PROBABILITY

Total No.of questions in Probability are -

In Chapter Examples.............................................................. 26
Solved Examples ................................................................... 33

Total No. of questions .......................................................... 59

1. DEFINITIONS (vii) The drawing of three balls from a bag
containing 4 blue, 5 white and 4 red balls
1.1 Trial and Event : An experiment is called a results in 13C3 events.
trial if it results in anyone of the possible Thus 13C = 286 events are exhaustive
3
outcomes and all the possible outcomes are
1.3 Favourable Events : Those outcomes of a trial
called events.
in which a given event may happen, are called
For Example : - favourable cases for that event.
(i) Participation of player in the game to win a For Example : -
game, is a trial but winning or losing is an
(i) If a coin is tossed then favourable cases of
event.
getting H is 1.
(ii) Tossing of a fair coin is a trial and turning up
(ii) If a dice is thrown then favourable case for
head or tail are events.
getting 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, is 1.
(iii) Throwing of a dice is a trial and occurrence
(iii) If a ball is drawn from a bag containing 4
of number 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 are
black and 3 white balls then favourable cases
events.
for drawn ball to be black are 4C1= 4
(iv) Drawing a card from a pack of playing cards
(iv) If two dice are thrown, then favourable cases
is a trial and getting an ace or a queen is
of getting a sum of numbers as 9 are four i.e
an event.
(4,5), (5,4), (3,6), (6,3).
1.2 Exhaustive Events : Total possible outcomes of
(v) If three cards are drawn from a pack of 52
an experiment are called its exhaustive events.
cards then favourable cases for all drawn
For Example : - cards be spade are 13C3 i.e. 286 favourable
(i) Tossing a coin has 2 exhaustive cases i.e. events.
either head or tail may come upward. (vi) If three balls are drawn from a bag containing
(ii) Throwing of a die has 6 exhaustive cases 3 blue, 4 white and 2 red balls then favourable
because any one of six digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, cases for drawn balls to contain 2 white and
6 may come upward. 1 red ball are 4C2 x 2C1 i.e. 12 favourable
(iii) The drawing of one ball from a bag which events. ( 2 white balls and 1 red ball will be
contains 4 black and 3 white balls result in drawn from 4 white balls and 2 red balls
7C ev ents. Thus 7 C = 7 events are respectively.)
1 1
exhaustive. 1.4 Equally likely events : Two or more events are
(iv) Throwing of a pair of dice has 36 exhaustive said to be equally likely events if they have
cases because any one of six digits 1, 2, same number of favourable cases.
3, 4, 5, 6 may come upward on any dice so For Example : -
total number of exhaustiv e cases =
(i) The result of drawing a card from a well
6 × 6 = 36.
shuffled pack of cards, any card may appear
(v) Tossing of two and three coins results in 4
in a draw, so 52 different cases are equally
and 8 exhaustive cases respectively because
likely.
head or tail may come upward on any coin.
(ii) In tossing of a coin, getting of ‘H’ or ‘T’ are
So in case of two coins total number of cases
= 2 × 2 = 4 and in case of three coins total two equally likely events.
number of cases = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 (iii) In throwing of a dice, getting 1 or 2 or 3 or
(vi) The drawing of three cards from a pack of 52 4 or 5 or 6 are six equally likely events.
cards results in 52 C 3 ev ent s.Thus
52C = 22100 events are exhaustive.
3
1.5 Mutually exclusive or disjoint events : Two Note :
or more events are said to be mutually Generally students find themselves in problem to
exclusive, if the occurrence of one prevents distinguish between Independent and mutually
exclusive events and get confused. These events
or precludes the occurrence of the others. In other
have the following differences-
words they cannot occur together.
(i) Independent events are always taken from
For example : - dif f erent experiments, while mutually
exclusive events are from only one
(i) In tossing of a coin, getting of ‘H’ or ‘T’ are experiment.
two mutually exclusive events because then (ii) Independent events can happen together but
can not happen together. in mutually exclusive events one event may
(ii) In throwing of a dice, getting 1 or 2 or 3 or happen at one time.
4 or 5 or 6 are six mutually exclusive events. (iii) Independent events are represented by the
word “and” but mutually exclusive events are
(iii) In drawing a card from a pack of cards, getting
represented by the word “or”.
a card of diamond or heart or club or spade
are four mutually exclusive events. 1.8 Sample Space : The set of all possible
outcomes of a trial is called its sample space.
1.6 Simple and Compound events : If in any
It is generally denoted by S and each outcome
experiment only one event can happen at a time
of the trial is said to be a point of sample of S.
then it is called a simple event. If two or more
events happen together then they constitute a For example : -
compound event. (i) If a dice is thrown once, then its sample
space S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
For Example : - (ii) If two coins are tossed together then its
If we draw a card from a well shuffled pack of sample space S = {HT, TH, HH, TT}.
cards, then getting a queen of spade is a simple
2. MATHEMATICAL DEFINITION OF
event and if two coins A and B are tossed
together then getting ‘H’ from A and ‘T’ from B is PROBABILITY
a compound event. Let there are n exhaustive, mutually exclusive
1.7 Independent and Dependent events : Two or and equally likely cases for an event A and m
more events are said to be independent if of those are favourable to it, then probability of
