10-1 Find Likelihoods

1. The spinner shown is spun once. Classify the likelihood of the spinner landing on dog as impossible, unlikely,
equally likely, likely, or certain.

SOLUTION:
Of the 6 sections on the spinner, 3 are labeled dog and 3 are labeled another animal. The likelihood of the spinner
landing on dog has the same chance of happening as not happening. So, the event is equally likely.

ANSWER:
equally likely

2. The spinner shown is spun once. Classify the likelihood of the spinner landing on hamster as impossible, unlikely,
equally likely, likely, or certain.

SOLUTION:
Of the 6 sections on the spinner, 1 is labeled hamster. The likelihood of the spinner landing on hamster has a poor
chance of happening. So, the event is unlikely.

ANSWER:
unlikely

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10-1 Find Likelihoods

3. The spinner shown is spun once. Classify the likelihood of the spinner landing on dog or cat as impossible,
unlikely, equally likely, likely, or certain.

SOLUTION:
Of the 6 sections on the spinner, 5 are labeled dog or cat. The likelihood of the spinner landing on dog or cat has a
good chance of happening. So, the event is likely.

ANSWER:
likely

4. The spinner shown is spun once. Classify the likelihood of the spinner landing on bird as impossible, unlikely,
equally likely, likely, or certain.

SOLUTION:
Of the 6 sections on the spinner, none are labeled bird. The likelihood of the spinner landing on bird is not possible.
So, the event is impossible.

ANSWER:
impossible

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10-1 Find Likelihoods

5. The spinner shown is spun once. Classify the likelihood of the spinner landing on an animal as impossible,
unlikely, equally likely, likely, or certain.

SOLUTION:
Of the 6 sections on the spinner, 6 are labeled with an animal. The likelihood of the spinner landing on an animal is
sure to happen. So, the event is certain.

ANSWER:
certain

6. The spinner shown is spun once. Classify the likelihood of the spinner landing on cat or hamster as impossible,
unlikely, equally likely, likely, or certain.

SOLUTION:
Of the 6 sections on the spinner, 3 are labeled cat or hamster and 3 are labeled another animal. The likelihood of
the spinner landing on cat or hamster has the same chance of happening as not happening. So, the event is equally
likely.

ANSWER:
equally likely

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10-1 Find Likelihoods

7. Multiselect A card is randomly selected from the ones shown. Select all events that are unlikely to happen.

selecting the letter B

selecting the letter T
selecting a vowel or S
selecting a consonant or vowel
selecting a consonant or A
selecting the letter Q or R

SOLUTION:
There are 7 cards shown.
selecting the letter B: 1 card is labeled B. So, event is unlikely.
selecting the letter T: T is not shown. So, the event is impossible.
selecting a vowel or S: 4 cards are a vowel or S. So, the event is equally likely.
selecting a consonant or vowel: All cards are a consonant or vowel. So, the event is certain.
selecting a consonant or A: 6 cards are a consonant or A. So, the event is likely.
selecting the letter Q or R: 2 cards are a Q or R. So, the event is unlikely.

The unlikely events are selecting the letter B and selecting the letter Q or R.

ANSWER:
selecting the letter B
selecting the letter Q or R

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10-1 Find Likelihoods

8. Multiselect A card is randomly selected from the ones shown. Select all of the following events that are equally
likely to happen as not to happen.

selecting the letter B

selecting the letter E
selecting a vowel or S
selecting a consonant or vowel
selecting a consonant or A
selecting the letter Q, R, B, or K

SOLUTION:
There are 7 cards shown.
selecting the letter B: 1 card is labeled B. So, event is unlikely.
selecting the letter E: 1 card is labeled E. So, event is unlikely.
selecting a vowel or S: 4 cards are a vowel or S. So, the event is equally likely.
selecting a consonant or vowel: All cards are a consonant or vowel. So, the event is certain.
selecting a consonant or A: 6 cards are a consonant or A. So, the event is likely.
selecting the letter Q, R, B, or K: 4 cards are Q, R, B, or K. So, the event is equally likely.

The events that are equally likely are selecting a vowel or S and selecting the letter Q, R, B, or K.

ANSWER:
selecting a vowel or S
selecting the letter Q, R, B, or K

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10-1 Find Likelihoods

9. The spinner shows the prizes a person can win at a festival. The spinner shown is spun once. Order the prizes a
person can win based on the likelihood of spinning that prize from least likely to most likely.

SOLUTION:
1 out 8 is a key ring, so this is least likely prize to win.
2 out of 8 is a yo-yo, so this would be the next prize to win.
5 out of 8 is a cap, so this the most likely prize to win.
The order is key ring, yo-yo, cap.

