CHAPTER

14 Probability

Probabilty

Experiment Random Event Outcomes

experiment

Equally likely Sample

Experimental
Complementary space
probability
event

Sure event Impossible Favourable

event outcomes

Theoritical
or classical
probabilty

KEY POINTS:
1. Probability is a quantitative measure of likelihood of occurrence of an event.
Number of outcomes favourable to E N(E)
2. Probability of an event (E) = =
Total number of possible outcomes N(S)
3. 0 ≤ P (E) ≤ 1
4. If P(E) = 0, then it is an impossible event.
5. If P(E) = 1, then it is sure event.

6. If E is an event, then not E( E ) is called complementary event.

7. P( E ) = 1 – P(E) ⇒ P(E) + P( E ) = 1
8. Probability of an event is never negative.
9. Sample space (S) : The collection of all possible outcomes of random experiment.

202 Mathematics-X
Examples of Sample space
1. When one coin is tossed, then S = {H, T}
2. When two coins are tossed, then S = {HH, TT, HT, TH}
3. When three coins are tossed, then S = {HHH, TTT, HTT, THT, TTH, THH,
HTH, HHT}
4. When four coins are tossed, then S = {HHHH, TTTT, HTTT, THTT, TTHT, TTTH,
HHHT, HHTH, HTHH, THHH, HTHT, THTH, TTHH, HHTT, THHT, HTTH}.
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
1 coin 2coins 3 coins 4 coins
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
2 outcomes 2 × 2 outcomes 2×2×2=8 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16
outcomes outcomes
1. When a die is thrown once, then S = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, n(S) = 6
2. When two dice are thrown together or A die is thrown twice, then
S = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4), (1, 5), (1, 6)
(2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3), (2, 4), (2, 5), (2, 6)
(3, 1), (3, 2), (3, 3), (3, 4), (3, 5), (3, 6)
(4, 1), (4, 2), (4, 3), (4, 4), (4, 5), (4, 6)
(5, 1), (5, 2), (5, 3), (5, 4), (5, 5), (5, 6)
(6, 1), (6, 2), (6, 3), (6, 4), (6, 5), (6, 6)}
n(S) = 6 × 6 = 36
3. When 3 dice are thrown or a die is thrown thrice then
n(S) = 6 × 6 × 6 = 216,
n(S) → no. of outcomes in sample space
Playing cards n(s) = 52

Red Cards (26) Black Cards (26)

Heart (13) Diamond (13) Spade (13) Club (13)

Each suit contains 1 ace, 1 king, 1 Queen, 1 jack and nine

number cards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Face card 12 Non face card 40

4 king, 4 Queen & 4 Jack 36 number cards + 4 aces

Mathematics-X 203
 VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Multiple Choice Questions
(i) Which of the following cannot be the probability of an event? [NCERT]

2
(a) 0.7 (b) (d) – 1.5 (d) 15%
3
(ii) Which of the following can be the probability of an event?
[NCERT Exemplar]
18 8
(a) – 0.04 (b) 1.004 (c) (d)
23 7
(iii) An event is very unlikely to happen, its probability is closest to
[NCERT Exemplar]
(a) 0.0001 (b) 0.001 (c) 0.01 (d) 0.1
(iv) Out of one digit prime numbers, one number is selected at random. The
probability of selecting an even number is:
1 1 4 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 4 9 5
(v) When a die is thrown, the probability of getting an odd number less than 3
is:
1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d) 0
6 3 2
(vi) Rashmi has a die whose six faces show the letters as given below:

A B C D A C
If she throws the die once, then the probability of getting C is:

1 1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 4 5 6
(vii) A card is drawn from a well shuffled pack of 52 playing cards. The event E
is that the card drawn is not a face card. The number of outcomes favourable
to the event E is:
(a) 51 (b) 40 (c) 36 (d) 12

204 Mathematics-X
2. Choose the correct answer from the given four options
(i) If the probability of an even is ‘p’ then probability of its complementary
event will be:

1
(a) p – 1 (b) p (c) 1 – p (d) 1 −
p
(ii) P(Winning) = x/12, P(Losing) = 1/3. Find x [CBSE 2014]
(a) 6 (b) 8 (c) 7 (d) 9
(iii) The probability of a number selected at random from the numbers 1, 2, 3,
.... 15 is a multiple of 4 is: (CBSE 2020)
4 2 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
15 15 15 5
(iv) The probability that a non-leap year selected at random will contains 53
Mondays is:
1 2 3 5
(a) (b) (c) (d)
7 7 7 7
(v) A bag contains 6 red and 5 blue balls. One ball is drawn at random. The
probability that the ball is blue is:
2 5 5 6
(a) (b) (c) (d)
11 6 11 11
(vi) One alphabet is chosen from the word MATHEMATICS. The probability
of getting a vowel is:

6 5 3 4
(a) (b) (c) (d)
11 11 11 11
(vii) Two coins are tossed simultaneously. The probability of getting at most one
head is

1 1 2 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4 2 3 4
3. A card is drawn at random from a pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability
that the card drawn is neither an ace nor a king.

