8.

PROBABILITY
Quick Review
1. An experiment which can be repeated any number of times under essentially identical conditions
and which is associated with a set of known results, is called a random experiment or trial if the
result of any single repetition of experiment is not certain and is any one of the associated set.
2. The result of any single repetition of a random experiment is called an elementary event or
simple event.
3. Elementary events are said to be equally likely if no event has preference over other events.
4. A combination of one or more elementary events in a trial is called an event.
5. The favourable cases to a particular event of an experiment are called successes and the
remaining cases are called failures with respect to that event.
6. If there are n exhaustive equally likely elementary events in a trial and m of them are favourable
to an event A, then m/n is called the probability of A. It is denoted by P(A).
7. If a trial is conducted n times and m of them are favourable to an event A, then m/n is called
relative frequency of A and is denoted by R(A). If Lt R(A) exists, then the limit is called
n→

probability of A.
8. The set of all possible outcomes (results) in a trial is called sample space for the trial. It is
denoted by S. The elements of S are called sample points.
9. Let S be a sample space of a random experiment. Every subset of S is called an event.
10. Let S be a sample space. The event Ø is called impossible event and the event S is called certain
event in S.
11. Two events A, B in a sample space S are said to be disjoint or mutually exclusive if A  B = Ø.
12. The events A1, A2,…,An in a sample space S are said to be mutually exclusive or pairwise
disjoint if every pair of the events A1, A2,…,An are disjoint.
13. Two events A, B in a sample space S are said to be exhaustive if A  B = S.
14. The events A1, A2,…,An in a sample space S are said to be exhaustive if A1  A2  … An = S.
15. Two events A, B in a sample space S are said to be complementary if A  B = S, A  B = Ø.
16. Let A be an event in a sample space S. An event B in S is said to be complement of A if A, B are
complementary in S. The complement B of A is denoted by A .
17. The complement of an event A in a sample space S is unique. If A is the complement of A then
A  A = S, A  A = Ø and (A) = A.
18. Let S be a finite sample space. A real valued function P : P (S) → R is said to be a probability
function on S if (i) P(A)  0,  A  P(S) (ii) P(S)=1 (iii) A, B P(S), A  B= Ø  P(AB) =
P(A)+P(B).
19. Let S be a finite sample space and P be a probability function on S. If A is an event in S then
P(A), the image of A, is called probability of A.
20. If A1, A2,…,An are n mutually exclusive events in a sample space S, then
P(A1  A2  … An) = P(A1) + P(A2) + …+P(An).
21. P(Ø) = 0
22. If A is an event in a sample space S, then P( A ) = 1 – P(A).
23. Let A, B be two events in a sample space S. If A  B, then P(A)  P(B).
24. If A is an event in a sample space S, then 0  P(A)  1.
 Probability
25. Let S be a sample space containing n sample points. If E is an elementary event in S, then P(E) =
1/n.
26. Let S be a sample space containing n sample points. If A is an event in S containing m sample
points, then P(A) = m/n.
n(A)
27. If A is an event in a sample space S, then P(A) = , where n(A) is the number of sample
n(S)
points in A and n(S) is the number of sample points in S.
28. If A is an event in a sample space S, then the ratio P(A) : P( A ) is called the odds in favour to A
and P( A ) : P(A) is called the odds against to A.
29. Addition theorem on probability : If A, B are two events in a sample space S, then P(A  B) =
P(A) + P(B) – P(A  B).
30. If A, B are two events in a sample space S, then P(B – A) = P(B) – P(A  B) and P(A – B) =
P(A) – P(A  B).
31. If A, B, C are three events in a sample space S, then P(ABC) = P(A)+ P(B) + P(C) –P(A  B)
– P(B  C) – P(C  A) + P(A  B  C).
32. If A, B are two events in a sample space, then the event of happening of B after the event A
happening is called conditional event. It is denoted by B | A.
33. If A, B are two events in a sample space S and P(A)  0, then the probability of B after the event
A has occurred is called conditional probability of B given A. It is denoted by P(B | A).
n(A  B)
34. If A, B are two events in a sample space S such that P(A)  0, then P(B | A) = .
n(A)
35. Multiplication theorem of probability : Let A, B be two events in a sample space S such that
P(A)  0, P(B)  0. Then
i) P(A  B) = P(A) P(B | A) ii) P(A  B) = P(B) P(A | B)
36. Two events A, B in a sample space S are said to be independent if P(B | A) = P(B).
37. Two events A, B in a sample space S are independent iff P(A  B) = P(A) P(B).
38. The events A1, A2, …, An are independent iff P(A1 A2  …  An) = P(A1) P(A2) …P(An).
39. If A, B are two independent events in a sample space S, then (i) A , B are independent (ii) A, B
are independent, (iii) A, B are independent.
40. If A1, A2,…,An are independent events in a sample space S, then A1, A 2,..., An are also independent
events.
41. If A1, A2, …, An are mutually exclusive and exhaustive events in a sample space S such that
n

P(Ai) > 0 for i = 1, 2, …, n and E is any event, then P(E) = P(A )P(E | A ) .
i=1
i i

42. If A1, A2 are two mutually exclusive and exhaustive events and E is any event then
P(E) = P(A1) P(E | A1) + P(A2) P(E | A2).
43. Baye’s theorem : If A1, A2, …, An are mutually exclusive and exhaustive events in a sample
space S such that P(Ai) > 0 for i = 1, 2, …, n and E is any event with P(E) > 0, then
P(Ak ) P(E | Ak )
P(Ak | E) = for K = 1, 2, …, n.
n

P(A ) P(E | A )
i=1
i i

2
 Probability
44. When two dice are thrown the number of ways of getting a total r is (i) r – 1, if 2  r  7
(ii) 13 – r, if 8  r  12.
45. When three dice are thrown the number of ways of getting a total r is 27, if r = 10 or 11.
46. If n letters are put at random in the n addressed envelopes, the probability that
(i) all the letters are in right envelopes = 1/n!
(ii) atleast one letter may be in wrongly addressed envelope = 1 – 1/n!
47. If A and B are two finite sets and if a mapping is selected at random from the set of all mappings
from A into B, then the probability that the mapping is a
n(B)
Pn( A)
(i) one one function is .
n(B)n( A)
n(B)
(ii) constant function is .
n(B)n( A)
n(A)!
(iii) one one onto function is , if n(A)=n(B).
n(B)n( A)
48. Out of n pairs of shoes, if r shoes are selected at random, then the probability that
n
Cr 2r
i) there is no pair is 2n
.
Cr
n
Cr 2r
ii) there is atleast one pair is 1 – 2n
.
Cr
49. If p, q are the probabilities of success, failure of a game in which A, B play then
p
i) probability A’s win =
1 − q2
qp
ii) probability of B’s win = .
1 − q2
50. If p, q are the probabilities of success, failure of a game in which A, B, C play then
p
i) probability of A’s win =
1 − q3
qp
ii) probability of B’s win =
1 − q3
q2p
iii) probability of C’s win =
1 − q3

3
 PROBABILITY

OBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

1. A single letter is selected at random from the word “PROBABILITY”. The probability
that the selected letter is a vowel is
2
(a) (b) 3
11 11
4
(c) (d) 0
11

2. A coin is tossed and a dice is rolled. The probability that the coin shows the head and the
dice shows 6 is
1
(a) (b) 1
8 12

1
(c) (d) 1
2

3. A and B toss a coin alternatively, the first to show a head being the winner. If A starts the
game, the chance of his winning is
(a) 5/8 (b) 1/2
(c) 1/3 (d) 2/3
4. One card is drawn from each of two ordinary packs of 52 cards. The probability that at
least one of them is an ace of heart, is
103 (b) 1
(a)
2704 2704

2
(c) (d) 2601
52 2704

5. From a book containing 100 pages, one page is selected randomly. The probability that
the sum of the digits of the page number of the selected page is 11, is
2 9
(a) (b)
25 100

11
(c) (d) None of these
100
6. The probability of getting at least one tail in 4 throws of a coin is
1
(a) 15 (b)
16 16
1
(c) (d) None of these
4

7. In a single throw of two dice, the probability of getting more than 7 is

7
(a) (b) 7
36 12

5 5
(c) (d)
12 36

8. From a pack of 52 cards two are drawn with replacement. The probability, that the first
is a diamond and the second is a king, is
1 17
(a) (b)
26 2704

1
(c) (d) None of these
52

9. There are n letters and n addressed envelopes. The probability that all the letters are not
kept in the right envelope, is
(a) 1 (b) 1 − 1
n! n!

