Probability and Statistics Questions and Answers – Random

1. Consider a dice with the property that that probability of a face with n dots
showing up is proportional to n. The probability of face showing 4 dots is?
a) 17
b) 542
c) 121
d) 421
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: P (n) is proportional to n where n=
1,2,3,…6 is random variable.
P(n) = kn
P(1)+P(2)….P (6) = 1
K(1+2+3+4+5+6) = 1
K=121
Hence P(4) = 4K = 421.
2. Let X be a random variable with probability distribution function f (x)=0.2 for |x|
<1
= 0.1 for 1 < |x| < 4
= 0 otherwise
The probability P (0.5 < x < 5) is _____
a) 0.3
b) 0.5
c) 0.4
d) 0.8
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: P (0.5 < x < 5) = Integrating f (x) from
0.5 to 5 by splitting in 3 parts that is from 0.5 to 1
and from 1 to 4 and 4 to 5 we get
P (0.5 < x < 5) = 0.1 + 0.3 + 0
P (0.5 < x < 5) = 0.4.
3. Runs scored by batsman in 5 one day matches are 50, 70, 82, 93, and 20. The
standard deviation is ______
a) 25.79
b) 25.49
c) 25.29
d) 25.69
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The mean of 5 innings is
(50+70+82+93+20)÷5 = 63
S.D = [1⁄n (x(n)-mean)2]0.5
S.D = 25.79.
4. Find median and mode of the messages received on 9 consecutive days 15,
11, 9, 5, 18, 4, 15, 13, 17.
a) 13, 6
b) 13, 18
c) 18, 15
d) 15, 16
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Arranging the terms in ascending order 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18,
18.
Median is (n+1)2 term as n = 9 (odd) = 13.
Mode = 18 which is repeated twice.
5. Mode is the value of x where f(x) is a maximum if X is continuous.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: For a continuous variable mode is defined as the value where f(x) is
a maximum or it is defined as the quantity repeated maximum number of times.
6. E (XY)=E (X)E (Y) if x and y are independent.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: By the property of Expectation
E (XY) = E (X) E (Y).
That is the Expectation of a composite function XY is the product of the individual
expectations of X and Y.
7. A coin is tossed up 4 times. The probability that tails turn up in 3 cases is
______
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 16
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: p=0.5 (Probability of tail)
q=1-0.5=0.5
n=4 and x is binomial variate.
P (X=x) = nCx px qn-x.
P (X=3) = 4C3 (0.5)3 = 1⁄2.
8. If E denotes the expectation the variance of a random variable X is denoted
as?
a) (E(X))2
b) E(X2)-(E(X))2
c) E(X2)
d) 2E(X)
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: By property of Expectation
V (X) = E (X2)-(E(X))2.
9. X is a variate between 0 and 3. The value of E(X2) is ______
a) 8
b) 7
c) 27
d) 9
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Integrating f(x) = x2 from 0 to 3 we get E(X2) = 32 = 9.
10. The random variables X and Y have variances 0.2 and 0.5 respectively. Let
Z= 5X-2Y. The variance of Z is?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 7
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Var(X) = 0.2, Var(Y) = 0.5
Z = 5X – 2Y
Var(Z) = Var(5X-2Y)
= Var(5X) + Var(2Y)
= 25Var(X) + 4Var(Y)
Var(Z) = 7.
1. A month has atmost 31days, X = Number of days in a month, is X a discrete
random variable?
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: X = Number of days in a month.
The number of days in a month can be 29,30,31
X takes finite values so, therefore it is Discrete and range X = {28,29,30,31}
2. Find which of the following is a Continuous random variable?
a) Number of kids in a family
b) Number of planets around the sun
c) Number of tails tossing a coin four times
d) Life of an electric fan
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Except life of an electric fan, remaining all takes finite values. Life of
an electric fan takes infinite values so it is a continuous random variable.
3. Find the value of P(X=3) if X is the discrete random variable taking values x 1,
x2, x3 where P(X=0)=0, P(X=1) = 1/4 and P(X=2) = 1/4
a) 1
b) 1/2
c) 1/3
d) 1/4
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: We know that ∑P(xi) = 1
P(X) = P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3)
1 = 1/4 + 1/4 + P(X=3)
P(X=3) = 12
4. Let X be the random variable , P(X=x) is the Probability mass function is given by