Mathematics-X 205
4. Out of 250 bulbs in a box, 35 bulbs are defective. One bulb is taken out at
random from the box. Find the probability that the drawn bulb is not defective.
5. Non Occurance of any event is 3:4. What is the probability of Occurance of this
event?
6. If 29 is removed from (1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 29), then find the probability of getting a
prime number.
7. A card is drawn at random from a deck of playing cards. Find the probability of
getting a face card.
8. In 1000 lottery tickets, there are 5 prize winning tickets. Find the probability of
winning a prize if a person buys one ticket.
9. One card is drawn at random from a pack of cards. Find the probability that it is
a black king. (CBSE 2020)
10. A die is thrown once. Find the probability of getting a perfect square.
11. Two dice are rolled simultaneously. Find the probability that the sum of the two
numbers appearing on the top is more than and equal to 10.
12. Find the probability of multiples of 7 in 1, 2, 3, .......,33, 34, 35.
13. If a pair of dice is thrown once, then what is the probability of getting a sum of
8? (CBSE 2020)
14. A letter of English alphabet is chosen at random. Determine the probability that
chosen letter is a consonant. (CBSE 2020)
15. If the probability of winning a game is 0.07, what is the probability of losing it?
(CBSE 2020)

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS-I

16. Two unbiased coins are tossed simultaneously. If the probability of getting no
a
head is then find (a + b)2? [CBSE 2016]
b
17. Two different dice are rolled together. Find the probability
(a) of getting a doublet,
(b) of getting a sum of 10, of the numbers on the two dice. [CBSE 2018]

206 Mathematics-X
18. A box contains 12 balls of which some are red in colour. If 6 more red balls are
put in the box and a ball is drawn at random, the probability of drawing a red
ball doubles than what it was before. Find the number of red balls in the box.
[CBSE 2018]
19. An integer is chosen random between 1 and 100. Find the probability that (i) it
is divisible by 8, (ii) Not divisible by 8. [CBSE 2018]
20. Three different coins are tossed together. Find the probability of getting (i)
exactly two heads, (ii) at least two heads. (iii) at most one Head
21. Card from 11 to 30, are put in a box and mixed thoroughly. A card is then drawn
from the box at random. Find the probability that the number on the drawn card
is a prime number.
22. A bag contains 5 red balls and some blue balls. If the probability of drawing a
blue ball at random from the bag is three times that of a red ball, find the
number of blue balls in the bag. (CBSE 2020)
23. Two different dice are thrown together, find the probability that the sum of the
numbers appeared is less than 5. (CBSE 2020)
24. Find the probability that 5 sundays occurs in the month of November of a randomly
selected year. (CBSE 2020)
25. In a family of three children. Find the probability of having at least two boys.
(CBSE 2020)
26. In a family of two children. Find the probability of having at most one girl.
27. Two dice are thrown at the same time. Find the probability of getting different
numbers on the two dice. (CBSE 2020)
28. If a number x is chosen at random from the numbers –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3. What
is probability that x2 4 ? (CBSE 2020)

29. A number x is selected at random from the numbers 1, 2, 3. Another number y is

selected at random from the numbers 1, 4, 9. Find the probability that the product
of x and y is less than 9.
30. Two dice are thrown at the same time. Determine the probability that the difference
of the numbers on the two dice is 2.

Mathematics-X 207
31. An integer is chosen between 0 and 100. What is the probability that it is
(i) divisible by 7?
(ii) not divisible by 7?
32. Two dice are rolled once. Find the probability of getting such numbers on the
two dice,
(a) whose product is 12.
(b) Sum of numbers on the two dice is atmost 5.
33. Card with number 2 to 101 are placed in a box. A card is selected at random.
Find the probability that the card has (i) an even number (ii) a square number.
34. In a lottery, there are 10 prizes and 25 are empty. Find the probability of getting
a prize. Also verify P(E) + P( E ) = 1 for this event. [CBSE 2020]
x 1
35. P(winning) = , P(Losing) = . Find x.
12 3