(c) 1 − 1 (d) None of these

n

10. A problem of mathematics is given to three students whose chances of solving the
problem are 1/3, 1/4 and 1/5 respectively. The probability that the question will be solved
is
2 3 4 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 4 5 5

11. The probability of happening an event A in one trial is 0.4. The probability that the event
A happens at least once in three independent trials is
(a) 0.936 (b) 0.784
(c) 0.904 (d) 0.216
12. A card is drawn at random from a pack of 52 cards. The probability that the drawn card
is a court card i.e. a jack, a queen or a king, is
3 3
(a) (b)
52 13
4
(c) (d) None of these
13

13. Three letters are to be sent to different persons and addresses on the three envelopes are
also written. Without looking at the addresses, the probability that the letters go into the
right envelope is equal to
1 1 4 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
27 9 27 6

14. Three letters are to be sent to different persons and addresses on the three envelopes are
also written. Without looking at the addresses, the probability that the letters go into the
right envelope is equal to
1 1
(a) (b)
27 9

4 1
(c) (d)
27 6

15. Two dice are thrown simultaneously. What is the probability of obtaining a multiple of 2
on one of them and a multiple of 3 on the other
5 11
(a) (b)
36 36
1 1
(c) (d)
6 3

16. A box contains 10 good articles and 6 with defects. One article is chosen at random. What
is the probability that it is either good or has a defect
24 40
(a) (b)
64 64

(c) 49
(d) 64
64 64

1 1
17. The probabilities of winning the race by two athletes A and B are and . The
5 4

probability of winning by neither of them, is

3 3
(a) (b)
5 4

2 4
(c) (d)
5 5
18. A man and a woman appear in an interview for two vacancies in the same post. The
probability of man's selection is 1/4 and that of the woman's selection is 1/3. What is the
probability that none of them will be selected
1
(a) (b) 1
2 12

1
(c) (d) None of these
4

19. The probability that an event will fail to happen is 0.05. The probability that the event
will take place on 4 consecutive occasions is
(a) 0.00000625 (b) 0.18543125
(c) 0.00001875 (d) 0.81450625
20. A coin is tossed until a head appears or until the coin has been tossed five times. If a head
does not occur on the first two tosses, then the probability that the coin will be tossed 5
times is
1 3
(a) (b)
2 5

1 1
(c) (d)
4 3

21. If the probabilities of boy and girl to be born are same, then in a 4 children family the
probability of being at least one girl, is
(a) 14 (b) 15
16 16

1 3
(c) (d)
8 8

22. A card is drawn at random from a pack of cards. What is the probability that the drawn
card is neither a heart nor a king
4
(a) (b) 9
13 13

(c) 1
(d) 13
4 26

23. Three persons work independently on a problem. If the respective probabilities that they
will solve it are 1/3, 1/4 and 1/5, then the probability that none can solve it
2 3
(a) (b)
5 5

1
(c) (d) None of these
3
24. Three persons work independently on a problem. If the respective probabilities that they
will solve it are 1/3, 1/4 and 1/5, then the probability that none can solve it
2 3
(a) (b)
5 5

1
(c) (d) None of these
3

25. If A and B are mutually exclusive events, then the value of P (A or B) is

(a) 0 (b) –1
(c) 1 (d) None of these
26. If A and B are mutually exclusive events, then the value of P (A or B) is
(a) 0 (b) –1
(c) 1 (d) None of these

27. For any event A

(a) P(A) + P(A) = 0

(b) P(A) + P(A) = 1
(c) P(A)  1 (d) P(A)  1

1 ,2,3
28. The probability of A, B, C solving a problem are respectively. If all the three try to
3 7 8

solve the problem simultaneously, the probability that exactly one of them will solve it, is

25 25
(a) (b)
168 56

20
(c) (d) 30
168 168

29. A man and his wife appear for an interview for two posts. The probability of the
1
husband's selection is and that of the wife's selection is 1 . What is the probability that
7 5

only one of them will be selected

1 2
(a) (b)
7 7
3
(c) (d) None of these
7
30. A box contains 2 black, 4 white and 3 red balls. One ball is drawn at random from the
box and kept aside. From the remaining balls in the box, another ball is drawn at random
and kept aside the first. This process is repeated till all the balls are drawn from the box.
The probability that the balls drawn are in the sequence of 2 black, 4 white and 3 red is
1 1
(a) (b)
1260 7560
1
(c) (d) None of these
126

31. Seven chits are numbered 1 to 7. Three are drawn one by one with replacement. The
probability that the least number on any selected chit is 5, is
(b) 4  72  (c)  73 
4 3
(a) 1 −  27  4 (d) None of these
     

32. The probability of India winning a test match against West Indies is 1 . Assuming
2

independence from match to match, the probability that in a 5 match series India's
second win occurs at the third test, is
2 1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 2 4 8

33. A locker can be opened by dialing a fixed three digit code (between 000 and 999). A
stranger who does not know the code tries to open the locker by dialing three digits at
random. The probability that the stranger succeeds at the k th trial is
k k
(a) (b)
999 1000

k−1
(c) None of these
1000 (d)

34. The probabilities of a student getting I, II and III division in an examination are
1 3
respectively , and 1 . The probability that the student fails in the examination is
10 5 4

197 (b) 27
(a)
200 100
83
(c) (d) None of these
100
35. A six faced dice is so biased that it is twice as likely to show an even number as an odd
number when thrown. It is thrown twice. The probability that the sum of two numbers
thrown is even, is
1 1
(a) (b)
12 6

1 2
(c) (d)
3 3
1
36. For independent events A , A ,.......... , A , P(A ) = , i = 1, 2, ...... , n. Then the probability that none
1 2 n i i +1

of the event will occur, is

(a) n (b) n − 1
n +1 n+1

1
(c) (d) None of these
n +1

37. The probability that a teacher will give an unannounced test during any class meeting is 1/5.
If a student is absent twice, then the probability that the student will miss at least one test is
4 2
(a) (b)
5 5

7 9
(c) (d)
5 25

38. A bag contains 3 red and 7 black balls, two balls are taken out at random, without
replacement. If the first ball taken out is red, then what is the probability that the second
taken out ball is also red
1 1 3 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
10 15 10 21

39. The corners of regular tetrahedrons are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4. Three tetrahedrons are
tossed. The probability that the sum of upward corners will be 5 is
5 5
(a) (b)
24 64

3
(c) (d) 3
32 16

40. If a coin be tossed n times then probability that the head comes odd times is

1 1
(a) (b)
2
2n
1
(c) (d) None of these
2 n−1
41. Suppose that a die (with faces marked 1 to 6) is loaded in such a manner that for K = 1, 2,
3…., 6, the probability of the face marked K turning up when die is tossed is proportional
to K. The probability of the event that the outcome of a toss of the die will be an even
number is equal to
1 4
(a) (b)
2 7

