18

Probability

1. (a) S = {Heads, Tails}

n(A) = 4
4
P(A) =
6
2

=
3

(b) S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
(c) S = {(H, 1), (H, 2), (H, 3), (H, 4), (H, 5), (H, 6),

(T, 1), (T, 2), (T, 3), (T, 4), (T, 5), (T, 6)}
(d) S = (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29}

4. S = {3 white, 2 red, 5 yellow}

n(S) = 10

(e) S = {50 students of the class}

Let A = {red or yellow balls}

= {2 red and 5 yellow}
n(A) = 7

(f) S = {win, lose, draw}

2. (a) n (heads) = 1
n(heads)

P(heads) =
n(sample)
1


=
2

7
P(A) =
10
5. S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
A = {6}, B = {2, 4, 6}, A > B = {6}

(b) A = {multiple of 3}

= {3, 6}

n(A) = 2
2

P(A) =
6
1


=
3

P(A < B} = P(A) + P(B) P(A > B)

1
3
1

=+
6
6
6
3

=
6
1

=
2
Alternative
A < B = {2, 4, 6}
n(A < B) = 3
3
P(A < B) =
6
1

=
2

(c) S = {first 10 positive integers}

= {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

A = {prime number}
= {2, 3, 5, 7}
n(A) = 4
4
P(A) =
10
2

=
5

6. S = {(1, H), (2, H), (3, H), (4, H), (5, H), (6, H),
(1, T), (2, T), (3, T), (4, T), (5, T), (6, T)}
n(S) = 12

(d) A = {5 black balls}

n(A) = 5
5

P(A) =
10
1


=
2

A = {odd number}
= {1, 3, 5}
B = {T}
P(A > B) = P(A) P(B)
3
1

=
6
2
1

=
4

3. S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
n(S) = 6
Let A = {2 or odd number}

= {1, 2, 3, 5}

Alternative
A > B = {(1, T), (3, T), (5, T)}
n(A > B)
P(A > B) =
n(S)
3

=
12
1

=
4

9. (a) {heads} > {tails} = { }

Therefore, the events are mutually exclusive.

7. SA = {2 red, 3 yellow}
SB = {4 blue, 5 green}
Let A = {red marble}, B = {green marble}
n(A) = 2
n(B) = 5
2
P(A) =
5
5
P(B) =
9

P(A < B) = P(A) + P(B) P(A > B)

3
1

=+0
6
6
2

=
3

Blue
Green

12. A = {prime number}

= {2, 3, 5}
B = {2, 4, 6}
A > B = {2}

Blue
Green

P(A < B) = P(A) + P(B) P(A > B)

3
3
1

=+
6
6
6
5

=
6

P(red and green)

2
5
=
5
9
2
=
9
8.

5
3

{prime number} > {even number}

= {2, 3, 5} > {2, 4, 6}
= {2}
Therefore, the events are not mutually
exclusive.

(ii)

11. A = {even number}

= {2, 4, 6}
B = {3}

Yellow
5

P(A < B) = P(A) + P(B) P(A > B)

1
1

=+0
2
2

= 1

Red
5

{even number} > {odd number} =

Therefore, the events are mutually
exclusive.

10. A = {heads}, B = {tails}

P(A > B) = P(A) P(B)

2
5

=
5
9
2

=
9
Alternative
4

(b) (i)

13. S = {3 red, 2 blue, 1 yellow}

A = {red marble}
= {3 red marbles}
B = {yellow marble}
= {1 yellow marble}

Even number

Prime number
3

5
2

Odd number

P(A < B) = P(A) + P(B) P(A > B)

3
1

=+0
6
6
2

=
3

Even number

Non-prime number
3

Odd number

Prime number = {2, 3, 5}

P(prime number and even number)
3
2
=
5
5
6
=
25

 14. S =
(a)

A
1

(b)

10

11

A > Q = {(2, T), (3, T), (5, T)}

3
P(A > Q) =
12
1

=
4

A>B>C=
n(A < B < C) = 9
9
P(A < B < C) =
12
3

=
4
Alternative
P(A < B < C)
= P(A) + P(B) + P(C) P(A > B) P(A > C)
P(B > C) P(A > B > C)
1
6
3
1
= + + 0 0 0
12
12
12
12
9
=
12
3
=
4

Since P(A > Q) = P(A) P(Q),

then A and Q are independent events.
2
16. (a) P(R) =
3
1

P(B) =
3

2
1
P(R) P(B) =
3
3
2

=
9
R1

A = {2}
B = {prime number}
= {2, 3, 5, 7, 11}
C = {even number}
= {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12}

R1
R2
B

R2

R1
R2
B
R1

12

15. A = {tails}, Q = {prime number}

n(A) = 1
= {2, 3, 5}


n(Q) = 3
1
3
P(A) =
P(Q) =
2
6
1


=
2
1
1
P(A) P(Q) =
2
2
1

=
4
S = {(1, T), (2, T), (3, T), (4, T), (5, T), (6, T), (1, H),

(2, H), (3, H), (4, H), (5, H), (6, H)}

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12}

A = {2}
B = {odd number}
= {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11}
C = {double-digit number}
= {10, 11, 12}

3
5
7

11

6
10
8 12

A < B < C = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12}

n(A < B < C) = 10

n(S) = 9
R > B = {red and black}
n(R > B) = 2
2
P(R > B) =
9
Since P(R > B) = P(R) P(B),
then R and B are independent events.

