number,
(ii)
One pointer stops at a number and one pointer stops at a letter.

[6 marks]

PRACTICE:[Probability of Combined Event]

1. Box R contains 2 red chips and 3 green chips. Box S contains 1 black chip and 3 yellow chips.
(a) Listing the sample space for selecting one chip from each box at the same time.
(b) By listing the event, find the probability that
(i)
Red and yellow chips are chosen.
(ii)
Green or black chips are chosen.
2. Diagram shows five alphabetical cards are placed in a box.

Two cards are pick at random from the box, one after another without replacement. By listing the outcomes,
calculate the probability that
(a) The first card is S and the second card is not S,
(b) The cards picked are A or T.
3. Diagram shows five alphabetical cards.

Two cards are chosen at random. After one card is chosen, then put it back before choosing another one.
By listing the outcomes, find the probability that
(a) The first card is alphabet R and the second card is alphabet S.
(b) Both cards have the same alphabet.
4. Diagram shows three labelled cards in bag 1 and five labelled card in bag 2.

Two cards are picked at random, one card from bag 1 and another card from bag 2.
(a) List the sample space.
(b) List all the possible outcomes and find the probability of the events that the card picked are
(i)
Labelled with the same letter,
(ii)
Labelled with P or labelled with a vowel.
5. Diagram shows a round board which is divided into five equal sectors, A, B, C, D and E. A pointer is fixed at
the centre of the board. The pointer is spun twice. After each spin, the sector in which the pointer stops is
recorded.

(a) List all the possible outcomes of the event.

(b) Using the possible outcomes in (a), find the probability that
(i)
The pointer stops at the same sector twice.
(ii)
The pointer stops at sector E at least once.
6. Diagram shows five cards labelled with letters.

All these cards are put into a box. A two-letter code is to be formed by using any two of these cards. Two cards
are picked at random, one after another, without replacement.
(a) List all sample space.
(b) List all the outcomes of the events and find the probability that
(i)
The code begins with the letter A,
(ii)
The code consists of two vowels or two consonants.

Example 4:
2
5
During the coming school holiday, the probabilities of Liana visiting Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands are
respectively. Calculate the probability that Liana
a) visits Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands
b) visits Cameron Highlands or Genting Highlands

3
7

and