ANSWER:
key ring, yo-yo, cap

10. The spinner shows the amount of discount a shopper will receive on one item when they check out. Order the
amount of the discounts based on the likelihood of spinning that discount from least likely to most likely.

SOLUTION:
1 out 10 is 50%, so this is least likely discount.
2 out of 10 is 5%, so this is next least likely discount.
3 out of 10 is 25%, so this is next likely discount.
4 out of 10 is 15%, so this is most likely discount.

The order is 50%, 5%, 25%, 15%.

ANSWER:
50%, 5%, 25%, 15%

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10-1 Find Likelihoods

11. Describe a real-world event that is equally likely to happen as not to happen.
SOLUTION:
Suppose a red-yellow counter is flipped.

There are 2 outcomes, red and yellow. So, there is the same chance of landing on yellow as not landing on yellow.

So, it is equally likely to flip a red-yellow counter and it landing on yellow as compared to not landing on yellow.

ANSWER:
Sample answer: likelihood of flipping a red-yellow counter and it landing on yellow

12. Persevere with Problems Theresa is taking a multiple–choice test and does not know an answer. She can guess
answer A, B, C, D, or E. Is the chance of her randomly selecting any of the answer choices equally likely of being
the correct answer? Explain.
SOLUTION:
yes; Each multiple–choice question is independent of the others.

ANSWER:
yes; Each multiple–choice question is independent of the others.

13. Reason Abstractly About 5% of Americans are vegetarians. If you ask a random person whether he or she is a
vegetarian, is it likely or unlikely the person is not a vegetarian? Explain.
SOLUTION:
Sample answer: 100% – 5% or 95% of Americans are not vegetarians. So, it is likely a person is not a vegetarian.

ANSWER:
likely; Sample answer: Because about 95% of Americans are not vegetarians, it is likely the person is not a
vegetarian.

14. Create Write about a real-world event in which you need to find the likelihood of the event. Then find the
likelihood of that event.
SOLUTION:
Suppose a weatherman says that there is a 75% chance of rain tomorrow.

What is the likelihood of rain when a weatherman says that there is a 75% chance of rain tomorrow?

A 75% chance is likely to happen. So, it will likely rain tomorrow.

ANSWER:
Sample answer: What is the likelihood of rain when a weatherman says that there is a 75% chance of rain
tomorrow?; likely

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

1. A spinner with four equal sections of blue, green, yellow, and red is spun 100 times. It lands on blue 14 times,
green 10 times, yellow 8 times, and red 68 times. What is the relative frequency of landing on red? green?

SOLUTION:
relative frequency of rolling a red =

= 68% = 68% by the definition of percent

The relative frequency of rolling a red is 68%, 0.68, or .

relative frequency of rolling a green =

= 10% = 10% by the definition of percent

The relative frequency of rolling a green is 10%, 0.10, or .

ANSWER:
68%; 10%

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

2. The frequency table shows the results of a survey about favorite exhibits. Find the relative frequency that a
randomly selected student’s favorite exhibit was either butterflies or trains, as a percent.

SOLUTION:
Find the total number of students surveyed.
12 + 25 + 17 + 6 = 60 students

Find how many students chose butterflies or trains as their favorite exhibit.
12 + 6 = 18 students

Find the relative frequency by writing a ratio.

So, the relative frequency is , 0.3, or 30%.

ANSWER:
30%

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

3. The graph shows the results of an experiment in which a number cube labeled 1 through 6 is rolled a number of
times. Find the relative frequency of rolling a number greater than 3.

SOLUTION:
Find the total number of rolls.
10 + 8 + 6 + 9 + 5 + 12 = 50 rolls

Find how many rolls that were greater than 3.

9 + 5 + 12 = 26 rolls

Find the relative frequency by writing a ratio.

= Simplify.

So, the relative frequency of rolling a number greater than 3 is , 0.52, or 52%.

ANSWER:

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

4. A random selection of students was asked the question “What type of gift did you last receive?” and the results
were recorded in the relative frequency bar graph. What is the experimental probability that a student chosen at
random received a gift card or money?

SOLUTION:
Find the relative frequency of a gift card or money.

(relative frequency of a gift card) + (relative frequency of money)

0.35 + 0.45 = 0.80
So, the experimental probability that a randomly chosen student received a gift card or money is 0.80, 80% or .

ANSWER:
0.80; 80%

5. Open Response Based on previous orders, the manager of an ice cream shop determines the probability that a
customer will order chocolate sauce is 85%. If there are 240 sundaes ordered in one weekend, how many sundaes
are expected to be ordered with chocolate sauce?