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

36. Cards marked with numbers 3, 4, 5, .........,50 are placed in a box and mixed
thoroughly. One card is drawn at random from the box, find the probability that
the number on the drawn card is
(i) divisible by 7 (ii) a two digit number (iii) perfect square
37. A bag contains 5 white balls, 7 red balls, 4 black balls and 2 blue balls. One ball
is drawn at random from the bag. Find the probability that the balls drawn is
(i) White or blue (ii) red or black
(iii) not white (iv) neither white nor black
38. The king, queen and jack of diamonds are removed from a pack of 52 playing
cards and the pack is well shuffled. A card is drawn from the remaining cards.
Find the probability of getting a card of
(i) diamond (ii) a jack
39. The probability of a defective egg in a lot of 400 eggs is 0.035. Calculate the
number of defective eggs in the lot. Also calculate the probability of taking out
a non defective egg from the lot.

208 Mathematics-X
40. Slips marked with numbers 3,3,5,7,7,7,9,9,9,11 are placed in a box at a game
stall in a fair. A person wins if the mean of numbers are written on the slip. What
is the probabilty of his losing the game?
41. A box contains 90 discs which are numbered from 1 to 90. If one disc is drawn
at random from the box, find the probability that it bears
(i) a two digit number (ii) a perfect square number
(iii) a number divisible by 5.
42. A card is drawn at random from a well shuffled deck of playing cards. Find the
probability that the card drawn is
(i) a card of spade or an ace (ii) a red king
(iii) neither a king nor a queen (iv) either a king or a queen
43. A card is drawn from a well shuffled deck of playing cards. Find the probability
that the card drawn is
(i) a face card (ii) red colour face card
(iii) black colour face card
44. Ramesh got ` 24000 as Bonus. He donated ` 5000 to temple. He gave ` 12000
to his wife, ` 2000 to his servant and gave rest of the amount to his daughter.
Calculate the probability of
(i) wife’s share (ii) Servant’s Share
(iii) daughter’s share.
45. 240 students reside in a hostel. Out of which 50% go for the yoga classes early
in the morning, 25% go for the Gym club and 15% of them go for the morning
walk. Rest of the students have joined the laughing club. What is the probability
of students who have joined laughing club?
46. A box contains cards numbered from 11 to 123. A card is drawn at random from
the box. Find the probability that the number on the drawn card is:
[CBSE 2018]
(i) A square number (ii) a multiple of 7.
47. A die is thrown twice. Find the probability that:
(i) 5 will come up at least once
(ii) 5 will not come up either time [CBSE 2019]

Mathematics-X 209
48. Cards marked 1, 3, 5 .... 49 are placed in a box and mixed thoroughly. One card
is drawn from the box. Find the probability that the number on the card is :
[CBSE 2017]
(i) divisible by 3 (ii) a composite number
(iii) not a perfect square (iv) multiple of 3 and 5
49. 50 A child’s game has 8 triangles of which 3 are blue and rest are red, and 10
squares of which 6 are blue and rest are red. One piece is lost at random. Find
the probability that it is a [CBSE 2015]
(i) triangle (ii) square
(iii) square of blue colour (iv) triangle of red colour
50. A box contain 24 balls of which x are red, 2x are white and 3x are blue. A ball is
selected at random. What is the probability that it is
(i) not red?
(ii) White?

ANSWERS AND HINTS

1. (i) (C) (ii) (C)

(iii) (A) (as unlikely to happen) (iv) (B) (prime no. 2, 3, 5, 7)
(v) (A) (vi) (A)
(vii) (B) (Face card = 12, Remaining cards = 40)
2. (i) (C)
(ii) (B) x = 8
1
(iii) (D) (Probability )
15
(iv) (A) (Total weeks 52, Remaining day 1, sample space = {S, M, Tu, W, Th,
F, Sat})
(v) (C)
(vi) (D) (vowels A, A, E, I)
(vii) (D)

210 Mathematics-X
3. Total = 52
No. of Aces = 4
No. of kings = 4
44 11
P (neither ace nor king) = =
52 13
35 43
4. P(not defective) = 1 − =
250 50
5. Total case = 3 + 4 = 7
4
P(occurrence) =
7
6. P(prime no.) = 0
7. No. of face card = 12
12 3
P(face card) = =
52 13
5
8. Probability of winning = = 0.005
1000
9. Total black king = 2
2 1
P(Black King) = =
52 26
10. Sample space : {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Perfect square : 1, 4
2 1
P(perfect square) = =
6 3
11. Total cases = 36
Favourable cases {(4, 6), (5, 5), (6, 4), (5, 6), (6, 5), (6, 6)}
6 1
P(sum of two numbers is ≥ 10) = =
36 6
12. Multiples of 7 are {7, 14, 21, 28, 35}
5 1
Probability (multiple of 7) = =
35 7