X 0 1 2 3

P(X=x) 0 k 2k 3k
Determine the value of K?
a) 1/5
b) 2/5
c) 1/6
d) 1/2
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: We know that ∑P(xi)=1
P(X) = P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3)
1 = 0 + k + 2k + 3k
1 = 6k
K = 1/6
5. Let X be the random a variable, P(X=x) is the Probability mass function is given by

X 0 1 2 3

P(X=x) 0 1/2 2k 3k
Determine the value of k?
a) 1/8
b) 1/4
c) 1/6
d) 1/2
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: We know that ∑P(xi)=1
P(X) = P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3)
1 = 0 + 1/2 + 2k + 2k
1/2 = 4k
k = 1/8
6. Determine the value c so that the following function can serve as a probability
distribution of the discrete random variable x:
f(x)=c(x+4), for x=0,1,2,3
a) 1/20
b) 1/16
c) 1/18
d) 1/22
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: f(x)=c(x+4), for x=0,1,2,3
c(0+4) + c(1+4) + c(2+4) + c(3+4) = 1
4c + 5c + 6c + 7c = 1
22c = 1
c = 1/22
7. A dice is thrown, what is the probability of getting an odd number?
a) 1/8
b) 1/6
c) 1/2
d) 1/4
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Possible outcomes when a dice is thrown = {1,2,3,4,5,6}

8. Let X be the random variable, P(X=x) is the Probability mass function is given
by

X 0 1 2 3

P(X=x) 1/8 1/2 1/8 1/4

Find the value of P(X ≥ 1)
a) 5/7
b) 7/8
c) 3/8
d) 8/9
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: P(X ≥ 1) = P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3)
= 1/2 + 1/8 + 1/4
= 7/8
9. Let X be the random variable, P(X=x) is the Probability mass function is given
by

X 0 1 2 3 4

P(X=x) 1/8 1/2 1/16 1/4 1/16

Find the value of F(1)
a) 1/5
b) 8/5
c) 2/5
d) 5/8
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: F(1)=P(X ≤ 1)
P(X ≤ 1) = P(X=1) + P(X=0)
= 1/2 + 1/8
= 5/8
10. Let X be the random variable, P(X=x) is the Probability mass function is given
by