happening of onedoes not affect other events. happening of the event A is defined by the ratio
On the other hand if happening of one event m/n which is denoted by P(A). Thus
affects (partially or totally) other event, then they
m No. of favourable cases to A
are said to be dependent events. P(A) = =
n No. of exhaustive cases to A
For Example : - Note :
(i) If we toss two coins, then the occurrence of It is obvious that 0  m  n. If an event A is
head on one coin does not influence the certain to happen, then m = n thus P (A) = 1.
occurrence of head or tail on the other coin
If A is impossible to happen then m = 0 and so
in any way. Hence these ev ents are
P (A) = 0. Hence we conclude that
independent.
0  P (A)  1
(ii) Suppose a bag contains 5 white and 4 black
balls. Two balls are drawn one by one. Then Further, if A denotes negative of A i.e. event
two events that first ball is white and second that A doesn’t happen, then for above cases
ball is black are independent if the first ball m, n ; we shall have
is replaced before drawing the second ball.
If the first ball is not replaced then these two nm m
P (A) = = 1 – = 1 – P (A)
events will be dependent because second n n
draw will have only 8 exhaustive cases.  P (A) + P ( A ) = 1
 (i) Here E1 = the event of getting exactly
Mathematical Definition of Probability two heads
Ex.1 Let a card is drawn from a pack of 52 playing = {HHT, HTH, THH}
cards then the probability that it is a card of
Ace is 1/13, because out of 52 total number n (E1 ) 3
 n (E1) = 3  P (E1) = =
of outcomes, 4 cards are those of a ace n (s) 8
(favourable case). (ii) E2 = {HTT,THT, TTH, TTT}
Ex.2 If a dice is thrown then probability that an n (E2 ) 4 1
even number is shown will be 1/2, because  n (E2) = 4,  P(E2) = = =
n ( s) 8 2
out of 6 total cases 3 are favourable.
Ans.
Ex.3 A ball is drawn from a bag containing 5 red
and 4 green balls. Then the probability that Ex.7 If three cards are drawn from a pack of 52
the ball drawn is of red colour will be 5/9 cards, what is the chance that all will be
because out of 9 total number of cases 5 are queen?
favourable cases. Sol. If the sample space be s then n(s) = the
total number of ways of drawing 3 out of 52
Ex.4 In tossing a coin, the probability of appearing cards = 52C3
head is 1/2 (  total no. of cases = 2, Now, if A = the event of drawing three queens
favourable case = 1) in other words the then n(A) =4C3
probability of appearing tail is also 1/2.
4
Ex.5 Two dice are thrown at a time .Find the n ( A) C3 4 1
P(E) = = 52 = =
probability of the following- n ( s) C3 52  51  50 5525
(i) these numbers shown are equal; 32
(ii) the difference of numbers shown is 1. Ans.
Sol. The sample space in a throw of two dice Ex.8 5 cards are drawn from a pack of 52 cards
s = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} ×{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. what is the probability that these 5 will
 total no. of cases n (s) = 6 × 6 = 36. contain just one king?
(i) Here E1 = the event of showing equal Sol. The total ways of drawing 5 out of 52 cards
number on both dice i.e., the number of elements in sample space
= {(1, 1) (2, 2) (3, 3) (4, 4) (5, 5) (6, 6)} S . n(s) = 52C5.
Out of 52 cards, there are 4 kings and 48
n (E1 ) 6 1 other cards. Out of 4 kings the total number
 n (E1) = 6  P (E1 ) = = =
n (s) 36 6 of ways of drawing 1 king = 4C1 . So if
Ans. E 1 = the ev ent of hav ing one King
n(E1) = 4C1.
(ii) Here E2 = the event of showing numbers
whose difference is 1. Remaining 4 can be drawn out of 48 in 48C4
ways.
= {(1, 2) (2, 1) (2, 3) (3, 2) (3, 4) (4, 3)
(4, 5) (5, 4) (5, 6) (6, 5)} So, if E2= the event of having any 4 from the
remaining cards.
n(E2 ) 10 5 n(E2) = 48C4
 n (E2) = 10  P(E2) = n(s) = 36 = 18
Let E = the event of drawing, 1 king and 4
Ans. other cards.
Ex.6 Three coins are tossed together- then n(E) = n (E1) . n(E2) = 4C1 × 48C4
(i) Find the probability of getting exactly two
4
heads, n(E) C1  48 C 4
 P(E1) = = 52
(ii) Find the probability of getting at least n(s) C5
two tails.
Sol. The sample space in tossing three coins 4! 48! 5 ! 47! 3243
= × × =
S = (H, T) × (H, T) × (H, T) 1! 3 ! 4 ! 44! 52! 10829
 Total no. of cases n (s) = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 Ans.
Ex.9 A bag contains 5 blue, 4 white, and 4 red Ex.12 Find the probability that a leap year will not
balls. Three balls are drawn at random then have 53 Mondays.
find the probability that all the drawn balls
Sol. First, we will find the probability of leap year
are blue.
containing 53 Mondays.
Sol. If the sample space be s then n(s) = the
total number of ways of drawn 3 balls out of In a leap year there are 366 days, in which
total 13 balls = 13C3 there are 52 weeks and 2 days, so it is
If A = the event of drawing three blue balls certain that there are 52 Mondays. Now, there
then n(A) = 5C3 shall be 53 Mondays, if out of additional two
days one is a Monday. Taking all possible
543
5
C3 cases for the additional two consecutive
n( A) 3  21
 P(E) = == 13 = days, the sample space is
n(s) C3 13  12  11
3  21 S = {(Sunday, Monday), (Monday, Tuesday)
(Tuesday, W ednesday), (W ednesday,
543 5 Thursday), (Thursday, Friday), (Friday,
= = Ans.
13  12  11 143 Saturday), (Saturday, Sunday).
Ex.10 A bag contains 5 red and 4 green balls. Four The event of being one Monday out of two
balls are drawn at random then find the consecutive day-
probability that two balls are of red and two
balls are of green colour. E = (Sunday, Monday), (Monday, Tuesday)
Sol. n(s) = the total number of ways of drawing 4  n(s) = 7, n(E) = 2
balls out of total 9 balls : 9C4.
n(E) 2
If A1 = the event of drawing 2 red balls out  P(E) = =
of 5 red balls then n(A1) = 5C2 n(s) 7
A2 = the event of drawing 2 green balls out
of 4 green balls then n(A2) = 4C2 but P ( E ) = 1 – P (E) = the probability that a
 n(A) = n(A1) . n(A2) = 5C2 × 4C2 leap year will not have 53 Monday.