2 1
(c) (d)
5 21

42. A binary number is made up of 16 bits. The probability of an incorrect bit appearing is p
and the errors in different bits are independent of one another. The probability of
forming an incorrect number is
p
(a) (b) p 16
16

(c) 16 C1 p16 (d) 1 − (1 − p)16

43. In a college, 25% of the boys and 10% of the girls offer Mathematics. The girls constitute
60% of the total number of students. If a student is selected at random and is found to be
studying Mathematics, the probability that the student is a girl, is
1 3
(a) (b)
6 8

5 5
(c) (d)
8 6

44. The probability that a marksman will hit a target is given as 1/5. Then his probability of
at least one hit in 10 shots, is
1
(a) 1 −  4 10 (b) 1 (c) 1− (d) None of these
  510 510
5
 

45. A bag x contains 3 white balls and 2 black balls and another bag y contains 2 white balls
and 4 black balls. A bag and a ball out of it are picked at random. The probability that
the ball is white, is
(a) 3/5 (b) 7/15
(c) 1/2 (d) None of these
46. A problem in Mathematics is given to three students A, B, C and their respective
probability of solving the problem is 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4. Probability that the problem is
solved is
3 1
(a) (b)
4 2
2 1
(c) (d)
3 3
4
47. The probability that A speaks truth is , while this probability for B is 3
. The
5 4

probability that they contradict each other when asked to speak on a fact
4 1
(a) (b)
5 5

7 3
(c) (d)
20 20

48. Three houses are available in a locality. Three persons apply for the houses. Each applies
for one house without consulting others. The probability that all the three apply for the
same house is
8 7
(a) (b)
9 9

2 1
(c) (d)
9 9

49. In a throw of a dice the probability of getting one in even number of throw is

5 5 6 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
36 11 11 6

50. If any four numbers are selected and they are multiplied, then the probability that the
last digit will be 1, 3, 5 or 7 is

4 18 16
(a) (b) (c) (d) None of these
625 625 625

51. Word ‘UNIVERSITY’ is arranged randomly. Then the probability that both ‘I’ does not
come together, is
3 2 4 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
5 5 5 5
52. If Mohan has 3 tickets of a lottery containing 3 prizes and 9 blanks, then his chance of
winning prize are
34 21 17
(a) (b) (c) (d) None of these
55 55 55

53. The letter of the word `ASSASSIN' are written down at random in a row. The probability
that no two S occur together is
1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d) None of these
35 14 15

54. A box contains 25 tickets numbered 1, 2, ........25. If two tickets are drawn at random then
the probability that the product of their numbers is even, is
(a) 11
(b) 13
50 50

37
(c) (d) None of these
50

55. Six cards are drawn simultaneously from a pack of playing cards. What is the probability
that 3 will be red and 3 black
26 C
3
(a) 26
C6 (b) 52 C
6

26 C 26 C 1
(c) 3 3 (d)
52 C
6 2

56. Three mangoes and three apples are in a box. If two fruits are chosen at random, the
probability that one is a mango and the other is an apple is
2 3
(a) (b)
3 5
1
(c) (d) None of these
3

57. A word consists of 11 letters in which there are 7 consonants and 4 vowels. If 2 letters are

chosen at random, then the probability that all of them are consonants, is
5 21
(a) (b)
11 55
4
(c) (d) None of these
11
58. A bag contains 6 red, 4 white and 8 blue balls. If three balls are drawn at random, then

the probability that 2 are white and 1 is red, is

5
(a) (b) 7
204 102

3 1
(c) (d)
68 13

59. There are n different objects 1, 2, 3, ..... n distributed at random in n places marked 1, 2, 3,

..... n. The probability that at least three of the objects occupy places corresponding to
their number is
1 5
(a) (b)
6 6

1
(c) (d) None of these
3

60. In a lottery 50 tickets are sold in which 14 are of prize. A man bought 2 tickets, then the
probability that the man win the prize, is
(a) 17
(b) 18
35 35

72 13
(c) (d)
175 175

61. Three of the six vertices of a regular hexagon are chosen at random. The probability that
the triangle with these three vertices is equilateral, is equal to
1 1
(a) (b)
2 5
1 1
(c) (d)
10 20

62. Three of the six vertices of a regular hexagon are chosen at random. The probability that
the triangle with these three vertices is equilateral, is equal to
1 1
(a) (b)
2 5

1 1
(c) (d)
10 20

63. A bag contains 4 white and 3 red balls. Two draws of one ball each are made without
replacement. Then the probability that both the balls are red is
1 2
(a) (b)
7 7
3 4
(c) (d)
7 7
64. A box contains 10 mangoes out of which 4 are rotten. 2 mangoes are taken out together. If
one of them is found to be good, the probability that the other is also good is
1
(a) (b) 8
3 15

5 2
(c) (d)
18 3

65. Four boys and three girls stand in a queue for an interview, probability that they will in
alternate position is
1 1
(a) (b)
34 35

1 1
(c) (d)
17 68

66. A mapping is selected at random from the set of all the mappings of the set A = 1, 2,..., n into
itself. The probability that the mapping selected is an injection is
1 1
(a) (b)
nn n!

(n − 1)! (d) n!
(c)
nn −1 nn−1

67. Among 15 players, 8 are batsmen and 7 are bowlers. Find the probability that a team is
chosen of 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers
8
C6 7 C5 8
C6 +7 C5
(a) 15 C
11
(b) 15 C
11

15
(c) (d) None of these
28

68. If m rupee coins and n ten paise coins are placed in a line, then the probability that the
extreme coins are ten paise coins is
n (n − 1)
(a) m +n Cm / nm (b)
(m + n)(m + n − 1)

m +n
(c) Pm / mn (d) m +n Pn / nm
69. A bag contains 3 red, 4 white and 5 blue balls. All balls are different. Two balls are drawn
at random. The probability that they are of different colour is
47 10 5
(a) (b) (c) (d) None of these
66 33 22

70. A bag contains 5 black balls, 4 white balls and 3 red balls. If a ball is selected
randomwise, the probability that it is a black or red ball is
1 1 5 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 4 12 3
71. Six boys and six girls sit in a row randomly. The probability that the six girls sit together
1 1
(a) (b)
77 132
1
(c) (d) None of these
231

72. Two friends A and B have equal number of daughters. There are three cinema tickets
which are to be distributed among the daughters of A and B. The probability that all the
tickets go to daughters of A is 1/20. The number of daughters each of them have is
(a) 4 (b) 5
(c) 6 (d) 3
73. If four vertices of a regular octagon are chosen at random, then the probability that the
quadrilateral formed by them is a rectangle is
1 2
(a) (b)
8 21

1 1
(c) (d)
32 35

74. Two numbers are selected at random from 1, 2, 3 ......100 and are multiplied, then the
probability correct to two places of decimals that the product thus obtained is divisible by
3, is
(a) 0.55 (b) 0.44
(c) 0.22 (d) 0.33
75. Let A and B be two finite sets having m and n elements respectively such that m  n. A
mapping is selected at random from the set of all mappings from A to B. The probability
that the mapping selected is an injection is
n! n!
(a) (b)
(n − m)!m n
(n − m)!nm

m! m!
(c) (d)
(n − m)!nm (n − m)!m n

76. A drawer contains 5 brown socks and 4 blue socks well mixed. A man reaches the drawer
and pulls out 2 socks at random. What is the probability that they match
4 5 5 7
(a) (b) (c) (d)
9 8 9 12

77. Fifteen persons among whom are A and B, sit down at random at a round table. The
probability that there are 4 persons between A and B, is

3 3 7 7
 1 2 2 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)