X 0 1 2 3 4

P(X=x) 1/11 3/11 2/11 4/11 1/11

Find the value of F(4)
a) 9/11
b) 1
c) 5/11
d) 1/2
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: F(4)=P(X ≤ 4)
P(X ≤ 4) = P(X=4) + P(X=3) + P (X=2) + P(X=1) + P(X=0)
= 1/11 + 4/11 + 2/11 + 3/11 + 1/11
=1
11. A dice is thrown, what is the probability of getting an even number?
a) 1/8
b) 1/6
c) 1/2
d) 1/4
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Possible outcomes when a dice is thrown = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
numberofevennumbersnumberofpossibleoutcomes=36=12
12. A dice is thrown, what is the probability of getting multiples of 3?
a) 1/8
b) 1/6
c) 1/2
d) 1/3
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Possible outcomes when a dice is thrown = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Multiples of 3 = {3, 6}
Total probability
= numberofmultiplesof3numberofpossibleoutcomes=26=13
13. A dice is thrown, what is the probability of getting multiples of 2?
a) 1/8
b) 1/6
c) 1/2
d) 1/3
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Possible outcomes when a dice is thrown = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Multiples of 2 = {2, 4, 6}
Total probability
= numberofmultiplesof3numberofpossibleoutcomes=36=12
14. What is the probability of picking an ace from a pack of cards?
a) 1/8
b) 1/6
c) 1/2
d) 1/13
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Total number cards in a pack = 52
Total number of aces in a pack of cards = 4
Total probability = numberofacesnumberofcardsinapack=452=113
15. What is the probability of picking a card of the club from a pack of cards?
a) 1/8
b) 1/4
c) 1/2
d) 1/13
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Total number cards in a pack = 52
Total number of clubs in a pack of cards = 4
Total probability = numberofclubsnumberofcardsinapack=1352
1. What is the probability of an impossible event?
a) 1
b) 0
c) Insufficient data
d) Not defined
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: If the probability of an event is 0, then it is called as an impossible
event.
2. What does probability mean?
a) The total number of possible outcomes in an event
b) The ratio of favorable outcomes to all outcomes
c) The chance of an event happening
d) How certain an event will occur
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Probability is about how likely something is to occur. It’s like
measuring the possibility of an event taking place. For example, if you toss a
coin, the chance of getting heads or tails is a kind of probability.
3. Two unbiased coins are tossed. What is the probability of getting at most one
head?
a) 3⁄4
b) 1⁄6
c) 1⁄3
d) 1⁄2
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Total outcomes = (HH, HT, TH, TT)
Favorable outcomes = (TT, HT, TH)
At most one head refers to a maximum one head,
Therefore, probability = 3⁄4.
4. What’s the probability of drawing a red card or a card with a face (king, queen,
or jack) from a standard deck of 52 cards?
a) 13/52
b) 21/52
c) 29/52
d) 8/13
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: In a standard deck of 52 cards, there are 26 red cards (diamonds
and hearts) and 12 face cards (4 kings, 4 queens, and 4 jacks). However, 6 of
these cards are both red and face cards (2 red kings, 2 red queens, and 2 red
jacks). So, to avoid double-counting, we subtract these 6 cards from the total
favorable cards: 26 (red cards) + 12 (face cards) – 6 (red face cards) = 32
favorable cards.
The total number of cards in the deck is 52. Therefore, the probability of drawing
a red card or a card with a face is 32/52, which simplifies to 8/13.
5. Who provided the definition for probability?
a) Archimedes
b) Einstein
c) Euclid
d) Simon Laplace
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: The definition of probability was given by Pierre Simon Laplace in
the year 1795. Probability can be defined as the ratio of the number of favorable
outcomes to the total number of possible outcomes.
6. A bag contains 5 green and 3 blue balls. Two balls are picked at random.
What is the probability that both are of the same colour?
a) C51∗C31C82
b) 0.5
c) C52C82+C32C82
d) C52∗C32C82
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation:Total no.of balls = 5G+3B = 8
No.of ways in which 2 balls can be picked = 8C2
Probability of picking both balls as green = 5C2 /8C2
Probability of picking both balls as blue = 3C2 /8C2
7. Company A produces 10% defective products, Company B produces 20%
defective products and C produces 5% defective products. If choosing a
company is an equally likely event, then find the probability that the product
chosen is defective.
a) 0.11
b) 0.21
c) 0.22
d) 0.12
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Let A be the event of selecting a defective item. Let Ei be the event
of selecting a company. Then,
P(A) = P(E1) P(A|E1) + P(E2) P(A|E2) + P(E3) P(A|E3)
=(13)(10100)+(13)(20100)+(13)(5100)
=0.353=0.12.
8. A problem in mathematics is given to three students A, B and C. If the
probability of A solving the problem is 1⁄2 and B not solving it is 1⁄4. The whole
probability of the problem being solved is 63⁄64 then what is the probability of
solving it?
a) 1⁄2
b) 7⁄8
c) 1⁄64
d) 1⁄8
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation:
Let A be the event of A solving the problem
Let B be the event of B solving the problem

Given P(a) = 1⁄2, P(~B) = 1⁄4 and P(A ∪ B ∪ C) = 63/64

Let C be the event of C solving the problem

We know P(A ∪ B ∪ C) = 1 – P(A ∪ B ∪ C)

= 1 – P(A ∩ B ∩ C)
= 1 – P(A) P(B) P(C)
Let P(C) = p
ie 63⁄64 = 1 – (1⁄2)(1⁄4)(p)

⇒ P =1/8 = P(C)
= 1 – p⁄ 8

⇒P(C) = 1 – P = 1 – 1⁄8 = 7⁄8.