SOLUTION:
Use the relative frequency to make a prediction. Let s = the number of sundaes that are expected to be ordered
with chocolate sauce out of 240.

= Because 2.4 multiplied by 100 is 240 multiply 85 by 2.4.

= Multiply.

So, 204 sundaes are expected to be ordered with chocolate sauce.

ANSWER:
204 sundaes

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

6. The table shows the number of each type of snack bag that was sold this month at lunch. The school makes $0.75
profit on each bag sold and expects to sell 1,200 bags next month. Based on last month’s results, how much profit
can the school expect to make on potato chips next month?

SOLUTION:
Find the relative frequency of buying potato chips.

Find the total number of snack bags sold.

250 + 125 + 340 + 85 = 800 bags

= Simplify.

= 0.425 or 42.5% Write as a decimal. Then write as a

percent.
So, the relative frequency of buying potato chips is 42.5%.

Use the relative frequency to make a prediction. Let p = the number of potato chip bags.
= Because 12 multiplied by 100 is 1,200 multiply 42.5 by 12.

= Multiply.

So, 510 potato chips are expected to be bought.

The school will make 510 × $0.75 or $382.50 on potato chip bags.

ANSWER:
$382.50

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

7. A laundry detergent company’s 32–ounce bottles pass inspection of the time. If the bottle does not pass

inspection, the company loses the unit cost for each bottle of laundry detergent that does not pass inspection,
which is $3.45. If 800 bottles of laundry detergent are produced, about how much money can the company expect
to lose?
SOLUTION:
Find relative frequency of a bottle not passing inspection.
– =

Use the relative frequency to make a prediction. Let b = the number of bottles that do not pass inspection.
= Because 8 multiplied by 100 is 800 multiply 2 by 8.

= Multiply.

So, 16 bottles will not pass inspection.

The company will lose 16 × $3.45 or $55.20 on bottles of laundry detergent that does not pass inspection.

ANSWER:
$55.20

8. Make Use of Structure A spinner with three sections marked orange, yellow, and purple is spun 32 times.
Purple is spun 24 times, orange is spun 4 times, and yellow is spun 4 times. Draw what the spinner might look like
based on the relative frequencies
SOLUTION:
Purple was spun or 75% of time. Red was spun or 12.5% of time. Yellow was spun or 12.5% of

time. The model reflects these percentages. The spinner reflects these percentages.

ANSWER:
Sample answer:

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10-2 Relative Frequency of Simple Events

9. Create Write and solve a problem where you use probability to estimate and make predictions.
SOLUTION:
Sample answer: Based on last year’s class, a teacher determines that if a student plays a sport, the probability that
they are also in a club is 75%. If there are 24 students who play a sport in this year’s class, how many students
would you expect to also be in a club?;

Because 24 × 0.75 is 18 about 18 students will a sport and be in a club.

ANSWER:
Sample answer: Based on last year’s class, a teacher determines that if a student plays a sport, the probability that
they are also in a club is 75%. If there are 24 students who play a sport in this year’s class, how many students
would you expect to also be in a club?; about 18 students

10. Persevere with Problems A number cube is rolled 24 times and lands on 6 three times. Find the experimental
probability of not landing on a 6. Express your answer as fraction, decimal, and percent.

SOLUTION:
Find the fraction of not rolling 6 three times.
– =

So, = and is equal to 0.875 and 87.5%.

ANSWER:
; 0.875; 87.55

11. Persevere with Problems The experimental probability of flipping a red–yellow counter and landing on yellow is
. If the counter landed on red 35 times, find the number of tosses.

SOLUTION:
Find the experimental probability of flipping a red: – =

= Because 7 multiplied by 5 is 35 multiply 16 by 5.

= Multiply.

The number of tosses is 80.

ANSWER:
80 tosses

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10-3 Theoretical Probability of Simple Events

1. The spinner shown is spun once. What is the sample space?

SOLUTION:
Because some numbers repeat, the outcomes in the sample space are each unique number that appears on the
spinner. The sample space is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

ANSWER:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

2. Each letter in the word MISSISSIPPI is written on a piece of paper and placed into a bag. A letter is drawn at
random. What is the sample space?
SOLUTION:
Because some letters repeat, the outcomes in the sample space are each unique letter that appears in the word.
The sample space is M, I, S, P.

