S.

3 MATHEMATICS HOMESTUDY MATERIAL

PROBABILITY
This refers to the occurrence of an event per its space sample i.e
n( E)
probability=
n( s)

Where n(E) = number of event to occur

n(s) = number of sample space

Definition of some terms used in probability

1. Event: - this is an outcome to occur.
It must be found in the sample space
2. Sample space: this is the total number of out comes occurred e.g
If I roll dice once, the sample space S = (1,2,3,4,5,6)
→n(s) = 6.
3. Samplepoints.
These are individual digits in a sample space i.e in the previous example:-
(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) areall sample points.

Properties of probability
1. The sum of all probabilities must be one (1).i.e
∑ p ( x=x )=1all x
2. 0 ≥ p (x=x)≤1:- this means that all probabilities should start from 0 and
end at 1. i.e probability should be between 0 and 1. Probability is
neither negative nor exceeds 1.

ROLLING A DIE:
Examples
If I roll a die once, write down the sample space
Solution
S = (1,2,3,4,5,6)

1
→n (s) = 6

b). what is the probability that an even will show on top

solution
Let event even be E
E = (2,4,6)
→n(E) = 3

n( E) 3 1
p ( E )= = =
n(S) 6 2

Activity:
If I roll a die, what is the probability that
i). an odd number will show on top
ii). A prime number will be on top
iii). A composite number will show up
iv). A straight number will show up
v). a square number will appear on top
vi). A number greater than 2 will show up
vii). A number less than 5 will show up
viii). A multiple of 3 will appear on top
ix). A multiple of 2 will show up
x). a 2 and 3 will show up.

TOSSING A COIN
A coin normally has two sides, ahead and a tail.
A head (H) is normally represented by the faces such as a fish on top, a crested
crane, a cow etc..
A tall is normally represented by the coat of arms for all coins.
Examples

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If I toss a coin once, the sample space is given by.
S = {Head, Tail}
n(s)= 2
or
s = {H, T}
n(s)= 2
where H = head of a coin
T = Tail of the coin
More examples
1). If I roll a coin once
a). write down the sample space
S = {H, T}
n(S) = 2

b).i). What is the probability that a head shows on top?

Solution
Let event head be E
E = {H}, n{H} = 1
n(E) 1
P(E) = n( S) = 2

ii). What is the probability that a tail will appear on top?

Let event, Tail be E
E = {T}, n(E) = 1
n(E) 1
P(E) = n( S) = 2

ROLLING A DIE TOGETHER WITH A COIN

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Examples
1. A Die and a coin are tossed once together.
Write down the sample space

COIN
H T
1 {1,H} {1,T}
DIE

2 {2,H} {2,T}
3 {3,H} {3,T}
4 {4,H} {4,T}
5 {5,H} {5,T}
6 {6,H} {6,T}

n(S) = 12

b). what is the probability that

i). an even number and a head show on top?

Soln
Let event be E
E = {(2, H), (4, H), (6, H)}
n (E) = 3

n(E) 3 1
P ( E )= = =
n(S) 12 4

(Iiii). what is the probability of getting a triangular number and a head.

Soln
Let Event be E
E = {(1, H), (3, H), (6, H)}
n (E) = 3
n(E) 3 1
P ( E )= = =
n(S) 12 4

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ACTIVITY
If I roll a die and toss a coin once together,
a). Write down the possibility sample space
b). what is the probability of getting
i). an even number and a tail?
ii). an odd number and a tail?
iii). A composite number and a tail?
iv).a triangular number and a tail
v).a 6 and T?

Examples involving total probability

1). A box contains a red, white and black balls. The probability of picking a red
2 1
ball 5 and that of a white ball is 6 . What is the probability of picking a black
ball?

