Grade 8 Mathematics [INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY ]

Exercise 6B
1. A counting number less than 30 is chosen at random. What is the probability
that the number chosen:
a. is a multiple of 4? c. is a cube number?
b. is a square? d. is a prime?
2. A jar contains 2 orange, 5 blue, 3 red and 4 yellow
marbles. A marble is drawn at random from the jar.
Find each probability.
a. p (orange)
b. p (red)
c. p ( blue)
d. p (green) Figure 6.12

3. Two dice are thrown at the same time. State the probability of each event:
a. The sum is 5
b. The sum is 9
c. The sum is 12

4. A game is played with two spinners. You multiply the two numbers on the
spinners land to get the score
Spinner A Spinner B

2
3 1
1 3 4
2

This score is 2 4 = 8
Figure 6.13 Spinner

a. Copy and complete the table to show all the possible scores.
One score has been done for you.
Spinner B
× 1 2 3 4
Spinner A

1
2 8
3
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 Grade 8 Mathematics [INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY ]
b. Work out the probability of getting a score of 6.
c. Work out the probability of getting a score that is an odd number.
5. This spinner is spun. What is the probability of getting:
a. a number 1
b. an odd number
1 3
2

The three-sided spinner has landed on two

Figure 6.14

6. Nine counters numbered 2 to 10 are put in a bag. One counter is selected at

random.
What is the probability of getting a counter with
a. a number 5 d. a perfect square number
b. an odd number e. a multiple of 3?
c. a prime number
7. A hundred raffle tickets are sold. Raman buys 8 tickets, Susan 5 tickets and
Aster 12 tickets. What is the probability that the first prize will be won by
a. one of these three c. Susan
b. Raman d. Somebody other than Aster?
Write each answer in three ways:
a. as a fraction c. as a percentage
b. as a decimal and
5.

Challenge Problem
8. When three dice are thrown at the same time what is the probability that the
sum of the number of dots on the top faces will be 6?
9. A number is selected at random from 1 to 100. State the probability that:
a. The number is odd c. the number is even or divisible by 5
b. the number is divisible by 5 d. the number is divisible by 5 or 3.

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Summary for Unit 6

1. A process of an observation is often called an experiment.
2. The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment is called a sample space
/the possibility set/ of the experiment and denoted by S.
3. A subset of the sample space of an experiment is called an event and
denoted by E.
4. An event which is certain to happen has a probability of 1.
5. An event which cannot happen is (impossible) outcomes has a probability
of 0.
6. The probability that an event will happen is calculated by:
Probability of an event = .
7. The probability of an event happening is always greater than or equal to 0
(impossible) and less than or equal to 1 (certain). This can be written as
0 ≤ probability an event ≤ 1.

Miscellaneous Exercise 6
I. Write true for the correct statements and false for the incorrect one
1. The probability of an event that is certain to occur is 1.
2. The probability of an event that is an impossible out comes to occur is 0.
3. The probability of getting a sum of 7 or 11 by rolling two dice is
4. If the set of all possible outcomes is equal to an event then the probability
of an event is 1.
5. Suppose that two dice are tossed, and then the probability of the sum 1 is
also 1.

II. Choose the correct answer from the given alternatives

6. If 2 fair dice are tossed, what is the probability that the sum of the
number of dots on the top faces will be 7?
c.
b. d.

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7. A bag contains 6 white balls, 4 red balls and 5 black balls. If a ball is
drawn from the bag at a random, then which of the following is true.
a. Probability of a white ball is .
b. Probability of red or a black ball is .
c. Probability of not getting a black ball is .
d. All are true

8. A pairs of fair dice is tossed. What is the probability of not getting a sum
5 or 9?
b. c. d.
9. Which of the following is true about a probability scale?
a. Probability of unlikely between 0 and .
b. Probability of even chance is .
c. Probability of likely between and 1.
d. All are true
III. Work out problems
10. A letter of the English alphabet is chosen at random. Calculate the
probability that the letter so chosen be:
a. vowel
b. Precedes m and is a vowels
c. follows m and is a vowels
11. If three coins are thrown. What is the probability of obtaining.
a. all heads c. at least one heads
b. all tails d. at least two heads
12. A letter is chosen at random from the words ETHIOPIA MATHS. What
is the probability that the letter E is chosen?
13. One letter is chosen at random from the word ISOSCELES. What is the
probability of choosing.
a. the letter C c. a vowel
b. the letter E d. a consonant
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