3 3 7 7
78. Suppose n3 persons are sitting in a row. Two of them are selected at random. The
probability that they are not together is
(a) 1 − 2 (b) 2
n n−1

(c) 1 − 1 (d) None of these

n

79. If odds against solving a question by three students are 2 : 1, 5:2 and 5:3 respectively,
then probability that the question is solved only by one student is
31 24
(a) (b)
56 56
25
(c) (d) None of these
56

80. Suppose that A, B, C are events such that P (A) = P (B) = P (C) = 1 , P (AB) = P (CB) = 0, P (AC) = 1 , then
4 8

P (A + B) =

(a) 0.125 (b) 0.25

(c) 0.375 (d) 0.5
81. If the odds in favour of an event be 3 : 5, then the probability of non-occurrence of the
event is
3 5
(a) (b)
5 3

3 5
(c) (d)
8 8

82. If two events A and B are such that P (A + B) = 5 , P (AB) =

1
and P (A) = 1 , then the events A and
6 3 2

B are
(a) Independent
(b) Mutually exclusive
(c) Mutually exclusive and independent
(d) None of these
83. For an event, odds against is 6 : 5. The probability that event does not occur, is
5 6 5 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
6 11 11 6

84. In a horse race the odds in favour of three horses are 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. The probability
that one of the horse will win the race is
37 47 1 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
60 60 4 4
 7
85. If A and B are two events such that P (A  B) + P (A  B) =
and P (A) = 2 P (B), then P (A) =
8
7 7
(a) (b)
12 24

(c) 5
(d) 17
12 24
1 5 3
86. If P (A) = , P (B) = and P (A  B) = , then P (A  B) =
4 8 4

1
(a) (b) 0
8

3
(c) (d) 1
4

87. If A and B are any two events, then the probability that exactly one of them occur is
(a) P (A) + P (B) − P(A  B) (b) P (A) + P (B) − 2P (A  B)

(c) P (A) + P (B) − P(A  B) (d) P (A) + P (B) − 2P (A  B)

88. If A and B are two events of a random experiment, P (A) = 0.25 , P(B) = 0.5 and P (A  B) = 0.15,

then P (A  B) =

(a) 0.1 (b) 0.35

(c) 0.15 (d) 0.6
89. The probability that at least one of A and B occurs is 0.6. If A and B occur simultaneously
with probability 0.3, then P(A) + P(B) =

(a) 0.9 (b) 1.15

(c) 1.1 (d) 1.2
3 8
90. If A and B are two independent events such that P (A  B') = P (A'B) =
and , then P(A) =
25 25
1 3
(a) (b)
5 8
2 4
(c) (d)
5 5

91. If the probability of X to fail in the examination is 0.3 and that for Y is 0.2, then the
probability that either X or Y fail in the examination is
(a) 0.5 (b) 0.44
(c) 0.6 (d) None of these
92. The probability of happening at least one of the events A and B is 0.6. If the events A and B
happens simultaneously with the probability 0.2, then P (A) + P (B) =

(a) 0.4 (b) 0.8

(c) 1.2 (d) 1.4
93. A, B, C are any three events. If P (S) denotes the probability of S happening then
P (A  (B  C)) =

(a) P(A) + P(B) + P(C) − P(A  B) − P(A  C) (b) P(A) + P(B) + P(C) − P(B) P(C)

(c) P(A  B) + P(A  C) − P(A  B  C) (d) None of these

94. Let A and B be two events such that P (A) = 0.3 and P (A  B) = 0.8 . If A and B are independent
events, then P(B) =

5 5 3 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
6 7 5 5

95. Let A and B be two events such that P(A  B) = 1 , P(A  B) = 1 and P(A) = 1 , where A stands for
6 4 4

complement of event A. Then events A and B are

(a) Independent but not equally likely
(b) Mutually exclusive and independent
(c) Equally likely and mutually exclusive
(d) Equally likely but not independent
96. If A and B are events such that P(A  B) = 3 / 4, P(A  B) = 1 / 4, P(A) = 2 / 3, then P(A  B) is

[AIEEE 2002]
5 3 5 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
12 8 8 4

97. A random variable X has the probability distribution

X 1 2 3 5 6 7 8

P( 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

X) 5 3 2 0 0 8 7 5

For the events E = {X is prime number} and F = {X  4} , the probability of P(E  F) is

(a) 0.50 (b) 0.77

(c) 0.35 (d) 0.87
98. If P(A  B) = 0.8 and P(A  B) = 0.3, then P(A) + P(B) =

(a) 0.3 (b) 0.5

(c) 0.7 (d) 0.9
99. If E and F are independent events such that 0  P(E)  1 and 0  P (F)  1, then
(a) E and F c (the complement of the event F) are independent

(b) E c and F c are independent

 E   Ec 
(c) P +P 1
 F   Fc =
 

(d) All of the above

1 1
100. If A and B are two independent events such that P (A) = , P(B) = , then
2 5

(a) P  A  = 1 (b) P A 5
  =
B 2 A B 6

(c) P  A  B  = 0 (d) All of the above
A  B
 

1 1 1 B
101. If P (A) = , P (B) = and P (A  B) = , then P  =
2 3 4 A

(a) 1 (b) 0
1 1
(c) (d)
2 3
1 1 1  B
102. If A and B are two events such that P (A) = 3 , P (B) = 4 and P (A B) = 5 , then P A  =
 
 

37 37
(a) (b)
40 45

23
(c) (d) None of these
40

103. A letter is known to have come either from LONDON or CLIFTON; on the postmark only
the two consecutive letters ON are legible. The probability that it came from LONDON is
(a) 5
(b) 12
17 17

(c) 17
(d) 3
30 5
  A 
104. If A and B are two events such that P (A) 0 and P (B)  1, then P  =
B
 
(a) 1 − P  A  (b) 1 − P  A
 B   B
 

1 − P (A  B) P (A)
(c) P (B ) (d) P (B)

105. If two events A and B are such that P( Ac ) = 0.3, P(B) = 0.4 and P(AB c ) = 0.5, then P[B /(A  Bc )] is

equal to
1 1
(a) (b)
2 3

1
(c) (d) None of these
4

106. Let 0  P(A)  1 , 0  P(B)  1 and P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A) P(B). Then

(a) P(B / A) = P(B) − P(A) (b) P(Ac  Bc ) = P(Ac ) + P(Bc )

(c) P(A  B)c = P(Ac ) P(Bc ) (d) P( A / B) = P(B / A)

107. Let 0  P(A)  1 , 0  P(B)  1 and P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A) P(B). Then

(a) P(B / A) = P(B) − P(A) (b) P(Ac  Bc ) = P(Ac ) + P(Bc )

(c) P(A  B)c = P(Ac ) P(Bc ) (d) P(A / B) = P(A)

108. In an entrance test there are multiple choice questions. There are four possible answers to
each question of which one is correct. The probability that a student knows the answer to
a question is 90%. If he gets the correct answer to a question, then the probability that he
was guessing, is
37 1
(a) (b)
40 37

(c) 36
(d) 1
37 9
P(A) =  A  1 B 1
109. For two events A and B, if P  = and P  = , then
B 4 A 2

(a) A and B are independent (b) P A  = 3

 B  4
(c) P B  = 1 (d) All of these
A 2
 
110. One ticket is selected at random from 100 tickets numbered 00, 01, 02, ...... 98, 99. If X
and Y denote the sum and the product of the digits on the tickets, then P (X = 9 / Y = 0) equals
1
(a) (b) 2
19 19
3
(c) (d) None of these
19

111. If E and F are the complementary events of events E and F respectively and if
0  P (F)  1, then

(a) P (E / F) + P (E / F) = 1 b) P (E / F) + P (E / F) = 1
(c) P (E / F) + P (E / F) = 1 (d) None of these
112. A bag X contains 2 white and 3 black balls and another bag Y contains 4 white and 2
black balls. One bag is selected at random and a ball is drawn from it. Then the
probability for the ball chosen be white is
2
(a) (b) 7
15 15