2
1
(b) P(R) = , P(B) =
3
2
2
1

P(R) P(B) =
3
2
1


=
3

n(A < B < C)

P(A < B < C) =
n(S)
10

=
12
5

=
6

R2

 19. (a) P(even number > red)

= P(even number) P(heads)
3
1

=
6
2
1

=
4

R2

R1

B
R1

R2

B
R1

n(R > B) = 2
2
P(R > B) =
6
1

=
3
1
Since P(R > B) = P(R) P(B) = ,
3
then R and B are independent events.

17.

9
5

10
3

10

10

Black

Yellow

9
2

9
5

White
1

(b) Multiple of 3 = {3, 6}

P(multiple of 3 and tails)

= P(multiple of 3) P(tails)
2
1

=
6
2
1

=
6

R2

3
3
3
20. (a) P(all even numbers) =
6
6
6
1


=
8

Black

(b) P(prime number > odd number > odd number)

= P(prime number) P(odd number)
P(odd number)
3
3
3

=
6
6
6
1

=
8

Yellow
White
Black
Yellow
White
Black

(c) P(all same number)

= P(111) + P(222) + P(333) + P(444) + P(555)
+ P(666)
1 3

= 6
6
6

=
216
1

=
36

Yellow
White

1 2

P(yellow and black) = P(yellow) P(black)

3
5

=
10
9
1

=
6

18. A = {3 blue, 2 yellow, 1 red}

B = {4 white, 2 red}
(a) P(R > R) = P(R) P(R)
1
2


=
6
6
1


=
18

21. A = {1, 2, 3}
B = {6, 7, 8, 9}
C = {3, 6, 9}
P(multiple of 3 from each set)
1
2
3
=
3
4
3
1
=
6

(b) P(R > W) = P(R) P(W)

1
4


=
6
6
1


=
9
(c) P(B > Y) = P(B) P(Y)
3
0


=
6
6


=0



1. {5 yellow, n red}
n
P(red) =
8
n
n

=
8
5+n
1
1
=
8
5+n
5 + n = 8

n = 3

2. S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
A = {odd number}
= {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
B = {prime number}
= {2, 3, 5, 7}
(a) (i) P(odd number and prime number)
5
4


=
10
10
20


=
100
1


=
5

2. P(prime number > prime number)

2
1
=
4
3
1
=
6
2
3. (a) P(Siti wins) =
5

1
P(Fatimah wins) =
4
P(both of them fail)
2
1
= 1 1
5
4
3
3
=
5
4
9
=
20

21

(b) P(one of them win)

= P(S > F) + P(S > F)
2
3
3
1

= +
5
4
5
4
6
3

= +
20
20
9

=
20

2 1

1. S = {4 blue, 3 yellow, 5 white}

5
(a) P(white) =
12
(b) P(similar colour)

= P(blue and blue) + P(yellow and yellow)
+ P(white and white)
4
3
3
2
5
4

= + +
12
12
12
11
11
11
12
6
20

= + +
132
132
132

2 1

2 1

38
=
132
19
=
66

(ii) C = {perfect square}

= {1, 4, 9}

P(both are perfect square)

3
3
=
10
10
9
=
100

(b) (i)

D = {multiple of 3}
= {3, 6, 9}
D > A = {3, 9}

P(multiple of 3 or odd number)

= P(D < A)
= P(D) + P(A) P(D > A)
3
5
2
= +
10
10
10
6
=
10
3
=
5

(ii) E = {multiple of 2}

= {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}

E > B = {2}

P(multiple of 2 or prime number)

= P(E < B)
= P(E) + P(B) P(E > B)
5
4
1
= +
10
10
10
8
=
10
4
=
5

 3. (a) A = {number greater than 2}

= {3, 4, 5, 6}
4

P(greater than 2) =
6
2


=
3

7. P(same number)
= P(111) + P(222) + P(333) + P(444) + P(555)
+ P(666)
1 3
= 6
6
1
=
36

1 2

(b) B = {factor of 6}

= {1, 2, 3, 6}

2
1
8. P(R) = , P(T) =
3
5
(a) P(both fail) = P(R > T)


= P(R) P(T)
1
4


=
3
5
4


=
15

4
P(a factor of 6) =
6
2

=
3

4. {4 black, 2 red, k white}

1
Given P(white) =
4
k
1

=
4
6+k
4k = 6 + k
3k = 6

k = 2

(b) P(one of them fails) = P(R > T) +

2
4


= +
3
5
9


=
15
3


=
5

5. (a) P(prime number and tails)

= P(prime number) P(tails)
3
1

=
6
2
1

=
4

2 1

9. (a) P(on quadrant 2 twice)

1
1

=
4
4
1

=
16

(b) P(heads is obtained)

