TEMASEK JUNIOR COLLEGE

2016 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758

Tutorial 21 : Probability I
[Level 0]
1 Which of the following functions P define a probability space on S = {A, B, C, D}? State your
reason(s).
(i) P(A) = 0.01, P(B) = 0.03, P(C) = 0.11, P(D) = 0.35
(ii) P(A) = 0.30, P(B) = 0.60, P(C) = 0.90, P(D) = 0.80
(iii) P(A) = 0.01, P(B) = 0.04, P(C) = 0.06, P(D) = 0.89
(iv) P(A) = 0.20, P(B) = 0.30, P(C) = 0, P(D) = 0.50
Solution:
(i) P is not a probability function since P(S) 1.
(ii) P is not a probability function since P(D) < 0.
(iii), (iv) P is a probability function as P(S) = 1 and all probabilities are 0.

2 Let P be a probability function on S = {A, B, C}. Find P(A) if

(a) P(B) = 1 and P(C) = 1
3 2
(b) P(A) = P(B) and P(C) = 1
4
(c) P(C) = P(B) and P(B)= 3P(A) [(a) 1/6 (b) 3/8 (c) 1/7]
Solution:

(a) P(A) = 1 1 1 1
3 2 6
;
(b) P(A) = 1 1 2 3 ;
4 8
(c) 7P(A) = 1 P(A) = 1
7

3 From the letters of the word SINGAPORE, two letters are chosen at the same time at
random. Find the probability that both the letters are vowels. [ 16 ]
Solution:
P(Both letters are vowels) = 4 3 1
9 8 6

4 The events A and B are mutually exclusive, while the events A and C are independent. Given
1 1 7
that P A , P B and P A C , find
4 10 10
(i) P A B (ii) P A C [(i) 207 (ii) 203 ]
Solution:
A and B are mutually exclusive P A B 0
A and C are independent P A C P A P C
1 1 7
(i) P A B P A P B P A B 0
4 10 20
(ii) P A C P A P C P A C

1
 7 1 1
P C P C [ A and C are indep.]
10 4 4
3 1 3 3
P C P A C
5 4 5 20