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Solving Problems using Venn Diagrams
Starter
1. The Venn diagram alongside shows the number of people
in a sporting club who play tennis (T) and hockey (H). T H
Find the number of people:
(a) in the club
15 27 26
(b) who play hockey
(c) who play both sports
(d) who play neither sport
7
(e) who play at least one sport
(f) who play tennis but not hockey
Working: (a) Add the numbers in the Venn diagram: 15 + 27 + 26 + 7 = 75
(b) 27 + 26 = 53
(c) Look for the intersection (overlap): 27
(d) Look for the number outside the circles: 7
(e) Either 15 + 27 + 26 = 68 or 75 — 7 = 68
(f) Look in the T circle — the 27 also play hockey so answer is 15
2. Consider the Venn diagram from question 1. If a person is chosen at random what is the
probability they:
(a) play tennis and hockey (b) do not play tennis or hockey
(c) play hockey but not tennis (d) do not play hockey
27 9
Working: (a) P(T and H) = =
75 25
7
(b) P(not T or H) =
75
26
(c) P(H but not T) = look in the H circle, 26 only play H
75
22
(d) Do not play hockey = 15 + 7 = 22 so P(not H) =
75
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3. In a group of 20 boys:
6 have blue eyes.
13 have fair hair. B F
4 have fair hair and blue eyes.
5 have neither blue eyes nor fair hair.
(a) Copy and complete the Venn Diagram with this
information.
(b) How many boys have blue eyes but not fair hair?
Working: (a) The 5 can go outside the circles.
4 goes in the intersection (overlap) B F
6 have blue eyes — 4 of these also
have fair hair so 2 goes in B but 2 4 9
outside F
13 have fair hair — 4 also have blue
eyes so 9 goes in F but outside B 5
(b) 2 have blue eyes but no fair hair
E.g. 1 In a group of 24 girls, 18 like oranges, 7 like bananas and 4 like neither oranges nor
bananas.
(a) Draw a Venn diagram to illustrate this information.
(b) How many girls like both fruit?
O B
Working: (a) 4 goes outside the circles
18 — x x 7—x
Let the overlap be x
18 like oranges so 18 − x goes in O
but outside B 4
N.B. 18 − x + x = 18
7 like oranges so 7 − x goes in B
but outside O. O B
There are 24 girls so:
18 − x + x + 7 − x + 4 = 24 13 5 2
x =5
4
(b) 5 girls like both fruit (intersection)
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E.g. 2 24 out of class of 32 students study History or Geography, or both.
15 study History but not Geography. 5 study Geography but not History.
(a) Draw a Venn diagram to illustrate this information.
(b) A student is chosen at random. Find the probability that the student:
(i) studies both History and Geography
(ii) does not study History
Working: (a) 15 = H but not G H G
5 = G but not H
15 x 5
Outside both circles = 32 — 24 = 8
Let the intersection be x. 8
32 students in total:
15 + x + 5 + 8 = 32
x=4 H G
4 1
(b) (i) P(H and G) = = 15 4 5
32 8
(ii) Not H = 5 + 8 = 13
13
P(not H) = 8
32
E.g. 3 In a class of 30 students, 19 study Physics, 17 study Chemistry, and 15 study both of these
subjects.
(a) Display this information on a Venn diagram.
(b) Find the probability that a student chosen at random studies
(i) both subjects
(ii) at least one of the subjects
(ii) Physics but not Chemistry
(iv) exactly one of the subjects.
Working: (a) Intersection = 15 (study both) P C
19 study P so 19 — 15 = 4
4 goes in P but outside C 4 15 2
17 study C so 17 — 15 = 2
9
2 goes in C but outside P
Outside the circles = 30 — 4 — 15 — 2 = 9
15 1
(b) (i) P(both subjects) = = intersection
30 2
4 + 15 + 2 21 7
(ii) P(at least one subject) = = =
30 30 10
4 2
(iii) P(P but not C) = =
30 15
4+2 6 1
(iv) P(P or C but not both) = = =
30 30 5
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Video: Venn diagrams
Solutions to Starter and E.g.s
Exercise
Worksheet Solving problems using Venn diagrams Qu 1-3
9-1 class textbook: p246 M8.7 Qu 1-6 (Look at Qu 2 and 5 in class)
A*-G class textbook: No exercise
9-1 homework book: p84 M8.7 Qu 1-5
A*-G homework book: No exercise
Solving problems using Venn diagrams SOLUTIONS
Homework book answers (only available during a lockdown)
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