n ( A)
5
C2  4 C 2  P ( E ) = 1 – 2/7 = 5/7 Ans.
 P(A) = = 9
n ( s) C4
3. ODDS FOR AN EVENT
5443 If an event A happens in m number of cases and
22 10 if total number of exhaustive cases are n then
= 98 7 6 = Ans. we can say that -
21
432
m
The probability of event A, P(A) =
n
Ex.11 The letters of the word ‘SHANU’ are written
in a row randomly. Then find the probability m nm
that vowels occupies the even places. and P( A ) = 1 
n n
Sol. The total no. of ways to arrange 5 letters at
5 places n(s) = 5!  Odds in favour of
In the five letter word, two place are even P( A ) m/n m
A = = =
(second and fourth) and there are two vowels P( A ) ( n  m) / n n m
A and U in the give word. So we have to  Odds in against of
arrange 2 vowel at 2 even places and 3
consonants at remaining 3 places. P( A ) (n  m) / n n  m
A = = =
 n(A) = 2!. 3! P( A ) m/n m
So Odds in favour of A = m : (n – m)
n( A) 2!. 3 ! 1
 P(A) = = = Ans. Odds in against of A= (n – m) : m
n(s) 5! 10
 Examples P (A  B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (A  B)
based on Odds for an event
or P (A + B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (AB)
Ex.13 Three coins are tossed together. The For any three events A, B, C
probability of getting a head is 3/8. This
means that out of eight possible cases 3 P (A  B  C) = P (A) + P (B) + P (C) – P
are favourable to this event and 5 are against (A  B) – P (B  C) – P (C  A)
the event. Thus odds in favour of event is + P (A  B  C)
3 : 5 and odds in against the event is 5 : 3 or P (A + B + C) = P (A) + P (B) + P(C) – P
Ex.14 If a card is drawn from a pack of 52 cards (AB) – P (BC) – P (CA) + P (ABC)
then find the odds in favour of the event that
it is a card of a queen. Addition theorem of Probability
Sol. Here n = 52, m = 4
4 4 1 1
 Odds in favour of the event = = Ex.15 If P(A) = , P (B) = and A and B are
52  4 48 5 2
= 1 : 12 mutually exclusive then P (A  B) equals-
(A) 1/6 (B) 1/10
Notations :
(C) 7/10 (D) 1/4
(i) P (A + B) or P (A  B)
Sol. From formula, P (A  B) = P (A) + P(B) =
= Probability of happening of A or B
= Probability of happening of the events A 1 1 7
+ = Ans.[C]
or B or both 5 2 10
= Probability of occurrence of at least one
Ex.16 One number is selected from first 20 positive
event A or B
integers. What is the probability that it is
(ii) P(AB) or P(A B) = Probability of happening divisible by 3 or 4.
of events A and B together. (A) 1/5 (B) 1/2
(iii) P(A/B) = Conditional Probability of A when B (C) 3/16 (D) 1/9
has happened. Sol. Let A = event that selected number is
divisible by 3
4. ADDITION THEOREM OF PROBABILITY
B = event that selected number is divisible
Case I : When events are mutually exclusive: by 4
If A and B are mutually exclusive events then Here the events are not mutually exclusive.
n (A  B) = 0  P (A  B) = 0
6 5
 P (A  B) = P (A) + P (B) then P (A) = , P (B) = ,
20 20
For any three events A, B, C which are mutually 1
exclusive then P (A  B) = 0, P (B  C) = 0, P (AB) =
20
P (C  A) = 0 and P (A  B  C) = 0  P (A + B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (AB)
 P (A  B  C ) = P (A) + P (B) + P (C) 6 5 1 10 1
The probability of happening of any one of several = + – = = Ans. [B]
20 20 20 20 2
mutually exclusive events is equal to the sum of
their probabilities, i.e. if A1,A2.... An are mutually Ex.17 If two cards are drawn from a pack of cards
exclusive events then then the probability of getting at least one
P (A1 + A2 + ...+ An) = P (A1) + P(A2) +...... Ace is -
+ P (An) (A) 1/5 (B) 33/221
i.e. P (  Ai) = (C) 3/16 (D) 1/9
 P (Ai)
Sol. The Total number of exhaustive cases of
Case II : When events are not mutually drawing two cards = 52C2
exclusive. Now, to get at least one Ace out of two
If A & B are two events which are not drawn cards , one card of Ace and second
mutually exclusive then. card of others or both cards can be of Ace.
 If these events are denoted by A and B Ex.20 Two dice are thrown. Then the probability
respectively then that the numbers appeared has a sum 8 if it
P(A) = (4C1 × 48C1)/ 52C2 = 32 /221, is known that the second die always exhibits
P(B) = 4C2 / 52C2 = 1/221 4, is-
(A) 1/3 (B) 2/3
 P (A + B) = P(A) + P (B)
(C) 1/6 (D) 1/2
 P (A + B) = 32/221 + 1/221 = 33/221
Ans.[B] Sol. Let A = the event of occurrence of 4 always
on the second die.
5. CONDITIONAL PROBABILITY = {(1,4), (2,4), (3,4), (4,4), (5,4), (6,4)}
If A and B are dependent events, then the  n (A) = 6
probability of B when A has happened is called and B = the event of occurrence of such
conditional probability of B with respect to A numbers on both dice whose sum is 8= {(4,4)}
and it is denoted by P (B/A). It may be seen that Thus A  B = A  {(4,4)} = {(4,4)}
B P( AB)  n (A  B) = 1
P   =
A P( A )
n( A  B) 1
Examples  P (B/A) = n( A)
=
based on Conditional Probability 6
Ans.[C]
Ex.18 A card is drawn from a pack of playing
cards. Find the probability that the drawn
card is a court card when it is black. 6. MULTIPLICATION THEOREM OF PROBABILITY
(A) 3/26 6.1 Case I : When events are independent :
(B) 3/13 If A1, A2 , ......., An are independent events, then
(C) 1/2 P (A1. A2. ....An) = P (A1 ) P (A2 ) .....P (An).
(D) None of these So if A and B are two independent events then
Sol. Let A = event that drawn card is a court card happening of B will have no effect on A. So
i.e. a card of king, queen or jack. P (A/B) = P (A) and P (B/A) = P (B), then
B = Event that drawn card is black. P (A  B) = P (A) . P (B) OR
P (AB) = P (A) . P (B)
26 6
then P(B) = , P (AB) =
52 52 Case II : When events are not independent :
The probability of simultaneous happening of two
A P( AB) 6 / 52 6 3 events A and B is equal to the probability of A
 P  B  = P(B)
=
26 / 52
=
26
=
13 multiplied by the conditional probability of B with
Ans.[B] respect to A (or probability of B multiplied by
the conditional probability of A with respect to
B).i.e.
Ex.19 If A and B are two events such that
P(A) = 1/2, P(B) = 1/3 and P(A  B) = 7/12 P (A  B) = P (A) . P (B/A) or P(B) . P(A/B)
then P(A/B) equals- OR
(A) 3/4 (B) 1/4 P (AB) = P (A) . P (B/A) or P (B) . P (A/B)
