Objective - To solve problems involving the

probability of single or multiple events.

1) What is probability?
2) Probability vs. Relative Frequency
3) Probability of a Single Event
a) Simple Events
b) Events Involving Geometry
4) Probability of Multiple Events
a) Mutually Exclusive Events
b) Dependent Events
c) Tree Diagrams
1) What is probability?
If a woman were to have a baby in 2008, what is
the probability that it would be a boy?

# of favorable outcomes
Probability =
# of possible outcomes

boy 1
P (boy) = = = 50 %
boy or girl 2
Probability involves predicting future events.
1) What is probability?

Probability is always expressed as fractions

(or decimals) between 0 and 1.
Probability-future

impossible certain
 Complementary Events
Two events are complementary if their
intersection is the empty set and their
union is the set of all possible outcomes.
Complementary
P(Storm on weekend) P(Storm on weekday)

+ = 1
The sum of probabilities for complementary events
always equals 1.
P(It will rain) + P(It will not rain)
30% + 70% = 100%
 2) Probability vs. Relative Frequency
Relative Frequency Experimental Probability
Probability involves predicting future events.
Relative Frequency involves data from past events.
# of times an event occurred
Relative Frequency =
# of times it could have occurred
# of boys born in 1990 2,129,000
r= = = 0.512
total # of births in 1990 4,158,000

r = 51.2%
Based on relative frequency, the probability
of having a boy is actually 51.2%.
2) Probability vs. Relative Frequency
Relative Frequency Experimental Probability
In 1990, the state of Illinois tested 3840 skunks for
rabies, of which 1446 actually had rabies. What
was the relative frequency of skunks with rabies?
frequency 1446
r= = = 0.377
total opportunities 3840

r = 37.7%
3) Probability of Single Events
a) Simple Events
8 1
Event - Spinning the spinner.
7 2
Outcome - Possible results.
6 3
5 4
# of favorable outcomes
Probability =
# of possible outcomes
Find the probability of each event.
1) P(3) = 3) P(# < 6) =

2) P(even #) = 4) P(composite #) =
3) Probability of Single Events
a) Simple Events
A letter is chosen at random from the word
ALGEBRA
Find the probability of each event.
1) P(G) = 1 3) P(A or B) = 3
7 7

2) P(A) = 2 4) P(not E) = 6
7 7
3) Probability of Single Events
a) Simple Events
A standard deck consists of 52 playing cards.
Find the probability of drawing the following.
Jack, Queen or King
4 1 12 3
1) P(Ace) = = 3) P(Face Card) = =
52 13 52 13

13 1 39 3
2) P(Club) = = 4) P(not Heart) = =
52 4 52 4
3) Probability of Single Events
b) Events Involving Geometry
Points A, B, C, D, and E represent points on
an interstate highway.
A B C D E
17 8 13 12
If a random accident occurs on AE, find the
probability that it will occur between B and C.
BC 8
P(accident is in BC) = =
AE 17 + 8 + 13 + 12

8
P(accident is in BC) = = 0.16 = 16 %
50
Find the probability that the spinner will land
on region D.
A degrees in D
B P(D)=
degrees in circle
D P(D)=

C P(D)=

P(D)=
4) Probability of Multiple Events
Find the probability of rolling a sum of 7 with
two six-sided die.
Event 1 - First Die
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Event 2 -
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sum of
Second
Die 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 the dice
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
6 1
P(sum of 7) = =
36 6
4) Probability of Multiple Events
a) Mutually Exclusive Events
A bag consists of 3 red, 4 white, and 2 blue marbles.
Find the probability of the following if the marbles
are replaced after each draw.
1) P(R , R) =
3 3 1 1 1 R R R
= =
9 9 3 3 9 W W W W

B B
2) P(W, B, B) =
4 2 2 16
=
9 9 9 729
4) Probability of Multiple Events
a) Dependent Events
A bag consists of 3 red, 4 white, and 2 blue marbles.
Find the probability of the following if the marbles
are not replaced after each draw.
1) P(R , R) =
3 2 1 1 1 R R R
= =
9 8 3 4 12 W W W W

B B
2) P(W, B, B) =
4) Probability of Multiple Events
a) Dependent Events
A bag consists of 3 red, 4 white, and 2 blue marbles.
Find the probability of the following if the marbles
are not replaced after each draw.
1) P(R , R) =
3 2 1 1 1 R R R
= =
9 8 3 4 12 W W W W

B B
2) P(W, B, B) =
4 2 1 8 1
= =
9 8 7 504 63
4) Probability of Multiple Events
a) Tree Diagrams
A nickel, dime, and quarter are tossed. Find the
probability of the following.
Nickel Dime Quarter Outcomes
H H HHH
T HHT
H H HTH
T T HTT
H H THH
T T THT
T H TTH
T TTT
1) P(Only one heads) 2) P(At least two heads)
3
8
4) Probability of Multiple Events
a) Tree Diagrams
A nickel, dime, and quarter are tossed. Find the
probability of the following.
Nickel Dime Quarter Outcomes
H H HHH
T HHT
H H HTH
T T HTT
H H THH
T T THT
T H TTH
T TTT
1) P(Only one heads) 2) P(At least two heads)
3 4 1
8 8
= 2