9. Which of the following is a table with all possible values of a random variable
and its corresponding probabilities?
a) Probability Density Function
b) Probability Mass Function
c) Probability Distribution
d) Cumulative distribution function
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: The given statement is the definition of a probability distribution.
10. When rolling a fair six-sided die, what is the probability of obtaining an even
number?
a) 1/6
b) 1/3
c) 1/2
d) 2/3
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: In a fair six-sided die, there are three even numbers (2, 4, and 6)
out of a total of six possible outcomes. Therefore, the probability of rolling an
even number is 3/6, which simplifies to 2/3.
11. The probability that at least one of the events Q and R occur is 0.6. If Q and
R have probability of occurring together as 0.2, then P(Q) + P(R) is?
a) 1.2
b) 0.8
c) 0.4
d) Indeterminate
View Answer

Explanation: Given : P(Q ∪ R) = 0.6, P(Q ∩ R) = 0.2

Answer: a

P(Q ∪ R) + P(Q ∩ R) = P(Q) + P(R)

2 – (P(Q ∪ R) + P(Q ∩ R)) = 2 – (P(Q) + P(R))
= (1 – P(Q)) + (1 – P(R))
2 – (0.6 + 0.2) = P(Q) + P(R)
P(Q) + P(R) = 2 – 0.8
= 1.2
12. Let there be two newly launched phones A and B. The probability that phone
A has good battery life is 0.7 and the probability that phone B has a good battery
life is 0.8. Then find the probability that a phone has good battery life.
a) 0.45
b) 0.85
c) 0.75
d) 0.65
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Let A be the event thtat a phome has a good battery life and Ei be
the event that a phone is selected. Then,
P(A) = P(E1) P(A|E1) + P(E2) P(A|E2)
=(12)(0.7)+(12
13. Suppose box A contains 4 green and 5 black coins and box B contains 6 green and 3
black coins. A coin is chosen at random from the box A and placed in box B. Finally, a
coin is chosen at random from among those now in box B. What is the probability a blue
coin was transferred from box A to box B given that the coin chosen from box B is
green?
a) 14⁄29
b) 15⁄29
c) 7⁄10
d) 1⁄2
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Let E represent the event of moving a black coin from box A to box
B. We want to find the probability of a black coin which was moved from box A to
box B given that the coin chosen from B was green. The probability of choosing a
green coin from box A is P(R) = 7⁄9 and the probability of choosing a black coin
from box A is P(B) = 5⁄9. If a green coin was moved from box A to box B, then box
B has 7 green coins and 3 black coins. Thus the probability of choosing a green
coin from box B is 7⁄10. Similarly, if a black coin was moved from box A to box B,
then the probability of choosing a green coin from box B is 6⁄10.
Hence, the probability that a black coin was transferred from box A to box B
given that the coin chosen from box B is green is given by

14. Which of the following mentioned standard Probability density functions is

applicable to discrete Random Variables?
a) Rayleigh Distribution
b) Exponential Distribution
c) Poisson Distribution
d) Gaussian Distribution
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Poisson Distribution is applicable to discrete Random Variables.
15. In a discrete probability distribution, the sum of all probabilities is always?
a) 1
b) 0
c) Undefined
d) Infinite
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: It is based on the basic axiom of probability distribution.
16. If the probability of hitting the target is 0.3, find mean and variance.
a) 0.3, 0.16
b) 0.3, 0.21
c) 0.6, 0.16
d) 0.6, 0.24
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: p = 0.3
q = 1-p
= 1-0.3 = 0.67
Therefore, mean = p = 0.3 and
Variance = pq = (0.3) (0.7) = 0.21.
17. If ‘p’, ‘q’ and ‘n’ are probability of success, failure and number of trials respectively
in a Binomial Distribution, what is its Standard Deviation?
a) (np)2
b) np−−√
c) npq−−−√
d) pq−−√
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: The variance (V) for a Binomial Distribution is given by V = npq
Standard Deviation = variance−−−−−−−