(C) 1/2 (D) None of these
Sol.  P (A  B) = P (A) + P(B) – P (A  B) Multiplication theorem of Probability
 7/12 = 1/2 + 1/3 – P (A  B) Ex.21 A bag contains 3 red, 6 white and 7 blue
 P (A  B) = 1/4 balls. Two balls are drawn one by one. What
is the probability that first ball is white and
P ( A  B) 1 / 4 3 second ball is blue when first drawn ball is
Now, P (A/B) = = =
P (B) 1/ 3 4 not replaced in the bag?
Ans.[A] (A) 3/40 (B) 7/40
(C) 1/8 (D) None of these
Sol. Let A be the event of drawing first ball white Ex.24 A problem of mathematics is given to three
and B be the event of drawing second ball students A, B and C. Whose chances of
blue, then solving it are 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 respectively. Then
P (A) = 6/16 , P (B/A) = 7/15 probability that the problem is solved is-
 P (AB) = (6/16) . (7/15) = 7/40 (A) 1/4 (B) 1/2
Ans.[B] (C) 3/4 (D) 3/16
Sol. Obviously the events of solving the problem
Ex.22 Three coins are tossed together. What is the
by A,B and C are independent. Therefore
probability that first shows head, second required probability
shows tail & third shows head ?
(A) 1/8 (B) 1/4  1  1  1 
= 1 – 1  2 1  3 1  4 
(C) 1/2 (D) 3/4    
Sol. Let A,B,C denote three given component
1 2 3 3
events which are mutually independent, = 1 – . . = Ans.[C]
2 3 4 4
so P (ABC) = P (A). P (B). P (C)
1 1 1 1 7. BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION FOR REPEATED
= . . = Ans.[A] TRIALS
2 2 2 8
Let an experiment is repeated n times and
Ex.23 A bag contains 4 red and 4 blue balls . Four
probability of happening of any event called
balls are drawn one by one from the bag
success is p and not happening the event called
then the probability that the drawn balls are
failure is q = 1– p then by binomial theorem.
in alternate colour is-
(A) 2/3 (B) 3/35 (q + p)n = qn + nC1 qn–1 p +.....+ nCr qn–r pr
(C) 6/35 (D) 3/4 +....+ pn
Sol. E1 = Event that first drawn ball is red, second Now probability of
is blue and so on. (a) Occurrence of the event exactly r times
E2 = Event that first drawn ball is blue second = nCr qn–rpr
is red and so on. (b) Occurrence of the event at least r times
= nCr qn–r pr + .....+ pn
4 4 3 3
 P (E1) = 8 . 7 . 6 . 5 & (c) Occurrence of the event at the most r times
= qn + nC1 qn–1p+ ...+ nCr qn–r pr
4 4 3 3
P(E2) = . . . Examples
8 7 6 5 based on Binomial distribution for repeated trials
 P (E) = P (E1) + P (E2)
Ex.25 Two dice are tossed four times find the
4 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 probability of getting
= . . . + . . . (i) equal digits exactly two times
8 7 6 5 8 7 6 5
(ii) equal digits at least two times
6
= Ans.[C] (iii) equal digits at the most two times
35
Sol. Let A be the event of getting equal digits on
6.2 Probability of at least one of the n the dice. Since number of exhaustive cases
Independent events : is 36 and favourable cases is 6. Therefore P
6 1
If p1, p2, p3, ....pn are the probabilities of n (A) = P = = ,
independent events A1, A2, A3.... An then the 36 6
probability of happening of at least one of these 1 5
P( A ) = q = 1  =
event is 6 6
1 – [(1– p1 ) (1–p2) ....(1–pn) ] Hence by Binomial theorem, we have
(5/6 + 1/6)4 = (5/6)4 + 4C1 (5/6)3 (1/6) + 4C2
P (A1 + A2 + A3 + ....+ An) = 1 –P ( A 1) (5/6)2 (1/6)2 + 4C3 (5/6) (1/6)3 + (1/6)4
P ( A 2) P ( A 3) ...P ( A n) Thus from above result, we have
 (i) Probability of getting equal digits exactly two (b) Number of exhaustive cases of tossing n
times coins simultaneously (or of tossing a coin n
times) = 2n
25
= 4C2 (5/6)2 (1/6)2 = (c) Number of exhaustive cases of throwing n
216
dice simultaneously (or throwing one dice n
(ii) Probability of getting equal digits at least two times) = 6n
times.
(d) Playing Cards :
= 4C2 (5/6)2 (1/6)2 + 4C3 (5/6) (1/6)3 + (1/6)4 (i) Total : 52 (26 red, 26 black)
25 20 1 171 (ii) Four suits : Heart, Diamond, Spade,
= + + = Club - 13 cards each
216 1296 1296 1296
(iii) Court Cards : 12 ( 4 Kings, 4 queens,
(iii) Probability of getting equal digits at the most 4 jacks)
two times (iv) Honour Cards : 16 ( 4 aces, 4 kings,
= (5/6)4 + 4C1 (5/6)3 (1/6) + 4C2 (5/6)2 (1/6)2 4 queens , 4 jacks)
(e) Probability regarding n letters and
625 500 150 1275 their envelopes:
= + + =
1296 1296 1296 1296 If n letters corresponding to n envelopes are
placed in the envelopes at random, then
8. BOOLE’S INEQUALITY (i) Probability that all letters are in right
(a) For any two events A and B. 1
envelopes =
P (A B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (A  B) n!
(ii) Probability that all letters are not in right
 P ( A  B)  P (A) + P(B) 1
envelopes = 1 –
{ P (A  B)  0} n!
(b) For any three events A,B,C (iii) Probability that no letter is in right envelope
1 1 1 1
P (A  B  C)  P (A) + P (B) + P (C) = – + – .....+ (–1)n
2! 3! 4! n!
(c) In general for any n events A1, A2, .....An
(iv) Probability that exactly r letters are in right
P (A1  A2  ....  An)  P (A1) + P(A2 ) envelopes
+ ....+ P (An)
1 L
M1 1 1 nr 1 O
P
9. SOME IMPORTANT RESULTS
=
r! N!  3!  4! ........(1)
2 (n  r )! Q
(a) Let A and B be two events, then Examples
Probability regarding n letters
based on
(i) P (A) + P ( A ) = 1 and their envelopes
(ii) P (A + B) = 1 – P ( A B ) Ex.26 There are four letters and four envelopes, the
P( AB) letters are placed into the envelopes at
(iii) P (A/B) = random, the probability that all letters are
P(B) placed in the wrong envelopes-
(iv) P (A + B) = P (AB) + P ( A B) + P(A B ) (A) 1/24 (B) 23/24
(v) A  B  P (A)  P (B) (C) 3/8 (D) 5/8
(vi) P ( A B) = P (B) – P (AB) Sol. We know from the above given formula that
probability that no letter is in right envelop
(vii) P(AB)  P(A)P(B)  P(A + B)  P(A)+P(B) out of n letters and n envelopes is given by
(viii) P(AB) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A + B)
=
L
M1 1 1
  ........( 1)
1 n O
P
(ix) P (Exactly one event) N2! 3! 4! n! Q
= P(AB ) + P ( A B)= P (A)+P(B)–2p (AB) Since all 4 letters are to be placed in
= P (A+B) – P (AB) wrong envelopes then required probability
L
1 1
M 1
= 2!  3 !  4 ! =
O
P 1 1 1
 