= P(H, 1) + P(H, 2) + P(H, 3) + P(H, 4)
+ P(H, 5) + P(H, 6)
1
1

= 6
2
6
1

=
2

P(R > T)
1
1

3
5

(b) P(at most once in 4th quadrant)

= P(none in 4 th quadrant) + P(once in 4 th
quadrant)
3
3
1
3

= +
4
4
4
4
9
3

+

=
16
16
12

=
16
3

=
4

6. S = {3 yellow, 2 red, 1 blue}

(a) P(both blue)
1
0

=
6
5

=0

2 1

2
1
10. P(hit the bull eye) =
3
8
1
3

P(hit the bull eye) =
8
2
3

=
16
3
Area of circle =

16
Area of rectangle
3

Area of circle = (4 8)
16

= 6 cm2

(b) P(at least one red)

= 1 P(without red)

= 1 P(yellow and blue) P(yellow and yellow)
P(blue and blue)
3
1
3
2

= 1 0
6
5
6
5
3

= 1
10
7

=
10

 11. (a)

S = {10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19}
n(S) = 10
A = {prime number}
= {11, 13, 17, 19}
B = {multiple of 3}
= {12, 15, 18}
P(a prime number and a multiple of 3)
4 3

=
10 9
2

=
15
(ii) C = {sum of digits greater than 8}

= {18, 19}

P(sum of the digits greater than 8)
2
1

=
10
9
1

=
45

1 21 2

Rain

Not
raining

Late to office

Car
5

6
1

10

On time to office
Late to office

Bus
9

10

On time to office

4
9
(b) P(on time if not raining) =
10
5
18


=
25
(c) P(late to the office)

= P(raining and late) + P(not raining and late)
1
1
4
1

= +
10
5
6
5
1
2

= +
30
25
5 + 12

=
150
17

=
150

(ii) P(one of them gets the 1st place)

= P(A > B > C) + P(A > B > C)
+ P(A > B > C)
1
4
2
3
1
2

= +
4
5
3
4
5
3
3
4
1
+
4
5
3

2 1

1
1
(a) P(late if raining) =
5
6
1


=
30

12. Let A = Mr Chong

B = Mr Ong
C = Mr Lim
1
1
1
(a) P(A) = , P(B) = , P(C) =
4
5
3

(i) P(all fail to get the 1st place)


= P(A > B > C)


= P(A) P(B) P(C)
3
4
2


=
4
5
3
2


=
5

(ii) P(two blue marbles)

= P(BBB) + P(BBB) + P(BBB)
10
2
2

= 3
12
12
12
5

=
72

(iii) P(green or red) = P(green) + P(red)

4
5
2
3


= +
6
5
6
5
20
6


= +
30
30
26


=
30
13


=
15

13.

12
8
6
= + +
60
60
60
26
=
60
13
=
30

2
3
4
4
(ii) P(red) = +
6
5
6
5
11


=
15

1 2 1 2

1 2 1 2

(b) S = {6 yellow, 2 blue, 4 green}

(i) P(all of the same colour)


= P(YYY) + P(GGG)
6 3
4 3


= +
12
12

1 3
1
= +
2
3
1
1
= +
8
27
35
=
216

(b) R = {2 black, 3 red}, Q = {4 red, 1 green}

{factors of 2} = {1, 2}
2
2

(i) P(black) =
6
5
2



=
15

(i)

2 1

 14. S = {x red, y green}

1
(a) P(red) =
5
1
x

=
x+y
5

5x = x + y


y = 4x

(c) P(at least 2 teams qualify)

= P(A > B > C) + P(A > B > C)
+ P(A > B > C) + P(A > B > C)
1
1
1
4
1
3
1

= + +
60
3
4
5
3
4
5
2
1
1

+
3
4
5
1
1
1
1

= + + +
15
60
20
30
1

=
6

(b) x + y = 20.........................1

y = 4x.........................2

Substitute 2 into 1,
x + 4x = 20
5x = 20

x = 4

2 1

16. (a) R = {3 yellow, 2 red}

Q = {x yellow, 4 blue}

y = 4(4)
= 16

1
1
1
15. P(A) = , P(B) = , P(C) =
3
4
5
(a) P(all qualify for the final)

= P(A > B > C)

= P(A) P(B) P(C)
1
1
1

=
3
4
5
1

=
60

2
P(getting a yellow marble from box Q) =
3
3 x + 1
2
2
x
+ =
5 x+5
5 x+4
3
x
+ 1
x

9 + 6 = 10
x+5
x+4
9(x + 1)(x + 4) + 6x(x + 5) = 10(x + 5)(x + 4)
9(x2 + 5x + 4) + 6x2 + 30x = 10(x2 + 9x + 20)
9x2 + 45x + 36 + 6x2 + 30x = 10x2 + 90x + 200

5x2 15x 164 = 0

1 21

2 1 21
1
2 1

(b) P(red and blue)

= P(red > blue)
2
4

=
5
9
8

=
45

(b) P(none qualify for the final)

= P(A > B > C)
2
3
4

=
3
4
5
2

=
5

2
2