18. Find the Expectation of a Hypergeometric Distribution such that the probability that a
4-trial hypergeometric experiment results in exactly 2 successes, when the population
consists of 16 items.
a) 1/3
b) 1/8
c) 1/4
d) 1/2
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: In Hypergeometric Distribution the Mean or Expectation E(X) is given as
E(X) = n*k /N
Here n = 4, k = 2, N = 16.
Hence E (X) = 1/2.
19. What is the probability of a sure event?
a) 1
b) 0
c) 1/4
d) 1/2
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Sure event has all outcomes in favour i.e. number of outcomes in favour
equal to the total number of possible outcomes.
And probability is ratio of number of outcomes in favour to the total number of possible
outcomes.
So, probability of sure event will be 1.
20. If P(C) = 5/13, P(D) = 7/13 and P(C∩D) = 3/13, evaluate P(C|D).
a) 2/7
b) 3/5
c) 3/7
d) 1/7
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: We know that P(C|D) = P(C∩D) / P(D). (By formula for conditional
probability)
Which is equivalent to (3/13) / (7/13), hence the value of P(C|D) = 3/7.
21. In a bucket there are 5 blue, 15 yellow, and 25 orange balls. If the ball is picked up
randomly, find the probability that it is neither yellow nor blue?
In a bucket there are 5 purple, 15 grey and 25 green balls. If the ball is picked up
randomly, find the probability that it is neither grey nor purple?
a) 5143
b) 27
c) 59
d) 1213
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: If the ball is neither yellow nor blue then it must be orange. There are 45
balls in total of which 25 are orange and so the probability of picking a purple ball
is 2545

22. The annual salaries of workers in a manufacturing factory are normally

distributed with a mean of Rs. 48,000 and a standard deviation of Rs. 1500. Find
the probability of workers who earn between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 52,000.
a) 20%
b) 42.1%
c) 64%
d) 76.2%
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: For x = 45000, z = -2 and for x = 52000, z = 0.375. Now, area
between z = -2 and z = 0.375 is equal to 0.421 or 42.1% earn between Rs.
45,000 and Rs. 52,000.
23. What is the probability of getting a number greater than 6 on dice?
a) 1
b) 1/3
c) 1/2
d) 0
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Since number greater than 6 cannot appear on dice so probability of
getting a number greater than 6 is zero.
24. How many outcomes are possible when drawing a card from deck of cards?
a) 1
b) 13
c) 52
d) 26
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Deck of cards contains 52 cards. There are 13 cards of hearts,
spades, clubs and diamonds. The 13 cards are A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q,
K.
25. A number is selected from the first 20 natural numbers. Find the probability
that it would be divisible by 3 or 7?
a) 720
b) 1237
c) 2467
d) 1946
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Let X be the event that the number selected would be divisible by 3
and Y be the event that the selected number would be divisible by 7. Then A u B
denotes the event that the number would be divisible by 3 or 7. Now, X = {3, 9,
12, 15, 18} and Y = {7, 14} whereas S = {1, 2, 3, …,20}. Since A n B = Null set,

P(A u B) = P(A) + P(B) ⇒ P(A u B) = 520+220

so that the two events A and B are mutually exclusive and as such we have,

Therefore, P(A u B) = 720.