3
(x) P(neither A nor B) = P( A B )=1 – p (A + B)
N Q 2 6 24
=
8
(xi) P ( A + B ) = 1 – P (AB) Ans.[C]
 SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex.1 One card is drawn from a pack of playing Sol. The sum of the numbers greater than 9 may
cards, then the probability that it is a card of be 10,11 and 12. If these events be A, B, C
king is- respectively, then
P (A) = 3/36 [ favourable cases are (6, 4),
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D) (5, 5), (4, 6)]
12 13 2 4
P (B) = 2/36 [ favourable cases are (6, 5),
Sol. Probability of one card to be king (5, 6)]
4 1 P (C) = 1/36 [ favourable case is (6, 6)]
p = =
52 13 Now since A, B, C are mutually exclusive,
( favourable cases = 4, Total cases = 52) so P (A + B + C) = P(A) + P(B) + P (C)
Ans. [B] 3 2 1 1
= + + =
36 36 36 6
3
Ex.2 If P (A) = , then find the odds in against of Ans.[C]
8
A -
Ex.5 Two cards are drawn one by one from a pack
(A) 3 : 5 (B) 4 : 5 (C) 3 : 4 (D) 5 : 3 of 52 cards. If the first card is not replaced
3 3 5 in the pack , then what is the probability that
Sol. P(A) =  P ( A ) = 1– 8 = 8
8 first card is that of a king and second card
P( A ) 5 is that of a queen?
 odds in against of A = P( A ) = 3 = 5:3 (A) 4/664 (B) 5/663
Ans.[D] (C) 6/663 (D) 4/663
Sol. Let A  first card is that of a king
Ex.3 If the probability for A to fail in an examina- B  second card is that of a queen
tion is 0.2 and that of B to fail is 0.3, then
the probability that either A or B fails is- 4 1 4
that P(A) = = , P (B/A) = ;
52 13 51
(A) 0.5 (B) 0.44
(C) 0.56 (D) None of these 1 4 4
Sol. Let A be event for A to fail and B be the
 P (AB) = P (A) P (B/A) = 13 . 51 = 663
event for B to fail, then Ans.[D]
P (A) = 0.2 and P(B) = 0.3
Since A and B are independent events, Ex.6 Three coins are tossed together. What is the
 P (AB) = P(A) P (B) probability of getting tail on first, head on
 Required probability second and tail on third coin?
= P(A+ B) (A) 1/8 (B) 1/6 (C) 1/4 (D) 1/3
= P(A) + P (B) – P (AB) Sol. Let the three events be denoted by A, B and
C respectively, then
= P(A) + P (B) – P (A) P(B)
P (A) = P(B) = P (C) = 1/2
= 0.2 + 0.3 – 0.2 × 0.3
since the events A,B and C are independent,
= 0.5 – 0.06 = 0.44
Ans.[B]  P (ABC) = P(A) P(B) P(C) = 1/8
Ans.[A]
Ex.4 If two dice are thrown together then what is the
probability that the sum of their numbers is
greater than 9.
(A) 1/2 (B) 1/4 (C) 1/6 (D) 2/6
Ex.7 One person can kill a bird twice in 3 shots, F
G A I
second once in 3 shots and third thrice in 4 Ex.10 For any two events A and B, P HA  B JK
shots. If they shot together then what is the equals-
probability that the bird will be killed?
P( A ) P(B)
(A) 18/19 (B) 17/18 (A) (B)
P( A  B) P( A  B)
(C) 18/17 (D) 20/17
P( A ) P( A  B)
Sol. If A, B, C denote events of killing the bird by (C) (D)
P( A  B) P( A  B)
first second and third person respectively, then
Sol. Here
P (A) = 2/3, P (B) = 1/3, P (C) = 3/4
F
G A I P( A  A  B) P( A )
The bird will be killed if atleast one of these
three independent events happens. So
P HA  B JK= P( A  B)
=
P( A  B)
Required probability Ans.[C]

