Probability Theory and

Distributions

Some basic terms used in

probability

1. Random Experiment(E)- Any experiment

which results in n possible outcomes.Ex.
Tossing of a coin, Throwing a dice etc.
2. Sample space (S)- A set of all possible
outcomes. Ex. If E:Throwing a dice then
S = {1,2,3,4,5,6}
3. Event- A subset of a sample space. Events
are denoted by capital letters.
Ex. In the above experiment event A can be
getting even no. Event B can be getting a no.
>3etc.

Some basic terms used in

probability

4. Mutually Exclusive Events- Two events

are said to be m.e.e. if simultaneous
occurance of both is not possible
i.e.A B =0
5. Equally likely Events- Two events are
said to be equally likely if the chance of
occuring is same.i.e. in coin tossing
problem getting head and tail are e.l.e.

Some basic terms used in

probability

6.Exaustive events- Two event are

exaustive if AUB =S.
Ex. Getting even and getting odd are
exaustive events in throwing a dice
experiment
7.Impossible event- The event which is
not possible to occur. The chance of
impossible event is 0.
8. Sure event- The event which occurs
100% for sure event chance is 1.

Some basic terms used in

probability

9. Complementary event- For an event A,

the complementary event Ac is the set
having those outcomes which are not in A
but in S.
10. Probability- If an experiment results in
n mutually exclusive,equally likely, and
exaustive outcomes out of which m are in
favour of happening an event A then

P(A) = m/n.

Simple problems in
probability

Ex.1 A coin is tossed 3 times find the probability of getting

1.Two heads 2. at least two heads,
3. at most 1 head 4. no head.
Solution: Here E=Tossing a coin 3 times
S={HHH,HHT,HTH,THH,TTT,TTH,THT, HTT}
1.Event A=getting 2 heads
Favourable points = 2 =m, Total points=8=n
P(A) = m/n=2/8=1/4.
2. Event B = getting at least 2 heads
Here m= 4 ,n= 8 P(B) = 4/8 = =0.5
3. Event C = Getting at most 1 head
Here m= 4 ,n=8 P= 4/8 =1/2=0.5
4. Event D= getting no head
Here m=1 ,n= 8 P(D)= 1/8

Simple problems in
probability

Ex.2 A ticket is drawn from 20 tickets numbered from

1,2,3,.20. Find the probabilty that the no. on the ticket
is
1) divisible by 4. 2 )<=12. 3)>=4.
Here E= Drawing a ticket from 20 tickets.
S= {1,2,3,4..20}
N=20
Event A= getting a no divisible by 4
i.e. m=5 ,n=20 P(A)= m/n= 5/20=1/4=0.25.
Event B= getting a no. <=12
M= 12,n=20 P(B)= 12/20=6/10=0.6
Event C = getting a no. >=4
M= 16, n=20 P = 16/20=4/5=0.8

Simple problems in
probability

Ex. A card is drawn from a pack of

cards What is the probability of
getting
1) A heart card
2)A red card
3) A picture card
4) A red king card

Permutation and
Combination

Combinations are the no. of arrangements where

order is not important.
Permutations are the no of arrangements where
order is important
Combinations are less than the permutations.
Out of n thing r should be taken in nCr and nPr
ways
Where nCr = n!/ r! (n-r)!
nPr = n!/(n-r)!
r ! = r(r-1)(r-2)(r-3)..3.2.1
6! = 6.5.4.3.2.1=720.

Examples on combination

A box contains 5 red, 4 green and

3 white balls. Three balls are
drawn from the box. What is the
probability that the balls are of
1) same colour .
2) one of each colour.
3) two are of same colour.

Theorems in probability

Addition Theorem
For two events A and B the occurrence of at
least one of the events is given by
P(AUB) = P(A) +P(B) P(A B)
For mutually exclusive events
P(AUB) = P(A) +P(B)
For 3 events at least one occurs is
P(A U B U C) = P(A) +P(B)+P- P(A B)- P(B
C)- P(A C)+ P(A B C)
For mutually exclusive events
P(AUBUC) = P(A) +P(B)+P

Multiplication Theorem

The simultaneous occurrence of two

events is shown as
P(A B) = P(A) P(B/A).for
dependent
events
P(A B) = P(A) P(B).for
independent
events

PROBLEM-1
A box contains 8 red, 9 blue and
15 black balls. One ball is drawn at
A box contains 8 red, 9 blue and
15 black balls. One ball is drawn at
random from this box. Find the
probability that
1) it is red or blue
2) neither blue nor black
3) not red.

PROBLEM-2

There are 100 students in a class. 50

pass in Mathematics, 40 in Physics
and 10 in both. If a student is
selected at random, what is the
probability that he has passed in 1) at
least one subject 2) in one subject
only 3) in both the subjects 4) in none
of the subjects 5) only in Physics.

PROBLEM-3

. The probability that A can solve a

problem is 4/5, that B can solve it
is 2/3 and that C can solve it is 3/7.
If all of them try independently
Find the probability that the 1)
Problem will be solved 2) Problem
remains unsolved 3) Only one of
them solved the problem.

PROBLEM-4

The odds in favour of Ashok getting

a scholarship for further studies in
U.S.A. are 7:5. The odds in favour of
Vikas getting a scholarship are 9:7.
Find the probability that 1) Both of
them get the scholarship 2) Only one
of them gets the scholarship 3) None
of them get the scholarship