Mathematics-X 211
 5
13. P(sum of 8) =
36
21
14. P (consonant) =
26
15. P (losing) = 1 – 0.07 = 0.93
16. (a + b)2 = 25
17. (i) Doublets are {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (4, 4), (5, 5), (6, 6)}
6 1
Required probability = =
36 6
(ii) Sum 10 cases : {(4, 6), (5, 5), (6, 4)}
3 1
Required probability = =
36 12
x+6  x
18. = 2  ⇒ x = 3
18  12 
19. Total outcomes between 1 and 100 = 98
(i) Nos. divisible by {8 : 8, 16, 24, ...., 96}
favourable cases = 12
12 6
Required probability = =
98 49
6 43
(ii) Probability (integer is not divisible by 8) = 1 −
=
49 49
20. Sample space : {HHH, TTT, HTT, THT, TTH, THH, HTH, HHT}
3
(i) P(exactly 2 heads) =
8
4 1
(ii) P(atleast 2 heads) = =
8 2
21. Total cards = 20
Prime Nos. are {11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29}
6 3
Required probability = =
20 10

212 Mathematics-X
22. Let the number of blue balls = x
Total balls = (5 + x)
P (Blue ball) = 3 × P (Red ball)
x 5
=3
5 x 5 x
x = 15
23. Favourable outcomes : {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 1)}
6 1
P (sum less than 5) = =
36 6
24. Number of total days in the month of November = 30
i.e. 4 complete weeks and 2 days.
2
P (5 Sundays) =
7
4 1
25. P (atleast two boys) = =
8 2
3
26. P (atmost one girls) =
4
30 5
27. P (Different numbers) = =
36 6
28. Favourable outcomes : {–2, –1, 0, 1, 2}
5
P (x2 4) =
7
29. Sample space = {(1, 1), (1, 4), (1, 9)
(2, 1), (2, 4), (2, 9)
(3, 1), (3, 4), (3, 9)}
Favourable cases : xy < 9 {(1,1) (1,4) (2,1) (2,4) (3,1)}
5
Required probability =
9
30. Total outcomes = 36
(a) Favourable outcomes = {(1, 3), (2, 4), (3, 5), (4, 2), (4, 6), (5, 3), (6, 4), (3,1)}
8 2
Required probability
36 9
Mathematics-X 213
 (b) Favourable outcomes
{(3, 6), (4, 5), (5, 4), (6, 3), (5, 6), (6, 5)}
6 1
Required probability = =
36 6
31. Total number of integers = 101
Favourable out conmes = {7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98}
14
Required probability =
101
32. (a) S = (1, 1) (1, 2) (1, 3) (1, 4) (1, 5) (1, 6) 
(2, 1) (2, 2) (2, 3) (2, 4) (2, 5) (2, 6) 
 
 (3, 1) (3, 2) (3, 3) (3, 4) (3, 5) (3, 6) 
(4, 1) (4, 2) (4, 3) (4, 4) (4, 5) (4, 6) 
 
(5, 1) (5, 2) (5, 3) (5, 4) (5, 5) (5, 6) 
Favourable outcomes: {(2, 6), (3, 4), (4, 3), (6, 2)}
4 1
Required probability = =
36 9
(b) Favourable outcomes (sum ≤ 5)
= {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3) (1, 4) (2, 1) (2, 2) (2, 3) (3, 1) (3, 2) (4, 1)}
10 5
Required probability = =
36 18
33. (i) Total cards = 101 – 2 + 1 = 100, Even numbers = 2, 4, ...., 100 = 50
50 1
Required probability = =
100 2
(ii) Square number = {4, 9, 16, 25, 36 ,49, 64, 81, 100}
9
Required probability = = 0.09
100
34. Total tickets = 35
10 2
P(E) = P(getting a prize) = =
35 7
25 5
P (E) = P(not getting a prize) = =
35 7