26. A programmer has a 95% chance of finding a bug every time she compiles
his code, and it takes her three hours to rewrite the code every time she
discovers a bug. Find the probability that she will finish her program by the end of
her workday. (Assume that a workday is 9 hours)
a) 44%
b) 76%
c) 28%
d) 37%
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: In this instance, a success is a bug-free compilation, and a failure is
the discovery of a bug. The programmer needs to have 0, 1 or 2 failures, so her
probability of finishing the program is: P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) = (0.95) 0(0.1) +
(0.95)1(0.1) + (0.95)2(0.1) = 0.28% = 28%.
27. In a Poisson Distribution, if ‘n’ is the number of trials and ‘p’ is the probability
of success, then the mean value is given by?
a) m = p
b) m = np(1-p)
c) m = (np)2
d) m = np
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: For a discrete probability function, the mean value or the expected
value is given by
Mean(μ)=∑nx=0xp(x)
For Poisson Distribution P(x)=e−mmxx! substitute in above equation and solve
to get µ = m = np.
28. If E and F are two events such that P(a) = 0.2, P(b) = 0.6 and P(E/F) = 0.2
then the value of P(E /~F) is ___________
a) 0.8
b) 0.2
c) 1⁄3
d) 0.5
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: For independent events,
P(E/~F) = P(a) = 0.2.
29. A jar contains ‘y’ black colored balls and ‘x’ yellow colored balls. Two balls
are pulled from the jar without replacing. What is the probability that the first ball
Is black and second one is yellow?
a) y2−yx2+y2+2xy−(x+y)
b) xy−yx2+y2+2xy−(x−y)
c) xy−yx2+y2+2xy−(x+y)
d) xyx2+y2+2xy−(x+y)
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Number of black balls = y
Number of Yellow balls = x
Total number of balls = x + y
Probability of Black ball first = y / x + y
No. of balls remaining after removing one = x + y – 1
Probability of pulling secondball as Yellow=xx+y−1
Required porbability=y(x+y)x(x+y−1)
30. The probability that person A completes all the tasks assigned is 50% and that of
person B is 20%. Find the probability that all the tasks are completed.
a) 0.35
b) 0.45
c) 0.15
d) 0.25
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Let A be the event that all tasks are completed and Ei is the event that a
person is selected.
Then,
P(A) = P(E1) P(A|E1) + P(E2) P(A|E2)
=(

31. Find the number of ways of arranging the letters of the words DANGER, so that no
vowel occupies odd place.
a) 144
b) 96
c) 36
d) 48
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The given word is DANGER. Number of letters is 6. Number of vowels is 2
(i.e., A, E). Number of consonants is 4 (i.e., D,N,G,R). As the vowels cannot occupy odd
places, they can be arranged in even places. Two vowels can be arranged in 3 even places
in 3P2 ways i.e., 6. Rest of the consonants can arrange in the remaining 4 places in 4!
ways. The total number of arrangements is 6 x 4! = 144.
32. If the probability that a bomb dropped from a place will strike the target is 70% and if
10 bombs are dropped, find mean and variance?
a) 4, 1.6
b) 0.4, 0.16
c) 7, 2.1
d) 0.7, 0.21
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Here, p = 70% = 0.7 and q = 1-p = 30% = 0.4 and n = 10
Therefore, mean = np = 7
Variance = npq = (10)(0.7)(0.3)
= 2.1.
33. Consider Jack draws 3 cards from a pack of 52 cards. What is the probability of
getting no kings?
a) 0.8726
b) 0.7862
c) 0.8762
d) 0.7826
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: The Random Experiment follows hypergeometric distribution with,
N = 52 since there are 52 cards in a deck.
k = 4 since there are 4 kings in a deck.
n = 3 since we randomly select 3 cards from the deck.
x = 0 since we want no kings.
h(x; N, n, k) = [kCx] [N-kCn-x] / [NCn]
h(0; 52, 4, 3) = [4C0] [48C3] / [52C3]
h(0; 52, 4, 3) = 0.7826.
34. Which of the following cannot be the value of probability?
a) 1/2
b) 0
c) -1
d) 1
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Since probability is ratio of number of outcomes in favour to the total
number of possible outcomes. So, it cannot be negative.
35. A coin is tossed up 4 times. The probability that tails turn up in 3 cases is?
a) 14
b) 16
c) 13
d) 12
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: p=0.5 (Probability of tail)
q=1-0.5=0.5
n=4 and x is binomial variate.
P (X=x) = nCx px qn-x.
P (X=3) = 4C3 (0.5)3 = 1⁄2.
36. Suppose 5 men out of 100 men and 10 women out of 250 women are colour blind,
then find the total probability of colour blind people. (Assume that both men and women
are in equal numbers.)
a) 0.5
b) 0.05
c) 0.045
d) 0.45
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Let A be the event of selecting a colour blind person and Ei be the event of
selecting a person. Then,
P(A) = P(E1) P(A|E1) + P(E2) P(A|E2)
=(12)(5100)+(12)(10250)
= 0.045.
37. A fair coin is tossed thrice, what is the probability of getting all 3 same outcomes?
a) 1⁄4
b) 3⁄4
c) 1⁄6
d) 1⁄2
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation:S = {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT}
All 3 same outcomes mean either all head or all tail
Total outcomes = 8

∴ required probability = 2⁄8 = 1⁄4.