(c) 8
(d) 14
15 15

113. Cards are drawn one by one at random from a well shuffled full pack of 52 cards until
two aces are obtained for the first time. If N is the number of cards required to be drawn,
then Pr {N = n}, where 2  n  50, is

(n − 1)(52 − n)(51 − n)
(a) 50  49  17  13 (b) 2 (n50− 1)(52 − n)(51 − n)
 49  17  13

(c) 3(n − 1)(52 − n)(51 − n) (d) 4(n50− 1)(52 − n)(51 −n)

 49  17  13
50  49  17  13

114. If (1 + 3 p)/ 3, (1 − p) / 4 and (1− 2 p) / 2 are the probabilities of three mutually exclusive events,
then the set of all values of p is
1
(a) 1
p (b) 1  p  1 (c)
1
p
2
(d)
1
p
2

3 2 3 2 2 3 2 3

115. There are four machines and it is known that exactly two of them are faulty. They are
tested, one by one, is a random order till both the faulty machines are identified. Then the
probability that only two tests are needed is
1 1
(a) (b)
3 6

1 1
(c) (d)
2 4
116. An anti-aircraft gun take a maximum of four shots at an enemy plane moving away from
it. The probability of hitting the plane at the first, second, third and fourth shot are 0.4,
0.3, 0.2 and 0.1 respectively. The probability that the gun hits the plane is
(a) 0.25 (b) 0.21
(c) 0.16 (d) 0.6976
117. An unbiased coin is tossed. If the result is a head, a pair of unbiased dice is rolled and the
number obtained by adding the numbers on the two faces is noted. If the result is a tail, a
card from a well shuffled pack of eleven cards numbered 2, 3, 4, ,12 is picked and the
number on the card is noted. The probability that the noted number is either 7 or 8, is
(a) 0.24 (b) 0.244 (c) 0.024 (d) None of these
118. If E and F are events with P (E)  P(F) and P (E  F)  0, then
(a) Occurrence of E  Occurrence of F
(b) Occurrence of F  Occurrence of E
(c) Non-occurrence of E  Non-occurrence of F
(d) None of the above implications holds

119. If n positive integers are taken at random and multiplied together, the probability that
the last digit of the product is 2, 4, 6 or 8, is
2n
n
(a) 4 n
+ 2n (b) 4 5n
5
n

4n−2n (d) None of these

(c) 5n

120. An unbiased die with faces marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is rolled four times. Out of four face
values obtained the probability that the minimum face value is not less than 2 and the
maximum face value is not greater than 5, is
(a) 16/81 (b) 1/81 (c) 80/81 (d) 65/81
121. If A and B are two events, then the probability of the event that at most one of A, B
occurs, is
(a) P(A'B) + P(A  B') + P(A'B')
(b) 1 − P(A  B)
(c) P(A') + P(B') + P(A  B) − 1
(d) All of the these
122. Two numbers are selected at random from the numbers 1, 2, ....... n. The probability that
the difference between the first and second is not less than m (where 0<m<n), is
(a) (n − m)(n − m + 1)
(n − 1)
(b) (n − m)(n2n− m + 1)

(c) (n − m)(n − m − 1) (d) (n − m)(n − m + 1)

2n (n − 1) 2n (n − 1)

123. Seven white balls and three black balls are randomly placed in a row. The probability
that no two black balls are placed adjacently equals
1
(a) (b) 7
2 15
2 1
(c) (d)
15 3

124. The probability of happening an event A is 0.5 and that of B is 0.3. If A and B are
mutually exclusive events, then the probability of happening neither A nor B is
(a) 0.6 (b) 0.2
(c) 0.21 (d) None of these
125. If A and B are two events such that P (A  B) = P (A  B), then the true relation is
(a) P (A) + P (B) = 0
B
(b) P (A) + P (B) = P (A) P  
A

(c) P (A) + P (B) = 2 P (A) P  B 

A
 PROBABILITY

HINTS AND SOLUTIONS

1+2+1 4
1. (c) Since there are one A, two I and one O, hence the required probability = = .
11 11

2. (b) Requiredprobability =  1 1 = 1 .

 2   6  12

3. (d) The chance of head = 1 and not of head = 1

2 2

Probability of A’s winning

1  1 2 1  1 4 1
= +.+ . + ........
2 2 222
 1 3  1 5
1 2
= +   +   +......... = .
2 2  2 3

4. (a) Required probability is 1 − P (no ace ofheart)

51 51 (52 + 51) 103
=1− . = = .
52 52 52 . 52 2704

5. (a) Favourable ways {29, 92, 38, 83, 47,74, 56, 65}

8 2
Hence required probability = = .
100 25

6. (a) Required probability  1 4 15

= 1 −  = .
 2 16

7. (c) Required probability is

P(getting 8) + P(9) + P(10) + P(11) + P(12)

5 4 3 2 1 15 5
= + + + + = = .
36 36 36 36 36 36 12

8. (c) Required probability = P(Diamond). P(king)

13 4 = 1 .
= .
52 52 52
1
9. (b) Required probability is 1 −P (All letters in right envelope) =1−
n!

10. (d) The probability of students not solving the problem are 1 − 1 = 2 , 1 − 1 = 3 and 1 − 1 = 4
3 3 4 4 5 5

Therefore the probability that the problem is not solved by any one of them =234=2
3 4 5 5

11. (b) Here P(A) = 0.4 and P(A) = 0.6

Probability that A does not happen at all = (0.6)3
 Thus required Probability = 1 − (0.6)3 = 0.784 .

12. (b) Court cards are king, queen and jack

12 3
Hence required probability = = .
52 13

13. (d) Total no. of ways placing 3 letters in three envelops = 3 !, out of these ways only one way is
correct.
 I II
 
 5, 1 
14. (c) Obviously numbers will be  4, 2  . Hence required probability= 4 2
= .
 6 . 5 15
 2, 4 
 
 1, 5 

15. (b) Favourable cases for one are three i.e. 2, 4 and 6 and for other are two i.e. 3, 6.
 3  2  1  11
Hence required probability =  2− =
36 36 36
  

64
16. (d) Requiredprobability = .
64

17. (a) P(A  B) = 4 . 3 = 3 .

5 4 5

18. (a) Let E1 be the event that man will be selected and E2 the event that woman will be selected.
Then
1 1 3 1
P(E ) = so P(E )=1− = and P(E ) =
1 1 2
4 4 4 3

2
)=
So P(E2 3

Clearly E1 and E2 are independent events.

3 2 1
So, P(E  E ) = P(E )  P(E )=  = .
1 2 1 2
4 3 2

19. (d) We have P(A) = 0.05  P(A) = 0.95

Hence the probability that the event will take place in 4 consecutive occasions
= {P(A)}4 = (0.95)4 = 0.81450625 .

20. (c) P (Tail in 3rd) . P (Tail in 4th) = 1. 1

=
1
.
2 2 4

1 − P(no girl) = 1 −  1  = 15 .
4
21. (b) Required probability is
Requiredprobability
22. (b)
52 52 13
23. (a) Required probability

= 1− 1 1 1 23 4 =2.
  1 −  1 − = ..
 3  4 5 3 4 5 5

24. (a) It is a fundamental concept.

25. (c) concept
ab
26. (b) A determinant of order 2 is of the form  =
c d

27. (b) Concept.

