Trees and Probability

Trees can be useful in categorizing the possible outcomes of certain

events. For example, suppose football teams from Oakland and Kansas
City play twice during the regular season. Assuming that a tie is
unlikely to happen.

Math 131 Graph Theory 1 / 4

Trees and Probability
Trees can be useful in categorizing the possible outcomes of certain
events. For example, suppose football teams from Oakland and Kansas
City play twice during the regular season. Assuming that a tie is
unlikely to happen.

Math 131 Graph Theory 1 / 4

We are faced with three containers, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Container 1
contains one black ball and two white balls. Container 2 has one black
ball and three white balls, while Container 3 holds only one ball,
colored black. We select a container at random and then select a ball
at random from the chosen container. Is it more likely that a black ball
or a white ball is chosen?

Math 131 Graph Theory 2 / 4

We are faced with three containers, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Container 1
contains one black ball and two white balls. Container 2 has one black
ball and three white balls, while Container 3 holds only one ball,
colored black. We select a container at random and then select a ball
at random from the chosen container. Is it more likely that a black ball
or a white ball is chosen?

Math 131 Graph Theory 2 / 4

We calculate the probability that a white ball is selected. With the aid
of the tree diagram, we see that the probability is
1 2 1 3 1 17
· + · + (0) = .
3 3 3 4 3 36

Math 131 Graph Theory 3 / 4

We calculate the probability that a white ball is selected. With the aid
of the tree diagram, we see that the probability is
1 2 1 3 1 17
· + · + (0) = .
3 3 3 4 3 36
Since this probability is less than 0.5, we conclude that we are more
likely to choose a black ball.

Math 131 Graph Theory 3 / 4

A die is tossed twice, what is the probability that the sum of the
numbers on the two throws is 8?

A fair coin is flipped four times. Determine the probability that heads
and tails occurs twice each.

Math 131 Graph Theory 4 / 4