9-6 Geometric Probability

Objectives
Calculate geometric probabilities.
Use geometric probability to predict
results in real-world situations.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Warm Up
Find the area of each figure.
1.
A = 36 ft2

2.

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Monday, May 4, 15

A = 20 m2

3. 3 points in the

figure are chosen

randomly. What is
the probability that
they are collinear?

0.2

9-6 Geometric Probability

Remember that in probability, the set of
all possible outcomes of an experiment
is called the sample space. Any set of
outcomes is called an event.
If every outcome in the sample space is
equally likely, the theoretical probability
of an event is

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Geometric probability is used when an
experiment has an infinite number of
outcomes. In geometric probability,
the probability of an event is based on a
ratio of geometric measures such as
length or area. The outcomes of an
experiment may be points on a segment
or in a plane figure.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Remember!
If an event has a probability p of occurring, the probability of the
event not occurring is 1 p.
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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 1A: Using Length to Find Geometric
Probability
A point is chosen randomly on PS. Find the
probability of each event.

The point is on RS.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 1B: Using Length to Find Geometric
Probability

The point is not on QR.

Subtract from 1 to find the probability that the

point is not on QR.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 1C: Using Length to Find Geometric
Probability

The point is on PQ or QR.

P(PQ or QR) = P(PQ) + P(QR)

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Check It Out! Example 1
Use the figure below to find the probability
that the point is on BD.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 2A: Transportation Application
A pedestrian signal at a crosswalk has the
following cycle: WALK for 45 seconds and
DONT WALK for 70 seconds.
What is the probability the signal will show
WALK when you arrive?
To find the probability, draw a segment to
represent the number of seconds that each signal
is on.
The signal is WALK for 45 out
of every 115 seconds.
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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 2B: Transportation Application
If you arrive at the signal 40 times, predict
about how many times you will have to stop
and wait more than 40 seconds.
In the model, the event of stopping and waiting
more than 40 seconds is represented by a segment
that starts at B and ends 40 units from C. The
probability of stopping and waiting more than 40
seconds is
If you arrive at the light 40 times, you will probably
stop and wait more than 40 seconds about
(40) 10 times.
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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Check It Out! Example 2
Use the information below. What is the
probability that the light will not be on red
when you arrive?

The probability that the light will be on red is

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 3A: Using Angle Measures to Find
Geometric Probability
Use the spinner to find the probability of each
event.
the pointer landing on yellow
The angle measure in the
yellow region is 140.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 3B: Using Angle Measures to Find
Geometric Probability
Use the spinner to find the probability of each
event.
the pointer landing on blue or red

The angle measure in the blue region is 52.

The angle measure in the red region is 60.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 3C: Using Angle Measures to Find
Geometric Probability
Use the spinner to find the probability of each
event.
the pointer not landing on green

The angle measure in the green region is 108.

Subtract this angle measure from 360.

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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Check It Out! Example 3
Use the spinner below to find the probability
of the pointer landing on red or yellow.

The probability is

that the

spinner will land on red or

yellow.
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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 4: Using Area to find Geometric Probability
Find the probability that a point chosen
randomly inside the rectangle is in each shape.
Round to the nearest hundredth.

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9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 4A: Using Area to find Geometric Probability
the circle
The area of the circle is A = r2
= (9)2 = 81 254.5 ft2.
The area of the rectangle is A = bh
= 50(28) = 1400 ft2.
The probability is P = 254.5 0.18.
1400
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9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 4B: Using Area to find Geometric Probability
the trapezoid
The area of the trapezoid is

The area of the rectangle is A = bh

= 50(28) = 1400 ft2.
The probability is

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9-6 Geometric Probability

Example 4C: Using Area to find Geometric Probability
one of the two squares
The area of the two squares is A = 2s2
= 2(10)2 = 200 ft2.
The area of the rectangle is A = bh
= 50(28) = 1400 ft2.
The probability is
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Monday, May 4, 15

9-6 Geometric Probability

Check It Out! Example 4
Find the probability that a point chosen
randomly inside the rectangle is not inside the
triangle, circle, or trapezoid. Round to the
nearest hundredth.
Area of rectangle: 900 m2
The probability of landing
inside the triangle (and
circle) and trapezoid is
0.29.
Probability of not landing in
these areas is 1 0.29 =
0.71.
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Monday, May 4, 15