1 2 3
28. (b) Here p = , p = and p =
1 2 3
3 7 8
2 5 5
= ,q = and q =
 q1 2
3 7 3 8

29. (b) The probability of husband is not selected = 1 − 1 = 

7 7

The probability that wife is not selected = 1 − 1 =

4
5 5

The probability that only husband selected = 1  4 = 4

7 5 35

The probability that only wife selected =

1 6 6
 =
5 7 35
6 4 10 2
Hence required probability = + = =
35 35 35 7

30. (a) The required probability

2 1 4 3 2 1 1
=       1  1 1 = .
9 8 7 6 5 4 1260

31. (c) P(5 or 6 or7) in one draw = 3

7

7 =  3
3
 Probability that in each of 3 draws, the chits bear 5 or 6 or
  .
7
 

32. (c) The sample space is [LWW , WLW ]

 P(LWW ) + P(WLW )

= Probability that in 5 match series, it is India’s second win

1 1 2 1
= P(L)P(W )P(W ) + P(W )P(L)P(W ) = + = = .
8 8 8 4

33. (b) Let A denote the event that the stranger succeeds at the k th trial. Then
P(A) = 999 998 1000 − k + 1 1000 − k

 
 ..... 
1000 999 1000 − k + 2 1000 − k + 1
1000 − k
 P(A ) =  P(A) = 1 − 1000 − k =
k
.
1000 1000
1000
34. (d) A denote the event getting I;
B denote the event getting II;
C denote the event getting III;
and D denote the event getting fail.
Obviously, these four event are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, therefore
P(A) + P(B) + P(C) + P(D) = 1  P(D) = 1 − 0.95 = 0.05 .

35. (d) concept

1 i
36. (c) P (non-occurrence of A )=1 − =
i i+1 i+1

 P (Non-occurrence of any of events)

1 2  n  1
= . = .
2   3 ......... n + 1 n+1
    

37. (d) The probability that one test is held = 2  1  4 = 8

5 5 25

Probability that one test is held on both days

1 1 1
=  =
5 5 25

8 1 =9.
Thus the probability that the student misses at least one test = +
25 25 25

38. (b) We have total number of balls = 10

 Number of red balls = 3
And number of black balls = 7
And number of balls in the bag = 3 + 7 = 10
The probability for taking out one red ball out of 10 balls = 3 and the probability for
10
2
taking out one red ball out of remaining 9 balls =
9

 Probability for both balls to be red

3 2 1
i.e., p =  = .
10 9 15

39. (c) Required combinations are (2, 2, 1), (1, 2, 2), (2, 1, 2), (1, 3, 1,), (3, 1, 1) and (1, 1, 3)
 Required probability =
6
=
6
=
3
.
43 64 32

40. (a) Total number of ways = 2n

If head comes odd times, then favourable ways = 2 n −1.

  Required probability
n −1
=2 =
1
.
2n 2
3 1
41. (a) Required probability = = .
6 2

42. (d) Probability of correct bit appearing is (1 – p)

 Probability of correct number = (1 − p)16

and hence probability of incorrect number = 1 − (1 − p)16 .

43. (b)Let 100 students studying in which 60 % girls and 40 % boys.
Boys = 40, Girls = 60
25
25% of boys offer Maths =  40 = 10 Boys
100

10% of girls offer Maths = 10  60 = 6 Girls

100

It means, 16 students offer Maths.

Required probability = 6 3
= .
16 8

44. (a) concept.

45. (b) Requiredprobability 13 2 9+5 7
=  + = = .
25 6 30 15

46. (a) Probability problem is not solved by A = 1 − 1 = 1

2 2
1 2
Probability problem is not solved by B=1− =
3 3
1 3
Probability problem is not solved by C=1− =
4 4

Probability of solving the problem =1− P (not solved by any body)

 P=1−1.2.3=1−1=3.
2 3 4 4 4

47. (c) Here P(A) = 3 , P(B) = 4

4 5

7
Required probability = P(A).P(B) + P(A). P(B) = .
20

1
48. (d) For a particular house being selected , Probability =
3

Probability (all the persons apply for the same house)

1 1 1 1
=    3 = .
3 3 3 9
49. (b) Required probability
=5 1 +  5   1  +  5  1  + ...
3 5

6 6 6 6
    6  6

5 1 5
.
5 = .
= 6 6 = 5 2 36 − 25 11
1− 
 6

50. (c) Total number of digits in any number at the unit place is 10.
n(S) = 10
To get the last digit in product is 1, 3, 5, or 7, it is necessary the last digit in each number
must be 1, 3, 5 or 7.
n (A) = 4, P (A) = 4 2
=
10 5
 2 4 16
 Required probability =  = .
5 625

10 !
51. (c) Total number of ways =
2!

Favourable number of ways for ' I' come together is 9 !

Thus probability that ' I' come together
9 ! 2 ! 2 = 1 .
= =
10 ! 10 5

Hence required probability = 1 − 1 = 4 .

5 5

52. (a) Mohan can gets one prize, 2 prizes or 3 prizes and his chance of failure means he get no
prize.
Number of total ways =12 C 3 = 220

Favourable number of ways to be failure = 9 C 3 = 84

84 34
Hence required probability =1− = .
220 55

8!
53. (b) Total ways ofarrangements =
2!.4!

 
No of arrangements under given conditions 4!
= 5  2! 
 

5. 4!2!4! 1
Hence required probability = = .
2! 8 ! 14
54. (c) Required probability is 1 − P
13 C 13 . 12 37
= 1− 2
=1− = .
25C 25 . 24 50
2

26
C 3 . 26 C 3
55. (c) Required probability = .
52 C
6

56. (b) Requiredprobability 3

C1 3 C1 33 3
= = =
.
6
C2 15 5
7
C2
= = 7.6 21
57. (b) Requiredprobability 11C
= .
2 11 . 10 55

C 2 6 C1
4
58. (c) Required probability = =3
.
18 68
C3
(n − 1)! 1
59. (a) Let E denote the event that the ith object goes to the ith place, we have P(E ) = = ,i
i i n! n

and P(Ei  E j  E k) = (n − 3) ! for i  j  k

n!

Since we can choose 3 places out of n in n

C3 ways.
The probability of the required event is n C . (n − 3)! = 1 .
3
n! 6

60. (a) In 50 tickets 14 are of prize and 36 are blank. Number of ways both the tickets are blank
= 36 C 2
36
C 18
Thus the probability of not winning the prize = 2
= .
50 C 35
2

Hence probability of winning the prize = 1 − 18 = 17 .

35 35

6  5  4 = 20
61. (c) Total number of triangles which can be formed is equal to 6
C3 =
123

Number of equilateral triangles = 2

2 1
 Required probability = = .
20 10

62. (a) Total number of ways = n !. Favourable cases = 2(n − 1) !

Hence required probability = 2(n − 1) ! = 2 .

n! n
3 2
C1 C1 1
63. (a) Required probability =  = .
6
7C1 C1 7

64. (c) Number of ways of selecting two good mangoes = 6 C 2 = 15 . Number of ways that at least
one of the two selected mangoes is to be good =6 C1 9 C1 = 54
 15 5
 Required probability = = .
64 18

65. (b) Four boys can be arranged in 4 ! ways and three girls can be arranged in 3! ways.
 The favourable cases = 4 ! 3 !

= 4 ! 3! 6 1
Hence the required probability = = .
7! 7  6  5 35

66. (c) The total number of functions from A to itself is nn and the total number of bijections from
A to itself is n !. {Since A is a finite set, therefore every injective map from A to itself is
bijective also}.
n! (n − 1) !
 = =
The required probability nn nn−1
.