From ∑ P ( X=x )=1

All x

Let Red balls be (R), white be (W) and black be (B)

→ P ( R ) + P ( W ) + P ( B )=1

2 1
+ + P(B) = 1
5 6
( 6 x 2 ) +( 5 x 1 )
+ P ( B )=1
30
12+5
+ P ( B )=1
30
17
+ P ( B )=1
30
17
P ( B )=1−
30
30 17
P ( B )= −
30 30

5
 13
P ( B )=
30

Exercise
1). A fair die is tossed only once and the number which appears on its top face
noted, what is the probability of a top face showing
a), a number greater than it?
b). an odd number or prime number
2). A fair coin with one side showing a court of arms (A) and the other side
showing a cow (C) is tossed together with a fair die with sides 1,2,3,4,5,and 6.
a). Write down the possibility space
b). what is the probability of getting an even number and a court of Arms?
3. A fair die with faces marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and a fair coin with one side
showing a court of Arms (A) and the other side a fish (F) are tossed together
once.
a). Construct a possibility space showing all the possible outcomes
b). Find the probability that a six and a fish will show up?
4). A box contains cards labeled from 1, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8
a). write down the possibility space?
b). what is the probability that a multiple of 2 will show up?
c). what is the probability of a number greater than 5 showing up?

TOSSING TWO COINS TOGETHER

Example
A pair of coins are tossed together once.
a). write down the possibility space

COIN1
H T

6
 H {H,H} {H,T}

2
COIN
T {T,H} {T,T}
n (S) = 4
what is the probability of getting
i). 2 Heads
{H , H } 1
P ( 2 Heads ) = =
4 4

ii). 1 head
2
P ( 1 Heads )= { H , T } , {T , H ¿ ¿ =
4 4
1
¿
2

iii) P( 2 Tails)
soln
(TT ) 1
P ( 2tails )= =
4 4

4. P(1 tail)
Soln
{T , H ) , {H , T } 2
P ( 1Tail )= =
4 4
1
¿
2

5. P (0 heads)
(TT ) 1
P ( 0 heads ) = =
4 4

5. P (0 Tails)
(HH ) 1
P ( 0 Tails ) = =
4 4

TOSSING / ROLLING TWO DICE TOGETHER

Examples

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Two dice are rolled together once,
i). Write the probability sample space
soln
DIE 1
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 {1,1} {1,2} {1,3 {1,4} {1,5} {1,6}
}
2 {2,1} {2,2} {2,3 {2,4} {2,5} {2,6}
DIE 2

}
3 {3,1} {3,2} {3,3 {3,4} {3,5} {3,6}
}
4 {4,1} {4,2} {4,3 {4,4} {4,5} {4,6}
}
5 {5,1} {5,2} {5,3 {5,4} {5,5} {5,6}
}
6 {6,1} {6,2} {6,3 {6,4} {6,5} {6,6}
}
n (S) = 36
what is the probability that both dice will
i). Show an even number on top
soln
(2,2) ,(2,4) ,(2,6),(4,2) ,(4,6) ,(6,2),(6,4) ,(6,6)
P(even) =
36
9
= 36

1
=4

ACTIVITY
A pair of dice are tossed together once
a). Write down the sample space
b). What bis the probability that both dice will show

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i). an odd number
ii). A prime number
iii). A composite number
iv). A triangular number
v). a cube number
vi). A number greater than 4

THE “OR” AND “AND” PROBABILITY

“OR”in probability means union and “AND” means intersection
Examples
A fair die is tossed once.
a). Write down the possibility space
S = {1,2,3,4,5,6}
b). what is the probability of getting an even number and a prime number?
Let the event prime be P and even be E
E = {2,4,6}
P = {2,3, 5}
P ( E∩ P ) = {2}

n (E∩ P)
∴ P ( E ∩ P )=
n( S)
1
=6

c). What is the probability of getting an even number or a prime number

E = {2,4,6}
P = {2,3,5}
P ( E∪ P ) = {2,3,4,5,6}

n( E ∪ P)
∴ P ( E ∪ P )=
n(S)

9
 5
=6

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