Chap 13

Simple Probability (4)

Complement of an event
Probability
Complement of an event A , A’
A’ = Complement of event A
= Set of all outcomes in the sample space that is
not outcome of event A

A’={ 3, 9 ,15 ,21 ,27 }

Example:
A letter is selected from the word “ANUGERAH”. F is an event of
selecting a consonant. State the complement of an event F
i) using set notation
ii) in words

Solution:
F={N,G,R,H}
i) F’={ A, U, E, A} ii) F’ = Event of not selecting consonant
or F’= Event of getting vowel
Probability of the complement of an event A, P(A’)

P( A’ ) = Probability of the Complement of an event A

𝐧(𝐀′ )
P(A’)=
𝐧(𝐒)
or P(A)+ P(A’)=1
P(A’)= 1 - P(A)
Example (one event)
1) A dice is tossed . G is an event of selecting prime number.
Find the probability of the complement of G

Solution:
S={ 1,2,3,4,5,6} , n(S)=6
G={2,3,5}
G’={ 1,4,6} , n(G’)=3

𝐧(𝐆′ ) 𝟑 𝟏
P(G’)= = =
𝐧(𝐒) 𝟔 𝟐
 Example (more than one event)
2) A coin is tossed twice .Q is an event of getting 2 heads
Find the probability of the complement of event Q.

(H,H)
(H,T)
(T,H)
Solution:
(T,T)

S={ (H,H) ,(H,T) ,(T,H),(T,T) } , n(S)=4

Q= { (H,H) }
Q’={ (H,T) , (T,H) , (T,T) } , n(Q’)= 3
𝐧(𝐐′ ) 𝟑
P(Q’) = =
𝐧(𝐒) 𝟒
 Example
3) Find the probability that a yellow marble is not picked if the
probability that a yellow marble is picked at random in a box is
2
i) 0.65 ii)
9

Solution:

2 7
i) P(Y’)= 1- P(Y) ii) P(Y’)= 1- =
9 9
= 1-0.65
= 0.35
 Example
4)
Marbles Blue Green White
Probability a) 2 1 2
a) 1- - =
1 4
7 a) 7 7 7
7

b) 0.21 b) 1 - 0.21 - 0.38 b) 0.38

=0.41
Solving problem
Example 1
1) There are 8 black buttons and some white and
blue buttons in a container . A button is picked at
random from the container and the probability of
1
getting a black buttons is .
4
i) Find the total number of buttons in the container
Solution:
𝟏
n (B) =8 , P(B) = 𝟒 , n (S)=?
n(B)
P(B) = n(S)= 4x 8= 32 buttons
n(S)
𝟏 8
=
𝟒 n(S)
1) There are 8 black buttons and some white and blue buttons
in a container . A button is picked at random from the container
1
and the probability of getting a black buttons is .
4
ii) A total of 16 buttons are added. What is the number of black
buttons added to the container.
solution:
𝟏
n (B) =8 , P(B) = , n(S)=32+16 ,n (New B)= ?
𝟒
n( B) 16
P( B) = 4(8+x)= 48 x= 4 = 4 𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠
n(S)
𝟏 8+x
= 32+4x= 48
𝟒 32+16
𝟏 8+x
= 4x= 48-32=16
𝟒 48
Example 2
In a box, there are yellow and purple colour paper. A paper is
3
drawn at random. The probability that it is a purple paper is .
7
If there are 64 pieces of yellow paper in the box, calculate
i) The total number of papers in the box
ii) The number of purple papers
Solution:
3 4
i) P(Y)=1 - = 4x n(S)= 7 x 64=448
7 7
n( Y) 448
P(Y) = n(S)= =112
n(S) 4
4 64
= ii) n(P)= 112-64 = 48
7 n(S)