= 1 – P (A 1 ) P (A 2 ) P (A 3 ) Ex.11 There are four letters and four envelopes. The

letters are placed into the env elopes
= 1 – (1 – 2/3) (1 – 1/3) (1 – 3/4) randomly. The probability that all letters are
= 1 – 1/3. 2/3. 1/4 = 17/18 not placed in the correct envelope is-
Ans. [B] (A) 1/24 (B) 23/24 (C) 19/24 (D) 9/24
Sol. P (all not correct) = 1 – P (all correct)
Ex.8 A coin is tossed thrice. If E be the event of
showing atleast two heads and F the event 1 23
= 1 – = Ans.[B]
of showing head in the first throw, then 4! 24
P (E/F) is equal to-
Ex.12 A bag contains 5 brown and 4 white socks. A
(A) 3/4 (B)3/8 (C) 1/2 (D) 1/8 man pulls out 2 socks. The probability that
Sol. There are following 8 outcomes of three they are of the same colour is-
throws: (A) 5/108 (B) 1/6 (C) 5/18 (D) 4/9
HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT Sol. Let A  event of two socks being brown
Also P (E  F) = 3/8 and P (F) = 4/8 B  event of two socks being white
P (E  F ) 5
 required probability= P(E/F)= P (F) C2 5.4 5
Then P (A) = 9
= = ,
C2 9.8 18
3/8 3
= = Ans.[A] 4
4/8 4 C2 4.3 3
P (B) = 9
= =
C2 9.8 18
Ex.9 Two dice are thrown together 4 times. The
probability that both dice will show same Now since A and B are mutually exclusive
numbers twice is- events,
(A) 1/3 (B) 25/36 so required probability = P (A + B)
(C) 25/216 (D) None of these = P (A) + P (B)
Sol. The probability of showing same number by 5 3 4
both dice p = 6/36 = 1/6 = + =
18 18 9
In binomial distribution here n = 4, r = 2, Ans.[D]
p = 1/6, q = 5/6
 required probability = nCr qn–rpr Ex.13 One number is selected at random from first
two hundred positive integers. The probability
= 4C2 (5/6)2 (1/6)2
that it is divisible by 6 or 8 is-
F
G25 I F1 I (A) 1/3 (B) 2/3 (C) 3/4 (D) 1/4
H36 JKG
H36 JK= 216
25
= 6
Sol. Among first two hundred positive integers, 33
Ans.[C] integers are divisible by 6, 25 integers are
divisible by 8 but 8 integers are divisible by
both 6 and 8. So
 33  25  8 50 1 Sol. Let A and B respectively be two events that
Required Probability = = = a chosen labourer is a man and is married,
200 200 4
Ans.[D] then required probability

Ex.14 One card is drawn from a pack of 52 cards. = P ( AB) = {1 – P(A)} P(B)
The probability that it is a king or spade is- = (1 – 0.6) (0.7) = 0.28 Ans.[B]
(A) 1/26 (B) 3/26 (C) 4/13 (D) 3/13
Sol. One card can be drawn in 52 ways, Therefore Ex.18 A speaks truth in 75% cases and B in 80%
total number of exhaustive cases = 52. cases. What is the probability that they
contradict each other in stating the same
Now number of favourable cases
fact?
= 13 + 4 – 1 = 16
(A) 7/20 (B) 13/20
16 4
 Required probability = 52 = 13 (C) 3/20 (D) 1/5
Ans.[C] Sol. There are two mutually exclusive cases in
which they contradict each other i.e. AB and
Ex.15 The probability that atleast one of the events
A and B happens is 0.6. If probability of their AB . Hence
simultaneous happening is 0.2, then Required probability
P ( A) + P (B) is-
= P (AB + AB) = P ( AB) + P ( AB)
(A) 0.4 (B) 0.8 (C) 1.2 (D) 1.4

Sol. As given P (A+B) = 0.6 and P (AB) = 0.2 = P(A) P (B) + P ( A) P (B)

