WorkSHEET 10.

2 Introductory probability Name: ____________________________

1 If Pr(A) = 0.35, Pr(B) = 0.8 and Pr(A∪B) = Pr( A) + Pr(B) − Pr( A∩B)
Pr(A∩ B) = 0.2, what is Pr(A∪ B) ? = 0.35 + 0.8 − 0.2
= 0.95

2 From a standard deck of 52 playing cards, one

card is drawn at random. Let A be the event
‘the card is a diamond’ and let B be the event
‘the card is an ace’.
(a) Evaluate: (a) A = {diamonds}
B = {ace of hearts, ace of diamonds, ace of
clubs, ace of spades}
A∩B = {ace of diamonds}
(i) Pr(A) 13
(i) Pr(A) =
52
1
=
4
(ii) Pr(B) 4
(ii) Pr(B) =
52
1
=
13
1
(iii) Pr(A∪B) (iii) Pr(A∩B) =
52
Pr(A∪B)
= Pr(A) + Pr(B) − Pr(A∩B)
1 1 1
= + −
4 13 52
13 + 4 − 1
=
52
16
=
52
4
=
13
1
(b) Are A and B mutually exclusive events? (b) Pr(A∩B) =
52
As Pr(A∩B) ≠ 0, A and B are not
mutually exclusive.

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 1 of 5

3 If Pr(A) = 0.4, Pr(B) = 0.5 and Pr(A∪ B) = 0.7, Pr( A∪B) = Pr( A) + Pr(B) − Pr( A∩B)
find via the aid of a Venn diagram Pr( A∩B′) . 0.7 = 0.4 + 0.5− Pr( A∩B)
Pr( A∩B) = 0.2
Pr( A∩B′) = 0.2
This is the area outside circle B that overlaps
with A.

4 A survey of 40 students revealed that 20 of

them prefer walking to school, 18 prefer
driving to school and 8 of them would either
walk or drive to school.
(a) Represent this information as a: (a)
(i) Venn diagram (i) n( ε ) = 40

(ii) probability table.

(ii)

W W'
D 0.2 0.25 0.45
D' 0.3 0.25 0.55
0.5 0.5 1

Pr(W∩D) = 0.2
Pr(W′∩D) = 0.25
Pr(W∩D′) = 0.3
(b) Calculate the probability that a randomly Pr(W′∩D′) = 0.25
selected student only ever walks to
school. (b) Pr(student only ever walks to school)
= Pr(W∩D′)
= 0.3

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 2 of 5

5 If Pr(A) = 0.4, Pr(B) = 0.5 and Pr(A∪B) = 0.8,
find:
(a) Pr(BA) (a) Pr(A∪B) = Pr(A) + Pr(B) − Pr(A∩B)
0.8 = 0.4 + 0.5 − Pr(A∩B)
Pr(A∩B) = 0.9 − 0.8
= 0.1
Pr ( A ∩ B)
(c) Pr(BA) =
Pr ( A)
0 .1
=
0 .4
1
= (or 0.25)
4
Pr ( A ∩ B)
(b) Pr(AB) =
(b) Pr(AB) Pr ( B)
0 .1
=
0 .5
1
=
5
6 If Pr(AB) = 0.6 and Pr(A∩B) = 0.3, find Pr(B). Pr ( A ∩ B)
Pr(AB) =
Pr ( B)
0 .3
0.6 =
Pr ( B)
0.6 × Pr(B) = 0.3
0 .3
Pr(B) =
0 .6
= 0.5

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 3 of 5

7 Cupboard A contains 3 ties and 7 shirts.
Cupboard B contains 6 ties and 4 shirts. David
selects one cupboard at random and chooses an
item of clothing from that cupboard.
Draw a tree diagram to illustrate the situation
and calculate the probability that:
(a) David chooses a tie

(a) Pr(tie) = Pr(A and tie) or Pr(B and tie)

(b) David chooses cupboard A, given he 1 3  1 6 
=  × + × 
selected a tie.  2 10   2 10 
3 6
= +
20 20
9
=
20
(b) Pr(Atie)
Pr(cupboard A and tie)
=
Pr ( tie)
1 3
×
= 2 10
9
20
3 20
= ×
20 9
1
=
3
8 A coin is tossed and a die is rolled. What is the
probability of: 1 3
(a) a head and an even number? (a) Pr(head and even number) = ×
2 6
1
=
4
(b) a tail and a multiple of 3? (b) Pr(tail and multiple of three)
1 2
= ×
2 6
1
=
6

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 4 of 5

9 A die is rolled three times. What is the
probability of getting: 3 3 3
(a) an even number on each roll? (a) Pr(3 even numbers) = × ×
6 6 6
1
=
8
(b) Pr(at least 2 even numbers)
(b) at least 2 even numbers?
= Pr(2 even numbers or 3 even numbers)
= Pr(EEO or EOE or OEE or EEE)
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
= × × + × × + × × + × ×
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
1 1 1 1
= + + +
8 8 8 8
1
=
2

10 Jennifer draws a marble from a bag that

contains 4 red marbles, 5 green marbles and 3
blue marbles. She notes the colour and replaces
the marble before drawing another marble and
noting its colour. She repeats this process a
third time.What is the probability of getting:
(a) three red marbles? 4 4 4
(a) Pr(three red marbles) = × ×
12 12 12
1
(b) at least two blue marbles? =
27
(b) Pr(at least 2 blue marbles)
= Pr(2 blue marbles) or Pr(3 blue
marbles)
= Pr(B, B, not B) + Pr(B, not B, B) +
Pr(not B, B, B) + Pr(B, B, B)
3 3 9 3 3 3
= 3 × ×  +  × × 
 12 12 12   12 12 12 
 3 1
= 3  +
 64  64
9 1
= +
64 64
10
=
64
5
=
32

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 5 of 5