PROBABILITY PROBABILITY OF AN EVENT

Probability – measure of chance, where the value is between 0 to 1 that measures Probability of simple events – if each of the outcomes in a sample space is
how likely an event will occur. equally likely to occur, then the probability of an event E, denoted as P(E) is
 Experiment – act of making an observation or taking measurement. That given by
repeated over and over again and which have well defined. number of ways theevent can occur
P ( E )=
 Outcome – possible result of an experiment. number of possible outcomes
 Sample Space – The set of all outcomes in an experiment. n( E)
In symbol, P ( E )=
 Event – a set of possible outcomes resulting from a particular experiment. n( S)
It could be simple or compound. Examples:
Examples: A. When a fair of die is rolled once, what is the probability of
A. 1. a number 7 2. not number 5 3. at most 4
Experiment Outcome Sample Space n(s) Event n(E) Solution:
Getting a head 1. a number 7 2. not number 5
Tossing a coin Head, Tail n(s) = {Head, Tail} = 2
n(E) = {head} = 1 n(S) = {1,2,3,4,5,6} = 6 n(S) = {1,2,3,4,5,6} = 6
Having a even n(7) = {} = 0 n(not number 5) = {1,2,3,4,6} = 5
Rolling a die 1,2,3,4,5,6 n(s) = {1,2,3,4,5,6} = 6 number n( E) 0 n( E) 5
P ( 7 )= = =0 P ( not number 5 )= =
n(E) = {2,4,6} = 3 n( S) 6 n( S) 6
Drawing a ball
from a box 4 blue 3. at most 4
Having a blue ball
containing 4 balls, 5 n(s) = {4 blue balls, 5 red n ( E) 4 2
n(E) = {4 blue} = n(S) = {1,2,3,4,5,6} = 6 P ( at most 4 ) = = =
blue balls and 5 red balls balls} = 9 n (S ) 6 3
4
red balls n(at most 4) = {1,2,3,4} = 4

B. A card is drawn from a well – shuffled deck of cards. Find the probability of
Solve for the number of Sample Space: drawing
A. Rolling two dice: 1. a King 2. a heart 3. Not a King
1 2 3 4 5 6 Other 1. a king 2. A heart
1 (1,1) (1,2) (1,3) (1,4) (1,5) (1,6) solution: n(S) = 52 n(S) = 52
2 (2,1) (2,2) (2,3) (2,4) (2,5) (2,6) n(king) = 4 n(a heart) = 13
3 (3,1) (3,2) (3,3) (3,4) (3,5) (3,6)
6 6 P ( king )=
n(E) 4
= =
1
P ( a heart )=
n( E) 13 1
= =
4 (4,1) (4,2) (4,3) (4,4) (4,5) (4,6) n( S) 52 13 n(S) 52 4
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) C. There are 20 marbles in a container: 4 are red, 5 are blue and 11 are yellow.
What is the probability that a blue marble will be picked?
B. Tossing three coins:
1. a blue marble
2 2 2 = (2)(2)(2) = 8 n(S) = 20
n(blue) = 5
n(E) 5 1
P ( blue )= = =
n( S) 20 4