214 Mathematics-X
 2 5 7
P(E) + P (E) = 1
7 7 7
35. P(winning) + P(losing) = 1
x 1
1 x=8
12 3
36. Total cards = 50 – 3 + 1 = 48
(i) No. divisible by 7 are 7, {14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49}
7
Required probability =
48
(ii) Two digit no. are 10, 11, 12, .... 50
No. of favourable outcomes = 50 – 10 + 1 = 41
41
Required probability =
48
5 2 7 7 4 11
37. (i) (ii)
18 18 18 18
7 4 2 13 7 2 9 1
(iii) (iv)
18 18 18 18 2
38. (i) Remaining cards = 52 – 3 = 49
Remaining diamonds = 13 – 3 = 10
10
Required probability =
49
3
(ii) P(jack) = (as 1 jack has been removed)
49
39. Total eggs = 400
P(defective eggs) = 0.035
Let defective eggs = x
x
= 0.035
400
x = 400 × 0.035
x = 14
P(non defective eggs) = 1 – 0.035 = 0.965
3 3 5 7 7 7 9 9 9 11 70
40. Mean = = 7
10 10
3 7
P(he loses) = 1
10 10
Mathematics-X 215
41. Total no. = 90
(i) Two digit no.s {10, 11, 12, ...., 90}
No. of favourable cases = 90 – 10 + 1 = 81
81 9
Required probability = =
90 10
(ii) Perfect square no. : {1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81}
9 1
Required probability = =
90 10
(iv) No.s divisible by 5 :
{5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90}
18 1
Required probability = =
90 5
13 + 3 16 4
42. (i) P(a card of spade or an ace) = = =
52 52 13
2 1
(ii) P(red king) = =
52 26
8 2 11
(iii)P(neither a king nor a queen) = 1 – = 1− =
52 13 13
8 2
(iv)P(either a king or a queen) = =
52 13
12 3 6 3 6 3
43. (i) = (ii) = (iii) =
52 13 52 26 52 26
12000 1
44. (i) P(wife’s share) = =
24000 2
2000 1
(ii) P(servant’s share) = =
24000 12
5000 5
(iii)P(Daughter’s share) = =
24000 24
45. 10% students joined laughing club
10 1
P(students who have joined laughing clubs) = =
100 10

216 Mathematics-X
46. Total cards = 123 – 11 + 1 = 113
(i) Square numbers : 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121
8
Required probability =
113
(ii) Multiple of 7 are 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98, 105,
112, 119.
16
Required Probality =
113
47. Total outcomes = 36
11
(i) P(5 will come up at least once) =
36
Favourable cases {(1, 5), (2, 5), (3, 5), (4, 5), (5, 5), (6, 5), (5, 1), (5, 2),
(5, 3), (5, 4), (5, 6)}
11 25
(ii) P(5 will not come up either time) = 1 − =
36 36
48. S = 1, 3, 5, ...., 49. Total outcome = 25
(i) No. divisible by 3 are {3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39, 45}
8
Required probability =
25
(ii) Composite Nos : {9, 15, 21, 25, 27, 33, 35, 39, 45, 49}
10 2
Required probability = =
25 5
(iii)P(not a perfect square) = 1 – P(perfect square) {Perfect square no. : 1, 9,
25, 49}
4 21
= 1− =
25 25
(iv) Multiple of 3 and 5
⇒ Multiple of 15 = 15, 45
2
Required probability =
25

Mathematics-X 217
 8 4 10 5
49. (i) = (ii) =
18 9 18 9
6 1 5
(iii) = (iv)
18 3 18

20 5
50. (i) P(not red) = =
24 6
8 1
(ii) P(white) = =
24 3
r r r

218 Mathematics-X
Time : 45 Minutes M.M. : 20

SECTION-A
1. When a die is thrown once, the probability of getting an odd number less than
3 is: 1

1 1
(a) (b)
6 3
1
(c) (d) 0
2
2. A bag contains 5 red, 8 green and 7 white balls. One ball is drawn at random
from the bag, find the probability of getting neither green ball nor red ball. 1
3. One card is drawn at random from the well shuffled pack of 52 cards. Find the
probability of getting a non face card. 1
4. Cards are marked with numbers 5, 6, 7,.......50 are placed in the box and mixed
thoroughly. One card is drawn at random from the box. What is the probability
of getting a two digit number? 1

SECTION-B
5. A letter is chosen at random from 26 alphabets. Find the probability that the
letter chosen is from the word 'ASSASSINATION'. 2
6. Out of 400 bulbs in a box, 15 bulbs are defective. One bulb is taken out at random
from the box. Find the probability that the drawn bulb is not defective. 2
7. Find the probability of getting 53 Fridays or 53 Saturdays in a leap year. 2

SECTION - C
8. Daksh and Moksh are friends. What is the probability that both will have
(i) different birthdays? (ii) the same birthday? (ignoring a leap year). 3
9. Two dice are thrown together. Find the probability that sum of two numbers will
be a multiple of 4. 3
Mathematics-X 219
 SECTION - D
10. Five cards—the ten, jack, queen, king and ace of diamonds, are removed from
the well-shuffled 52 playing cards. One card is then picked up at random. Find
the probability of getting:
(a) neither a heart nor a king
(b) either a heart or a spade card
(c) neither a red card nor a queen card
(d) a black card or an ace. 4

220 Mathematics-X