ANSWER:
M, I, S, P

3. A teacher placed the letter cards E, L, O, R, U, and W in a bag. A card is drawn at random. Determine the
theoretical probability for drawing a card that has a vowel on it.
SOLUTION:
P(vowel) = There are 3 vowels: E, O, U. There are 6 total letters.

= ; 0.5, 50% Simplify.

The theoretical probability is ; 0.5, and 50%.

ANSWER:
; 0.5, 50%

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10-3 Theoretical Probability of Simple Events

4. A player in a board game rolls a six-sided number cube labeled 1 through 6 once. Determine the theoretical
probability of rolling a 1 or 2.
SOLUTION:
P(1 or 2) = There are two favorable outcomes: 1, 2. There are 6 numbers total.

= Simplify.

The theoretical probability is .

ANSWER:

5. The table shows the lengths of time for rides at a fair. Zane will choose a ride at random and wants to find the
probability of choosing a ride that lasts less than 200 seconds. What is the probability of the complement of the
event? Describe the complement.

SOLUTION:
Find the probability of the complement.
P(not lasts less than 200 seconds) = There are 3 outcomes in the complement. There are 8 total

outcomes.
So, the probability of the complement is , 0.37, or 37.5%. The complement is choosing a ride that lasts at least

200 seconds.

ANSWER:
, 0.37, or 37.5%; The complement is choosing a ride that lasts at least 200 seconds.

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10-3 Theoretical Probability of Simple Events

6. Red is spun on a spinner with five equal–size sections labeled red, yellow, blue, green, and purple. What is the
probability of the complement of the event? Describe the complement.
SOLUTION:
Find the probability of the complement.
P(not red) = There are 4 outcomes in the complement. There are 5 total outcomes.

So, the probability of the complement , 0.8, or 80%. The complement is spinning yellow, blue, green, or purple.

ANSWER:
, 0.8, 80%; The complement is spinning yellow, blue, green, or purple.

7. Multiselect A sportscaster predicted that the local high school baseball team has a 75% chance of winning
tonight. Select all of the values that represent the probability of the team not winning.

0.75 25%
0.25

75%

SOLUTION:
P(winning) + P(not wining) = 1 Complementary events equation
75% + P(not wining) = 100% Replace P(winning) with 75%.
P(not wining) = 25% Subtract 75% from each side.

25% is equivalent to 0.25 and . So, select 25%, 0.25, and .

ANSWER:
25%; 0.25;

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10-3 Theoretical Probability of Simple Events

8. A pet store is having a prize give–away. The spinner shows the type of toy a customer can win for their pet. If a
customer spins the spinner and it lands on cat, they will win a free cat toy. If the spinner is spun 540 times
throughout the day, about how many dog or cat toys are expected to be given away?

SOLUTION:
Find the theoretical probability of spinning dog or cat.
P(dog or cat) = There are 7 sections with dog or cat. There are 10 total sections.

Use the theoretical probability to find how many dog or cat toys out of 540 will be given away. Let x = the number
of dog or cat toys.
= Because 10 × 54 is 540 multiply 7 by 54.

= Multiply.

So, about 378 dog or cat toys will be given out.

ANSWER:
378 dog or cat toys

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10-3 Theoretical Probability of Simple Events

9. The letters from the word FOOTBALL are written on 8 cards with one letter on each card. One card will be
drawn randomly and then placed back into the stack. If this experiment is repeated 840 times, about how many
times should you expect to draw a consonant?
SOLUTION:
Find the theoretical probability of selecting a consonant.
P(consonant) = There are 5 consonants. There are 8 total letters.

Use the theoretical probability to find how many consonants will be drawn. Let x = the number of consonants.
= Because 8 × 105 is 840 multiply 5 by 105.

= Multiply.

So, about 525 consonants will be drawn.

ANSWER:
525 times

10. Describe a real–world situation that involves a sample space. Then describe the sample space.
SOLUTION:
Sample answer: A teacher wrote each letter in the word BASEBALL on a piece of paper and placed the letters
into a bag. What is the sample space?; B, A, S, E, L

ANSWER:
Sample answer: A teacher wrote each letter in the word BASEBALL on a piece of paper and placed the letters
into a bag. What is the sample space?; B, A, S, E, L

11. Find the Error The spinner shown has 8 equal–size sections. A student said that the theoretical probability of
spinning a multiple of 3 on the spinner . Find the student’s error and correct it.

SOLUTION:
The student found the complement of spinning a multiple of 3. There are 8 sections. The sections with multiples of
3 are 3, 9, and 15. So, the correct probability is .

ANSWER:
The student found the complement of spinning a multiple of 3.; The correct probability is .