Favourable outcomes = {HHH, TTT} = 2

38. A problem is given to 5 students A, B, C, D, E. If the probability of solving the

problem individually is 1/2, 1/3, 2/3, 1/5, 1/6 respectively, then find the probability that
the problem is solved.
a) 0.57
b) 0.27
c) 0.47
d) 0.37
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Let M be the event that the problem is solved. Let Ei be the event that a
student is chosen. Then,
P(M) = P(E1) P(M|E1) + P(E2) P(M|E2) + P(E3) P(M|E3) + P(E4) P(M|E4) + P(E5) P(M|E5)
=(15)(12)+(15)(13)+(

1. The probability of event equal to zero is called;

(a) Unsure event

(b) Sure Event

(c) Impossible event

(d) Independent event

Answer: (c) Impossible event

Explanation: The probability of an event that cannot happen or which is

impossible, is equal to zero.

2. The probability that cannot exist among the following:

(a) ⅔

(b) -1.5
(c) 15%

(d) 0.7

Answer: (b) -1.5

Explanation: The probability lies between 0 and 1. Hence, it cannot be negative.

3. If P(E) = 0.07, then what is the probability of ‘not E’?

(a) 0.93

(b) 0.95

(c) 0.89

(d) 0.90

Answer: (a) 0.93

Explanation: P(E) + P(not E) = 1

Since, P(E) = 0.05

So, P(not E) = 1 – P(E)

Or, P(not E) = 1 – 0.07

∴ P(not E) = 0.93

4. A bag has 3 red balls and 5 green balls. If we take a ball from the bag,
then what is the probability of getting red balls only?

(a) 3

(b) 8

(c) ⅜

(d) 8/3

Answer: (c) ⅜

Explanation: Number of red balls = 3

Number of green balls = 5

Total balls in bag = 3+5 = 8

Probability of getting red balls = number of red balls/total number of balls

=⅜

5. A bag has 5 white marbles, 8 red marbles and 4 purple marbles. If we

take a marble randomly, then what is the probability of not getting purple
marble?

(a) 0.5

(b) 0.66

(c) 0.08

(d) 0.77

Answer: (d) 0.77

Explanation: Total number of purple marbles = 4

Total number of marbles in bag = 5 + 8 + 4 = 17

Probability of getting purple marbles = 4/17

Hence, the probability of not getting purple marbles = 1-4/17 = 0.77

6. A dice is thrown in the air. The probability of getting odd numbers is

(a) ½

(b) 3/2

(c) 3

(d) 4

Answer: (a) ½

Explanation: A dice has six faces having values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

There are three odd numbers and three even numbers.

Therefore, the probability of getting only odd numbers is = 3/6 = ½

7. If we throw two coins in the air, then the probability of getting both tails
will be:

(a) ½
(b) ¼

(c) 2

(d) 4

Answer: (b) ¼

Explanation: When two coins are tossed, the total outcomes will be = 2 x 2 = 4

Hence, the probability of getting both tails = ¼

8. If two dice are thrown in the air, the probability of getting sum as 3 will be

(a) 2/18

(b) 3/18

(c) 1/18

(d) 1/36

Answer: (c) 1/18

Explanation: When two dice are thrown in the air:

Total number of outcome = 6 x 6 = 36

Sum 3 is possible if we get (1,2) or (2,1) in the dices.

