Year 6 Probability Answers

Describing Probability
Write each of the following probability words in the correct place on the probability scale.

certain even likely impossible unlikely

impossible even certain

0 1 1
unlikely 2 likely

Below are four probability scales. Write a statement related to probability for each scale
(for example, “the probability of rolling a 6 on a 6-sided dice”) then indicate the correct place
for the statement on the scale.
Any sensible answers, e.g. The probability of a non-biased coin landing on a head
1
when flipped is 2 .
1.

0 1 1
2

2.

0 1 1
2

3.

0 1 1
2

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 Year 6 Probability Answers
4.

0 1 1
2

Listing Outcomes
Write a letter (A, B or C) in each part of this fair spinner. You can use the same letter more
than once.

Imagine that you spin the spinner twice. List all the pairs of letters you could get:

The correct answer based on the combination of letters seen.

E.g. if A, A, A, B, B and C were used, the outcomes would be:

AA, AB, AC, BB and BC.

As AB and BA represent the same pair of letters, only one is needed, although either
or both is acceptable.

The spinner is spun twice. Calculate the probabilities of obtaining each letter combination.

For example, what is the probability of obtaining A, then B?

P(AB) = ?

The correct answer based on the combination of letters seen.

There will always be 36 outcomes when the spinner is spun twice.

E.g. If A, A, A, B, B and C were used:

6 1 4 1
P(AB) = 36 =
6 P(BB) = 36 = 9

It may help to draw a sample space diagram to visualise the possible outcomes.

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 Year 6 Probability Answers
Probability Scale
Draw some blue, red and green marbles in this bag and write down how many there
are below:

blue marbles

red marbles

green marbles

One marble is drawn from the bag at random. On the probability scales below, mark the
probability that the marble is:

Any sensible answer. E.g. If they have shown 5 blue marbles and the total number of
1
marbles is 10, then the probability of drawing a blue at random is 2 .

Blue
0 1 1
2

Red
0 1 1
2

Green
0 1 1
2

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 Year 6 Probability Answers
Expected Outcome
A box contains four beads. Each bead is a different shape. A bead is picked from the box at
random, then returned. What is the probability of selecting each bead? Complete the table.

Shape Triangle Circle Square Hexagon

1 1 1 1
Probability 4 4 4 4

1. You pick a bead, record the shape and return it to the box. How many times would you
expect to pick each shape if you repeated this process:

a. 20 times? b. 64 times? c. 80 times?

1 1 1
4
x 20 = 5 4
x 64 = 16 4
x 80 = 20

2. A bead is selected at random and then returned to the box. What is the probability
that the shape selected is:

a. a triangle or a circle? b. a square, hexagon or circle?

1 1 1 1 1 1 3
4
+ 4
= 2 4
+ 4
+ 4
= 4

A bead is taken from the box, the shape is recorded then it is returned. This process is
repeated a second time. What is the probability that the two shapes selected are:

c. a triangle and a circle? d. a square and a square?

1 1 1 1 1 1
4
x 4
= 16 4 x 4 = 16

Finally, a bead is taken from the box. It is not returned. A second bead is then taken.
What is the probability the two shapes selected are:

e. a triangle and a circle? f. a square and a square?

1 1 1 1 0
4
x 3
= 12 4
x 3
=0

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 Year 6 Probability Answers
Tree Diagrams
The tree diagram below shows the combination of outcomes for a repeated, independent
event, e.g. flipping a coin and getting heads.

Can you think of a real-life example to apply this to? Fill in the details on the tree diagram.

The correct answer based on the probabilities seen.

The probability of each outcome A should be the same.

The probability of each outcome B should be the same.

P(outcome A) + P(outcome B) must equal 1

P(outcome A) = 0.6

P(outcome B) = 0.4

0.6 outcome A

0.6 outcome A
0.4 outcome B

0.6 outcome A
0.4 outcome B
0.4 outcome B

Does the outcome of Event 1 affect the probability of the outcome of Event 2?

No. The outcome of Event 1 does not affect the outcome of Event 2 as the events are
independent.

Use your tree diagram to work out:

P(outcome A, outcome B) = 0.6 × 0.4 = 0.24

P(outcome A, outcome A) = 0.6 × 0.6 = 0.36

P(outcome B, outcome A) = 0.4 × 0.6 = 0.24

P(outcome B, outcome B) = 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.16

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 Year 6 Probability Answers
What should be the sum total of your answers?

0.24 + 0.36 + 0.24 + 0.16 = 1

The sum of the probabilities of all outcomes always equals one.

Venn Diagram
The Venn diagram below represents two groups, A and B, within a universal set, ξ.
ξ
A B

3, 5, 7 2 4, 6, 8, 10

1, 9

Can you think of a real-life numerical example to apply this to? For example, set A = prime
numbers, set B = even numbers, ξ = the numbers from 1 – 10 inclusive.

The correct answer based on the sets seen. For example:

ξ ξ = Numbers between 1 – 10 inclusive.

A = Prime numbers (2, 3, 5, 7)

B = Even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10)

Correct probabilities based on your own Venn
Add these numbers to the Venn diagram above. diagram. Answers can be simplified fractions,
unsimplified fractions or decimals.
Using the Venn diagram, find:
The answers for the example given are:
4 2 8 4
P(A) = 10
or 5
P(A ∪ B) = 10
or 5

5 1 1
P(B) = 10
or 2
P(A ∩ B) = 10
6 3
P(A’) = 10
or 5

Challenge:
7
a. P(A’ ∪ B) = 10

4 2
b. P(A’ ∩ B) = 10 or 5

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