 P (A+B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (AB) 3 1 1 4 7

= . + . =
 0.6 = P (A) + P (B) – 0.2 4 5 4 5 20
 –P(A) – P (B) = –0.8 Ans. [A]
 [1– P (A)] + [1–P (B) ] = 2 – 0.8 = 1.2 Ex.19 The letters of the word HIRDESH are written
 P ( A) + P (B) = 1.2 Ans.[C] in a row randomly. The probability of the words
starting with H and ending with H is-
Ex.16 Two dice are thrown together. The probability (A) 1/21 (B) 2/21
of getting the sum of digits as a multiple of (C) 1/7 (D) None of these
4 is-
(A) 1/9 (B) 1/3 (C) 1/4 (D) 5/9 7!
Sol. Total no. of case s =
Sol. Total exhaustive cases = 6 = 36 2 2!
Following 9 pairs are favourable as the sum Since H is written at first and last places,
of their digits are multiple of 4 i.e. 4 or 8 therefore at the remaining 5 places, 5 letters
or 12. can be written in 5! ways.
(1, 3), (2, 2), (3,1), (2, 6), (3, 5), (4, 4), (5,3),
5! 1
(6, 2), (6, 6)  Required probability = 7! / 2! = 21
 required probability = 9/36 = 1/4.
Ans.[C] Ans.[A]

Ex.17 If from a factory a labourer is chosen, Ex.20 If a dice is thrown twice, then the probability
randomly. the probability that he is a male is of getting 1 in the first throw only is-
0.6 and is married is 0.7. The probability that (A) 1/36 (B) 3/36
the chosen labourer is a married woman is- (C) 5/36 (D) 1/6
(A) 0.42 (B) 0.28
1
(C) 0.12 (D) None of these Sol. Probability of getting 1 in first throw =
6
 Probability of not getting 1 in second throw Sol. The following mutually exclusive cases are
possible.
5
=
6 (i) ABC (ii) A B C (iii) A BC
Both are independent events, so the required Since A, B and C are independent event
1 5 5 therefore P( A B C ) = P(A) P(B) P( C )
probability = × = Ans.[C]
6 6 36
4 3 F
G 2I
1  J= 12
Ex.21 Let A and B be two independent events. The
probability that both A and B occur together
= .
5 4 H 3K 60
is 1/6 and the probability that neither of them
8 6
occurs is 1/3. The probability of occurrence Similarly P ( AB C ) = and P( A B C )=
of A is- 60 60

(A)
P(A)= 1/4, P(B) = 1/3 Thus the required probability
(B)
P(A) = 1/2, P(B) = 1/6 = P(AB C ) + P( AB C )+ P( A B C )
(C)P (A) = 1/3, P(B) = 1/2
(D)
None of these 12 8 6 26
= + + =
Sol.  A and B are independent events 60 60 60 60
Ans.[B]
 P (AB) = 1/6  P (A) P (B) = 1/6...(1)
Further P(A + B) = 1 – P ( A B) = 1–1/3 = 2/3 Ex.24 Three numbers are selected one by one from
whole numbers 1 to 20. The probability that
 P(A + B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(AB) = 2/3 they are consecutive integers is-
 P(A) + P(B) = 2/3 + 1/6 = 5/6 ...(2) (A) 1/380 (B) 3/190
(1), (2)  P (A) = 1/3, P (B) = 1/2 (C) 3/20 (D) None of these
Ans.[C] Sol. Total number of sequences of 3 numbers
selected one by one from whole numbers
Ex.22 Two dice are thrown simultaneously. What is 1 to 20
the probability of obtaining a multiple of 2 on = 20P3 = 20 ×19 × 18
one of them and a multiple of 3 on the other- Now sequences which will contain three
(A) 5/36 (B) 11/36 consecutive integers are (1, 2, 3) (2, 3, 4),
(C) 1/6 (D) 1/3 (3, 4, 5)......, (18,19,20).
Sol. Favourable cases for one are three i.e. 2,4 These are 18 sequences. Hence
and 6 and for other are two i.e. 3,6.
18 1
Hence required probability =  required probability = 20  19  18 = 380
L
F
G
M3  2I
J 2
1 O 11
P Ans.[A]
H
N 36 K 36 Q= 36
[As same way happen when dice changes Ex.25 There are three urns A, B and C.Urn A
numbers among themselves] Ans.[B] contains 4 white balls and 5 blue balls. Urn
B contains 4 white balls and 3 blue balls.
Ex.23 A target is hit by A, 4 times out of 5 at- Urn C contains 2 white balls and 4 blue balls.
tempts; by B, 3 times out of 4 attempts and One ball is drawn from each of these urns.
by C, 2 times out of 3 attempts. The prob- What is the probability that out of these three
ability that the target is hit by two of them is- balls drawn, two are white balls and one is
(A) 25/60 (B) 26/60 a blue ball?
(C) 1/2 (D) 5/6 (A) 64/190 (B) 63/189
(C) 64/189 (D) 65/189
Sol. Consider the following events: Ex.26 A box contains 20 cards. The letter I is writ-
E1 = ball drawn from urn A is white, E2 = ball ten on 10 cards and T is written on other 10
drawn from urn B is white, E3 = ball drawn cards, 3 cards are chosen randomly and are
from urn C is white. kept in the same order. The probability of
making the word IIT is-
4 4 2 1 (A) 9/80 (B) 1/80
Then P(E1)= , P(E2)= and P(E3) = = .
9 7 6 3
(C) 4/27 (D) 5/38
Sol. Required probability = P (I on first card) ×
 P (E 1 ) = ball drawn from urn A is black
P (I on second card) × P (T on third card)
4 5 10 9 10 5
= 1 – P(E1) = 1 – = , = × × =
9 9 20 19 18 38
Ans.[D]
P (E2 ) = ball drawn from urn B is black