Hence, the probability will be = 2/36 = 1/18

9. A card is drawn from the set of 52 cards. Find the probability of getting a
queen card.

(a) 1/26

(b) 1/13

(c) 4/53

(d) 4/13

Answer: (b) 1/13

Explanation: Total number of cards = 52

Number of queen cards= 4

The probability of getting queen card = 4/52 = 1/13

10. A fish tank has 5 male fish and 8 female fish. The probability of fish
taken out is a male fish:

(a) 5/8

(b) 5/13

(c) 13/5

(d) 5

Answer: (b) 5/13

Explanation: Total fish = 5 + 8 = 13

Probability of taking out a male fish = 5/13

11. The sum of the probabilities of all the elementary events of an

experiment is

(a) 0.5

(b) 1

(c) 2

(d) 1.5

Answer: (b) 1

The sum of the probabilities of all the elementary events of an experiment is

equal to 1.

12. A card is selected at random from a well shuffled deck of 52 playing

cards. The probability of its being a face card is

(a) 3/13

(b) 4/13

(c) 6/13

(d) 9/13

Answer: (a) 3/13

Explanation:

Total number of outcomes = 52

Number of face cards = 12

The probability of its being a face card = 12/52 = 3/13

13. If an event cannot occur, then its probability is

(a) 1

(b) 3/4

(c) 1/2

(d) 0

Answer: (d) 0

If an event cannot occur, then its probability is 0.

14. An event is very unlikely to happen. Its probability is closest to

(a) 0.0001

(b) 0.001

(c) 0.01

(d) 0.1

Answer: (a) 0.0001

The probability of an event which is very unlikely to happen is closest to zero.

Thus, 0.0001 is the probability of an event which is very unlikely to happen.

15. If P(A) denotes the probability of an event A, then

(a) P(A) < 0

(b) P(A) > 1

(c) 0 ≤ P(A) ≤ 1

(d) –1 ≤ P(A) ≤ 1
Answer: (c) 0 ≤ P(A) ≤ 1

If P(A) denotes the probability of an event A, then 0 ≤ P(A) ≤ 1.

16. The probability that a non leap year selected at random will contain 53
Sundays is

(a) 1/7

(b) 2/7

(c) 3/7

(d) 5/7

Answer: (a) 1/7

Explanation:

Non-leap year = 365 days

365 days = 52 weeks + 1 day

For 52 weeks, number of Sundays = 52

1 remaining day can be Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,

Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Total possible outcomes = 7

The number of favourable outcomes = 1

Thus, the probability of getting 53 Sundays = 1/7

17. If the probability of an event is p, the probability of its complementary

event will be

(a) p – 1

(b) p

(c) 1 – p

(d) 1 – 1/p

Answer: (c) 1 – p

Explanation:
The sum of probability of an event and it complementary event = 1

So, if the probability of an event is p, the probability of its complementary event

will be 1 – p.

18. A card is drawn from a deck of 52 cards. The event E is that card is not
an ace of hearts. The number of outcomes favourable to E is

(a) 4

(b) 13

(c) 48

(d) 51

Answer: (d) 51

In a deck of 52 cards, there are 13 cards of heart and 1 is ace of heart.

Given that the event E is that card is not an ace of hearts.

Hence, the number of outcomes favorable to E = 52 – 1 = 51

19. The probability of getting a bad egg in a lot of 400 is 0.035. The number
of bad eggs in the lot is

(a) 7

(b) 14

(c) 21

(d) 28

Answer: (b) 14

Explanation:

Total number of eggs = 400

Probability of getting a bad egg = Number of bad eggs/Total number of eggs

0.035 = Number of bad eggs/400

Number of bad eggs = 0.035 × 400 = 14

20. Two players, Sangeeta and Reshma, play a tennis match. It is known
that the probability of Sangeeta winning the match is 0.62. The probability
of Reshma winning the match is

(a) 0.62

(b) 0.38

(c) 0.58

(d) 0.42

Answer: (b) 0.38

Explanation:

Probability of Sangeeta’s winning = P(S) = 0.62

Probability of Reshma’s winning = P(R) = 1 – P(S) {since events R and S are

complementary}

= 1 – 0.62

= 0.38