67. (a) Total number of ways = 15 C11

Favourable cases = 8 C6  7 C5
8C  7C
Required probability = 6
15 C
5 .
11

68. (b) standard problem

69. (a) We have the following three pattern :
34
(i) Red, white P(A) =
12 C
2

3 5
P(B) =
(ii) Red, blue 12 C
2

(iii) 4 5
Blue, white P(C) =
12 C
2

Since all these cases are exclusive, so the required probability = (12 + 15 + 20) = (47  2) = 47 .
12
C2 (12 11) 66

70. (d) P(Black or Red)

5
C1 + 3C1 2
= 12 C
= .
1 3

71. (b) 6 boys and 6 girls can be arranged in a row in 12 ! ways. If all the 6 girls are together, then
the number of arrangement are 7 !6 !.

Hence required probability = 7 !. 6 !

12 !

65432 1
= = .
12  11  10  9  8 132
72. (d) Let each of the friend have x daughters. Then the probability that all the tickets go to the
x
x
C3 . C3 1
daughters of A is Therefore 2 xC
=  x = 3.
2xC 20
3 3

73. (d) Here only 2 rectangles are formed ADEH, GFCB.

 Number of favourable cases = 2
and total number of cases =8 C4 H A

 Required probability G B

F C
2 1
= 8C = 35 .
4 E D
2C
1  C1  C1
3 4
234 2
= = = .
9C 9 8 7  7
3
  
32

74. (a) Total number of cases obtained by taking multiplication of only two numbers out of
100 =100 C2 . Out of hundred (1, 2,........., 100) given numbers, there are the numbers
3, 6, 9, 12,........., 99, which are 33 in number such that when any one of these is multiplied with
any one of remaining 67 numbers or any two of these 33 are multiplied, then the resulting
products is divisible by 3. Then the number of numbers which are the products of two of the
given number are divisible by 3= 33 C1 67 C1 + 33 C 2 . Hence the required probability
33 C
1 67 C1 + 33 C 2 2739
= 100 = = 0.55.
C2 4950

75. (b) As we know the total number of mappings is nm and number of injective mappings is
n !
.
(n − m)!nm

76. (a) Out of 9 socks, 2 can be drawn in 9

C2 ways.
Two socks drawn from the drawer will match if either both are brown of both are blue.
Therefore favourable number of cases is 5
C 2+ 4 C 2.

5
C2 +4C2 = 4 .
Hence the required probability = 9C
2 9

77. (d) Let A occupy any seat

A
at the round table.
B1 + B2
Then there are 14 seats
available for B.
If there are to be four persons between A and B.
Then B has only two ways to sit, as show in the fig.
 Hence required probability = 2 1
= .
14 7

78. (a) standard problem

79. (c) The probability of solving the question by these three students are 1 2
, and 3 respectively.
3 7 8
1 2 3
P(A) = ; P(B) = ; P(C) =
3 7 8

Then probability of question solved by only one student

= P(A B C or A B C or A B C)
80. (d) P(A + B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(AB) = 1 + 1 − 0 = 1 .
4 4 2

81. (d) Required probability = 1 − 3 = 5 .

8 8

82. (a) We have P(A + B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(AB)

5 1 1 4 2
 = + P(B) −  P(B) = =
6 2 3 6 3

Thus, P(A). P(B) = 1  2 = 1 = P(AB)

2 3 3
6 6
83. (b) Requiredprobability = = .
6 +5 11

84. (b) Probabilities of winning the race by three horsesare 1 1

, and 1 .
3 4 5

Hence required probability = 1 + 1 + 1 = 47 .

3 4 5 60

85. (a) Since we have

P(A)
P(A  B) + P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) = P(A) +
2
7 3 P(A) 7
 =  P(A) = .
8 2 12
2 5 6 1
86. (a) P(A  B) = + − = .
8 8 8 8

87. (b) Required probability = A occurs and B does not occur or B occurs and A does not occur
= P(A  B ) + P(A  B)

= P(A) − P(A  B) + P(B) − P(A  B)

= P(A) + P(B) − 2 P(A  B) .

88. (a) Since P(A  B ) + P(A  B) = P(A)

 P(A  B) = P(A) − P(A  B) = 0.25 − 0.15 = 0.1

89. (c) 1 − P(A  B) = 0.6, P(A  B) = 0.3, then
P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A  B)

 1 − P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − 0.4

 P(A) + P(B) = 0.7 + 0.4 = 1.1 .
90. (a) Since events are independent.
3
So, P(A  B) = P(A)  P(B) =
25
3
 P(A) {1 − 2P(B)} = . ... (i)
25

8
Similarly, P(B)  {1 − P(A)} = . ... (ii)
25
1
On solving (i) and (ii), we get P(A) = and 3 .
5 5

91. (b) Here P(X ) = 0.3; P(Y ) = 0.2

Now P(X  Y ) = P(X ) + P(Y ) − P(X  Y )

Since these are independent events, so

P(X  Y ) = P(X). P(Y )

Thus required probability = 0.3 + 0.2 − 0.06 = 0.44 .

92. (c) We are given that P(A  B) = 0.6 and P(A  B) = 0.2 .

We know that if A and B are any two events, then

P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A  B)

0.6 = 1 − P(A) + 1 − P(B ) − 0.2

 P(A) + P(B ) = 2 − 0.8 = 1.2 .

93. (c) P[A  (B  C)] = P[(A  B)  (A  C)]

= P(A  B) + P(A  C) − P[(A  B)  (A  C)]

94. (b) 0.8 = 0.3 + x − 0.3 x  x = 5 / 7.

95. (a) ( 1
) 1
P A  B = ; P(A  B) = ,
6 4

( )
P A =  P(A) = ,
1 3
4 4

( )
P A  B = 1 − P(A  B) = 1 − P(A) − P(B) + P(A  B)
3 1
96. (a) P (A  B) = , P(A  B) =
4 4
2 1
P(A) =  P(A) =
3 3

 P(A  B)= P(A)+ P (B)− P(A  B)

 = + P(B) −  P(B) =
1 1 3 2
4 3 4 3
2 1 8−3 5
P(A  B) = P(B) − P (A  B) = − = = .
3 4 12 12

97. (b) E = {x is a prime number}

P(E) = P(2) + P(3) + P(5) + P(7) = 0.62,

F = {x  4} , P(F) = P(1) + P(2) + P(3) = 0.50

and P(E  F) = P(2) + P(3) = 0.35

 P(E  F) = P(E) + P(F) − P(E  F)

= 0.62+0.50 – 0.35 = 0.77.

98. d) P(A'  B') = 1 − P(A  B) = 1 − 0.8 = 0.2

P(A'B') = 1 − P(A  B) = 1 − 0.3 = 0.7

P(A'B') = P(A')+ P(B') − P(A'B')

 0.7 = P(A') + P(B') − 0.2  P(A')+ P(B') = 0.9 .

99. (d) P(E  F) = P(E). P(F)

Now, P(E  Fc) = P(E) − P(E  F) = P(E)[1 − P(F)] = P(E).P(Fc)

and P(Ec  Fc ) = 1 − P(E  F) = 1 −[P(E) + P(F) − P(E  F)
= [1 − P(E)][1 − P(F)] = P(Ec ) P(Fc )

Also P(E / F) = P(E) and P(Ec / Fc ) = P(Ec )

 P(E / F) + P(Ec / Fc ) = 1.
1
100. (d) P(A / B) = P(A) as independent event = .
2
P[A  (A  B)]
P{A /(A  B)} =
P(A  B)

{Since A  (A  B) = A  [A − B − A  B]

= A − A  B − A  B = a}

P A  P(A) 1
2 = 21=
5
 = =
 A  B  P(A  B) 1 1 1 6 6
  − −
2 5 10 10
 A  B 
and similarly P A  B .
 

101. (c) P(B / A) = P(A  B) = 1 / 4 = 1 .