4 3 Ex.27 A coin is tossed twice and the four possible

= 1 – P (E2 ) = 1 – = outcomes are assumed to be equally likely.
7 7
If A is the event, ‘ both head and tail have
and P (E3 ) = ball drawn from urn C is black appeared’, and B be the event, ‘ at most one
tail is observed’, then the value of P(B/A) is-
1 2 (A) 1 (B) 3
= 1 – P (E3 ) = 1 – = .
3 3 (C) 4 (D) None of these
Now, two white balls and one black ball can Sol. Here S = {HH, HT, TH, TT}, A = {HT, TH}
be drawn in the following mutually exclusive and B = {HH, HT, TH}.
ways :
(I) White from urn A, white from urn B and
 A  B = {HT, TH}.
n( A) 2 1 n(B) 3
black from urn C i.e. E1  E2  E3 Now, P (A) = = = , P(B) = =
n(S) 4 2 n(S) 4
(II) White from urn A, black from urn B and
white from urn C i.e. E1  E2  E3 n( A  B) 2 1
and, P (A  B) = n(S)
= = ,
(III) Black from urn A, white from urn B and 4 2
white from urn C i.e. E1  E2  E3 P( A  B) 1/ 2 2
 Required probability = P(I) + P(II) + P(III)  P (A/B) = P(B)
=
3/4
=
3
and, P

= P (E1  E2  E3 ) + P(E1  E2  E3 ) P( A  B) 1 / 2
(B/A) = = = 1. Ans.[A]
P( A ) 1/ 2
+ P ( E1  E2  E3)

= P (E1). P (E2 ) P ( E3 )+ P (E1) P ( E2 ) Ex.28 If two ev ents A and B are such that
P (E3) + P ( E1 ) P (E2) P (E3) P ( A ) = 0.3, P (B) = 0.4 and P ( AB ) = 0.5,
[ E1, E2, E3 are independent events] F
G B I
4 4 2 4 3 1 5 4 1
then P HA  B JKequals-
= × × + × × + × × (A) 1/2 (B) 1/3 (C) 1/4 (D) 1/5
9 7 3 9 7 3 9 7 3
Sol. We have
64
= Ans.[C]
F
G B I P [B  ( A  B)]
HA  B JK= P( A  B)
189
P
 F
G4!I
=
P [(B  A )  (B  B)]
P ( A)  P (B)  P ( A  B)
Therefore favourable ways = 5 H2! JK
5. 4 ! 2! 4 ! 1
Hence required probability = =
P ( AB) 2! 8 ! 14
= Ans.[B]
P ( A )  P (B)  P ( AB)
Ex.31 Assuming that for a husband- wife couple
the chances of their child being a boy or a
P ( A )  P ( AB)
= girl are the same, the probability of their two
P ( A)  P (B)  P ( AB) children being a boy and a girl is-
(A) 1/4 (B) 1 (C) 1/2 (D) 1/8
0.7  0.5 0.2 1
= = = Sol. Following four mutually exclusive cases are
0.7  0.6  0.5 0.8 4 possible:
Ans.[C] (i) both children are boys
(ii) both children are girls
Ex.29 Two numbers are selected at random from (iii) first is girl and second is boy
40 consecutive natural numbers. The (iv) first is boy and second is girl
probability that the sum of the selected
Out of these the last two are favourable
numbers is odd will be-
cases.
(A) 14/29 (B) 20/39
Hence the required probability
(C) 1/2 (D) None of these
1 1 1
Sol. Total number of selection of 2 numbers from = + = Ans.[C]
4 4 2
40 natural numbers = 40C2.
Now, since the sum of two natural numbers Ex.32 Three vertices out of six vertices of a regular
is odd if one of them is even and the other hexagon are chosen randomly. The probability
is odd. Also among 40 consecutive natural of getting a equilateral triangle after joining
numbers 20 are even and 20 are odd. Hence three vertices is-
number of ways of selection of one even and (A) 1/5 (B) 1/20
one odd number = 20C1 × 20C1
(C) 1/10 (D) 1/2
20 20
C1  C1
E D
 required probability = 40
C2

F C
20  20  2 20
= = Ans.[B]
40  39 39
A B

Ex.30 The letter of the word ‘ASSASSIN’ are written Sol. The total no. of cases = 6C3 = 20
down at random in a row. The probability that As shown in the figure only two triangles
no two S occur together is- ACE and BDF are equilateral. So number of
(A) 1/35 (B) 1/14 favourable cases is 2.
(C) 1/15 (D) None of these
2 1
8! Hence the required probability = =
Sol. Total ways of arrangements = 20 10
2! . 4 !
Ans.[C]
 w  x  y z
Now ‘S’ can have places at dot’s and in
places of w, x, y, z we have to put 2 A’s, one
I and one N.
Ex.33 Three numbers are chosen at random without Also maximum of the chosen three numbers
replacement from {1, 2, 3,...., 10}. The is 7 if one of them is 7 and the remaining two
probability that the minimum of the chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This can be obtained in
numbers is 3 or their maximum is 7, is- 6C = 15 ways
2
(A) 7/40 (B) 3/10
15
(C) 13/60 (D) None of these  P (B) = 120 ...(3)
Sol. Let A  the event that minimum number
selected is 3 Further favourable cases for A  B = 3C1= 3
B  the event that maximum number because A  B is possible if numbers are
selected is 7 chosen from 4, 5, 6.
then P (A  B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (A  B) 3
...(1)  P (A  B) = 120 ...(4)
Total number of ways in which 3 numbers
So from (1), (2), (3), (4) , we have.
can be chosen from the given 10 numbers
= 10C3 = 120. 21 15 3
 required probability = 120 + 120 – 120
Now minimum of the chosen three numbers
is 3 if one of them is 3 and the remaining two
33 11
from 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. This can be obtained = = Ans.[C]
in 7C2 = 21 ways. 120 40

21
 P (A) = 120 ...(2)