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10-3 Theoretical Probability of Simple Events

12. Reason Inductively The weather reporter says that there is an 88% chance that it will not be windy tomorrow.
Will tomorrow be a good day to fly a kite? Explain
SOLUTION:
no; Sample answer: The complement of not windy is windy. So, there is a 100% − 88% or 12% chance of wind.
A 12% chance means that it is unlikely to be windy and not a good day to fly a kite.

ANSWER:
no; Sample answer: The complement of not windy is windy. So, there is a 100% − 88% or 12% chance of wind.
A 12% chance means that it is unlikely to be windy and not a good day to fly a kite.

13. Create Write a real–world problem that involves finding the complement of the event. Then find the complement.

SOLUTION:
Sample answer: The weather reporter says that there is a 65% chance that it will rain tomorrow. What is the
chance it will not rain tomorrow?;

The complement is 100% − 65% or 35%.

ANSWER:
Sample answer: The weather reporter says that there is a 65% chance that it will rain tomorrow. What is the
chance it will not rain tomorrow?; 35%

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10-4 Compare Probabilities of Simple Events

1. Jayden spins a spinner with four equal-size sections labeled red, yellow, green, and blue, 40 times. Micah randomly
selects one marble from a bag that contains an equal number of red, yellow, green, and blue marbles. He replaces
the marble and selects again. Micah repeats this experiment 40 times. Each student records their results in a
frequency bar graph. Which student’s graph best represents the results that can be expected from each
experiment?

SOLUTION:
For both experiments, they have outcomes that are equally likely. The observed results are likely to be more evenly
distributed across each possible outcome. Jayden’s graph has results that are more evenly distributed across each
possible outcome.

ANSWER:
Jayden

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10-4 Compare Probabilities of Simple Events

2. Open Response Two experiments are conducted and their results are recorded in frequency bar graphs. Which
graph best represents the results that can be expected from Experiment 1? Experiment 2?

SOLUTION:
In Experiment 1, the spinner has outcomes that are equally likely. The observed results are likely to be more evenly
distributed across each possible outcome. Graph 1 best represents Experiment 1.

In Experiment 2, there are more cards labeled A and C are than the cards labeled B, D, or E. The observed results
are likely to have a greater frequency for those two outcomes. Graph 2 best represents Experiment 2.

ANSWER:
Graph 1; Graph 2

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10-4 Compare Probabilities of Simple Events

3. Suppose the spinner shown is spun 80 times. Another spinner with four equal-size sections labeled red, blue, yellow,
and purple is spun 80 times. The results are recorded in the following frequency bar graphs. Which graph best
represents the results that can be expected from the first spinner? the second spinner?

SOLUTION:
For the first spinner, there are more sections labeled blue and red than the sections labeled purple or yellow. The
observed results are likely to have a greater frequency for these two outcomes. Graph 2 best represents this
spinner.

For the second spinner, it has outcomes that are equally likely. The observed results are likely to be more evenly
distributed across each possible outcome. Graph 1 best represents this spinner.

ANSWER:
Graph 2; Graph 1

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10-4 Compare Probabilities of Simple Events

4. Be Precise Compare and contrast relative frequency and theoretical probability.

SOLUTION:
Theoretical probability is what we expect to happen in an experiment. Relative frequency is what actually happened
in the experiment. Both are calculated the same way by writing a ratio that compares the number of favorable
outcomes to the total number of outcomes.

ANSWER:
Theoretical probability is what we expect to happen in an experiment. Relative frequency is what actually happened
in the experiment. Both are calculated the same way by writing a ratio that compares the number of favorable
outcomes to the total number of outcomes.

5. Reason Inductively A coin is tossed 30 times. It lands on heads 10 times. Find the experimental probability and
theoretical probability of tossing heads. Are the probabilities close? If not, give a possible reason for the
discrepancy.
SOLUTION:
experimental probability: or

theoretical probability:

and are not close. More trials should be performed.

ANSWER:
; ; They are not close. Sample answer: There were not enough trials performed.

6. Use the Internet, or another source, to research the Law of Large Numbers. Describe this law in your own words.
SOLUTION:
Sample answer: In a probability experiment, as the sample size increases, the results get closer to what is expected
in the experiment.

ANSWER:
Sample answer: In a probability experiment, as the sample size increases, the results get closer to what is expected
in the experiment.

7. Refer to Exercise 1. Describe what should be expected for Jayden’s experiment, based on the theoretical
probability.
SOLUTION:
Sample answer: The spinner is expected to land on each section a total of 10 times.

ANSWER:
Sample answer: The spinner is expected to land on each section a total of 10 times.

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