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10.01 Compound events

Worksheet
Probability notation
1

Two events are defined as:

  • Event A: it will rain tomorrow

  • Event B: there will be a storm tomorrow

Describe what the notation P\left(B \right) represents.

2

Write the probability notation for the probability of event A: "getting a tails when a coin is tossed".

3

Describe P(A \cup B ) for the following events:

a

Event A: It will rain tomorrow.

Event B: There will be a storm tomorrow.

b

Event A: getting an odd number

Event B: getting a multiple of 3

c

Event A: getting a black card

Event B: getting a face card

4

Consider the following events:

  • Event A : "getting an odd number when a die is rolled".

  • Event B: "getting an even number when a die is rolled".

Use probability notation to describe the probability of event B in three different ways.

5

Consider the following events:

  • Event A: "a card randomly selected from a deck being red"

  • Event B: "a card randomly selected from a deck being a queen"

Write the probability of a randomly selected card being both red and a queen using probability notation.

6

One card is drawn from a regular deck of cards.

  • Event A: getting a red card

  • Event B: getting a face card

Identify the probability that the notation P\left(A' \right) describes.

7
  • Event A: "a card randomly selected from a deck being black"

  • Event B: "a card randomly selected from a deck being a king"

Write the probability of a randomly selected card being either black or a king or both using probability notation.

8

In an experiment, a six-sided die is rolled and the number appearing on the uppermost face is noted.

  • Event A: getting an odd number

  • Event B: getting a multiple of 3

State the probability that the notation P\left(A \cap B \right) describes.

9

One card is drawn from a regular deck of cards.

  • Event A: getting a black card

  • Event B: getting a face card

State the probability that best describes the notation P\left(A \cup B\right).

10

Consider the two events:

  • A: Paul wins the badminton tournament

  • B: Paul wins the golf tournament

Represent the probability that Paul wins either the badminton or golf but not both.

Probabilities of compound events
11

In an experiment, there are only two possible outcomes, A and B. If outcome A occurs, outcome B does not occur and vice versa.

Determine whether the following are true:

a
P(A \cap B) = 1
b
P(A \cap B) = 0
c
P(A \cup B) = 1
d
P(A) = P(B)
e
P(A') = P(B)
f
P(A \cup B) = P(A)
12

In an experiment, a number is chosen randomly from the numbers listed below:

2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20

  • Event A: odd number is chosen

  • Event B: multiple of 4 is chosen

a

Determine whether the following has the largest probability.

A
B'
B
A \cup B
C
B
D
A \cap B
E
A
b

Determine whether the following has a value of 0.

i

P \left( A \cap B \right)

ii

P \left( A' \cup B \right)

iii

P((A \cap B)')

iv

P \left( A' \cap B' \right)

13

From a standard pack of cards, 1 card is randomly drawn by Andrea and then put back into the pack. A second card is then drawn by Bridie.

  • Event A: "Andrea selects a heart".

  • Event B: "Bridie selects a heart".

a

Use probability notation to describe the probability that neither of the cards are hearts.

b

Calculate the probability that neither of their cards are hearts

c

Use probability notation to describe the probability that at least 1 of their cards is a heart.

d

Calculate the probability that at least 1 of the cards is a heart.

14

If a student from the library is randomly selected we might select a student studying literature\left(L \right) or statistics \left(S \right). All of the students are studying 1 of these subjects, and no one is studying both. The probabilities are

  • P \left( L \right) = 0.4

  • P \left( S \right) = 0.6

a

Find the value of P\left(S \cap L \right)).

b

Find the value of P\left(S \cup L\right).

Venn diagrams
15

A student creates the following diagram of their favourite animals:

  • Event F: "selecting a favourite four legged animal".

  • Event S : "selecting a favourite animal with stripes".

a

Draw a Venn diagram and shade the region that represents the favourable outcomes for the probability P \left( F \right).

b

Draw a Venn diagram and shade the region that represents the favourable outcomes for the probability P\left(S' \right).

16

A student is selecting numbers that are sorted by the Venn diagram:

  • Event A: "selecting a number that is divisible by 7"

  • Event B: "selecting a number that is even"

a

Draw a Venn diagram and shade the region that represents the favourable outcomes for the probability P\left(A \cup B\right).

b

Draw a Venn diagram and shade the region that represents the favourable outcomes for the probability P\left(A \cap B \right).

c

Draw a Venn diagram and shade the region that represents the favourable outcomes for the probability P\left(A \cup B'\right).

17

A group of students were asked why they skipped breakfast. The two reasons given were that they were "not hungry" and they were "too busy". Consider the following events:

  • Event H: "selecting a student from the students that was not hungry".

  • Event B: "selecting a student from the students that was too busy".

a

Find the value of P\left(H \right).

b

Find the value of P \left(H \cap B \right).

c

Find the value of P\left(B' \right).

18

A group of students were asked about their siblings. The 2 categories show if they have at least 1 brother \left(B \right), and if they have at least 1 sister \left(S \right):

a

Use probability notation to describe the probability that a selected student has at least 1 sibling.

b

Calculate the probability that a selected student has at least 1 sibling.

c

Describe what the notation P\left(S'\right) represents.

19

Iain makes a Venn diagram about the possible pets he could get from the local shelter. Iain is told that a pet will selected at random.

  • Event D: "the pet selected is a dog."

  • Event F: "the pet selected is fluffy".

a

Find P\left(F'\right).

b

Find P\left(D \cap F'\right).

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Outcomes

VCMSP347

Describe the results of two- and three-step chance experiments, both with and without replacements, assign probabilities to outcomes and determine probabilities of events. Investigate the concept of independence.

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