P(A) 1/2 2
 23
102. (a) P B  = 1 − P(A  B) = 1 −
A  P(A) 6 0 = 37  3 = 37 .
1 60 2 40
  1−
3

103. (b) We define the following events :

A1 : Selecting a pair of consecutive letter from the word LONDON.
A2 : Selecting a pair of consecutive letters from the word CLIFTON.
E : Selecting a pair of letters ‘ON’.
2
Then P(A1  E) = ; as there are 5 pairs of consecutive letters out of which 2 are ON.
5
1
P(A2  E) = ; as there are 6 pairs of consecutive letters of which one is ON.
6

 The required probability is

A 5 212
1 P(A  E)
P E  = P(A  E)1+ P(A  E) = 2= 1 . 17
  1 2 +
5 6
104. (c) A  P(A  B) P(A  B) 1 − P(A  B)
P  = P(B) = P(B) = P(B) .
B
 
c P(B (A  Bc ))
105. (c) P[B /(A  B )] = P(A  Bc )

P(A  B)
=
P(A) + P(Bc ) − P(A  Bc )

P(A) − P(A  Bc ) 0.7 − 0.5 1

= = = .
P(A) + P(Bc ) − P(A  Bc ) 0.8 4

106. (c) Since P(A  B) = P(A) P(B)

It means A and B are independent events so Ac and Bc will also be independent. Hence
P(A  B)c = P(Ac  B c ) = P(Ac ) P(Bc ) (Demorgan’s law)

As A is independent of B, hence
P(A / B) = P(A) , {□ P(A  B) = P(B)P(A / B)} .

107. (d) Let E1 be the event that the ball is drawn from bag A, E2 the event that it is drawn from bag
B and E that the ball is red.We have to find P(E2 / E) .
Since both the bags are equally likely to be selected, we have P(E ) = P(E ) = 1
1 2
2

Also P(E / E1 ) = 3 / 5 and P(E / E2 ) = 5 / 9.

Hence by Bay’s theorem, we have

 P(E ) P(E / E 2)
2 ) + P(E ) P(E / E )
P(E2 / E) = P(E ) P(E / E
1 1 2 2

1 5
.
= 2 9 25
= .
1 . 3 + 1.5 52
2 5 2 9

108. (b) apply baye’s theorem

1 P(B  A) 1  P(B  A) = 1
109. (d) P  = 
B
=
 A 2 P(A) 2
1
8
 A  1 P(A  B) 1  P(B) =
P B = 4 
P(B) = 4 2
 

1
P(A  B) = = P(A). P(B)
8

 Events A and B are independent.

Now,  A  P(A  B) P(A) P(B) 3
P  = = =
 B P(B) P(B) 4

and P  B'  = P(B' A') = P(B') P(A') = 1 .

 A'  P(A') P(A') 2

110. (b) Event (Y = 0) is {00, 01, 09, 10, 20, .............90}

Also (X = 9) (Y = 0) = 09, 90, we have

19 2
P(Y = 0) = and P(X = 9)  (Y = 0) =
100 100

Hence required probability

= P(X = 9) /(Y = 0) =
P(X = 9) (Y = 0) = 2 .
P(Y = 0) 19

P(E  F) + P(E  F)
111. (a) P(E / F) + P(E / F) =
P(F)

P{(E  F)  (E  F)}
=
P(F)

[□ E  F and E  F are disjoint]

P{(E  E)  F} P(F)
= = =1
P(F) P(F)

Similarly we can show that (b) and (c) are not true while (d) is true.
 E  E  P(E  F) P(E  F) P(F)
P   + P  = + = =1
 F 

 F P(F) P(F) P(F)

 

112. (c)Let A be the event of selecting bag X, B be the event of selecting bag Y and E be the event of
drawing a white ball, then P(A) = 1 / 2, P(B) = 1 / 2 , P(E / A) = 2 / 5 P(E / B) = 4 / 6 = 2 / 3 .
 1 2 1 2 8
P(E) = P(A)P(E / A) + P(B)P(E / B) =  +  = .
2 5 2 3 15

113. (a) Here the least number of draws to obtain 2 aces are 2 and the maximum number is 50 thus
n can take value from 2 to 50.
Since we have to make n draws for getting two aces, in (n − 1) draws, we get any one of the 4
aces and in the n th draw we get one ace. Hence the required probability
4
C1 48 Cn −2 3
= 
52 Cn−1 52 − (n − 1)

4 (48)! (n − 1)!(52 − n + 1)! 3

=  
(n − 2)!(48 − n + 2)! (52)! 52 − n + 1

(n − 1)(52 − n)(51 − n)
= (on simplification).
50  49  17  13

114. (a) Standard problem.

115. (b) This is a problem of without replacement.
one def . from 2 def. 1 def . from remaining 1 def.
P= 
any one from 4 any one from remaining 3

Hence required probability =21=1

4 3 6

116. (d) Let p1 = 0.4, p 2 = 0.3, p3 = 0.2 and p 4 = 0.1

P (the gun hits the plane) = P (the plane is hit in once)

=1−P (the plane is hit in none of the shots)
= 1 −(1 − p1 )(1 − p 2 )(1 − p3 )(1 − p4 ) = 0.6976 .
117. (b) Required probability = probability that either the number is 7 or the number is 8.

i.e., Required Probability = P7 + P8

Now P 1 1 1 6 11 1
= . + . = +
2  11 6 
7 2 11 2 36
 
1 1
P= . 1 5 11 5
+
. =  + 
8 2 11 2 36 2  11 36 
12 11 
P= + = 0.244 .
 
2  11 36 

118. (d) P(E)  P(F)  n(E)  n(F)

P(E  F)  0  E  F  

These do not mean that E is a sub-set of F or F is a sub-set of E. i.e., E  F or F  E or E  F .

119. (c) The last digit of the product will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9 if and only if each of the n positive
integers ends in any of these digits. Now the probability of an integer ending in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
8
or 9 is . Therefore the probability that the last digit of the product of n integers in
10
 4 n 4 2
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9 is   . The probability for an inte ger to end in 1, 3,7 or 9 is = .
5 10 5

 2 n
Therefore the probability for the product of n positive integers to end in 1, 3,7 or 9 is  .
5

 4 n  2 
n
Hence the required probability 4 n − 2n
= 5  −5 = 5 n .
   

120. (a) P( minimum face value not less than 2 and maximum face value is not greater than 5)
4 2
= P(2 or 3 or 4 or 5) = =
6 3

Hence required probability 4

 2 4 1 0 16
= C4    = .
3 3 81


121. (d) Concept

122. (d) Let the first number be x and second is y.
Let A denotes the event that the difference between the first and second number is at least
m. Let Ex denote the event that the first number chosen is x, we must have x − y  m or

1
y  x − m. Therefore xm and y  n −m. Thus P(Ex ) = 0 for 0xm and P(Ex ) = for m  x  n.
n
(x − m)
Also P(A / E ) =
x
(n − 1)

n
Therefore, P(A) =  P(E ) P(A / E
x =1
x x )

 x−m
n n
= P(Ex ) P(A / Ex ) =
x =m +1
 1n .
x =m +1 n−1

1
= [1 + 2 + 3 + ...... + (n − m)]
n(n − 1)

(n − m)(n − m + 1)
= .
2n(n − 1)

123. (b) standard problem

124. (b) P(A  B) = P(A  B) = 1 − P(A  B)

Since A and B are mutually exclusive, so
P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B)
 Hence required probability = 1 − (0.5 + 0.3) = 0.2 .

125. (c) P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A  B)

 P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A  B)

 2 P(A  B) = P(A) + P(B)

P(A  B)
 2P(A). = P(A) + P(B)
P(A)

B
 2P(A).P  = P(A) + P(B) .
 A