PROBABILITY 1

EXERCISE - 1 : BASIC OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

Classical Probability are placed adjacently, equals

1. Three houses are available in a locality. Three persons 1 7

(a) (b)
apply for the houses. Each applies for one house without 2 15
consulting others. The probability that all the three apply
for the same house, is 2 1
(c) (d)
15 3
1 2
(a) (b) Ans. (b)
9 9
Sol. The number of ways of placing 3 black balls without
7 8 any restriction is 10C3. Since, we have total 10 places of
(c) (d) putting 10 balls in a row. Now, the number of ways in
9 9
which no two black balls put together is equal to the
Ans. (a)
number of ways of choosing 3 places marked ‘____’
Sol. No. of houses = 3 = No. of favourable cases; No. Of out of eight places.
applicants = 3,
-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-
Total number of events = 33
This can be done in 8C3 ways.
(because each candidate can apply by 3 ways)
8
C3 8 7  6 7
3
1  Required probability = 10
= =
Required probability  3  . C3 10  9  8 15
3 9
2. Fifteen coupons are numbered 1, 2, ..., 15, respectively. 4. An Urn contains 'm' white and 'n' black balls. All the balls
Seven coupons are selected at random one at a time with except for one ball, are drawn from it. The probability that
replacement. The probability that the largest number the last ball remaining in the Urn is white, is
appearing on a selected coupon is 9, is
m n
(a) (b)
6 7 mn mn
 9 8
(a)   (b)  
 16   15  1 mn
(c) (m  n)! (d) (m  n)!
7
3
(c)   (d) None of these Ans. (a)
5
m
Ans. (d) Cm 1  n Cn
Sol. Required probability  mn
Sol. Since, there are 15 possible cases for selecting a coupon Cm  n 1
and seven coupons are selected, the total number of
cases of selecting seven coupons = 157 m

It is given that the maximum number on the selected mn
coupon is 9, therefore the selection is to be made from 5. Three of the six vertices of a regular hexagon are chosen
the coupons number 1 to 9. This can be made in 97 ways. at random. The probability that the triangle with three
Out of these 97 cases, 87 does not contain the number 9. vertices is equilateral equals
Thus, the favourable number of cases = 97 – 87.
1 1
(a) (b)
9 7  87 2 5
Required probability = .
157
3. Seven white balls and three black balls are randomly
placed in a row. The probability that no two black balls
 2 PROBABILITY

Sol. No. of possible months for a single person = 12

1 1
(c) (d) possible no. of ways for 6 people = (12)6
10 20
Birthday falls in two calender months = (Choose two
Ans. (c)
months from 12 and then put all the six person into any
Sol. Total number of triangles with six vertices of the hexagon of the month)
6! -(the case when all the six get into a single month)
= 6C3 =  20
3!3!

P
12

C2 2 6  2   12 11  62

341
A B 12 6
2 12  125
125

F C 8. A, B, C are three events for which P(A) = 0.6, P(B) = 0.4,

P(C) = 0.5, P(A  B)  0.8 , P(A  C)  0.3 and
E D
P(A  B  C)  0.2 . If P(A  B  C)  0.85 then the
Only two triangles are there which are equilateral i.e.
interval of values of P(B  C) is
AEC and BDF
(a) [0.2, 0.35] (b) [0.55, 0.7]
2 1
Req. Probability =  (c) [0.2, 0.55] (d) none of these
20 10
Ans. (a)
6. x1, x2, x3, ...... x50 are fifty numbers such that xr < xr + 1 for
Sol. P(AB) = P(A) + P(B) – P(AB)
r = 1, 2, 3, ...., 49. Five numbers out of these are picked
up at random. The probability that the five numbers P(AB) = P(A) + P(B) – P(AB)
have x20 as the middle number is = 0.6 + 0.4 – 0.8

20 = 0.2
C2  30 C2 30
C2  19 C2
(a) 50 (b) 50 We know that
C2 C5
P(ABC) = P(A) + P(B) + P(C) – P(AB) – P(BC)
19
C2  31C3 – P(CA) + P(ABC)
(c) 50 (d) none the these Now,
C5
1  P(ABC)  0.85
Ans. (b)
1  P(A) + P(B) + P(C) – P(AB) – P(BC)–P(CA)
+ P(BC)  0.85
Sol. n(s) = 50C5, n(E) = 19C2 × 30C2 [selecting 2 from first -19 1  0.6 + 0.4 + 0.5 – 0.2 – P(BC) – 0.3 + 0.2  0.85
and selecting 2 from second 30)
0.35  P(BC)  0.2
30 19 9. A and B are two events. Odds against A are 2 : 1. Odds
C2  C2
 P( E )  50
C2 in favour of A  B are 3 : 1. If x  P(B)  y , then the
ordered pair (x, y) is
7. The probability that the birthdays of six different people
will fall in exactly two calendar months is 2 3
(a)  , 
5 3
(b)  , 
 12 4  3 4
1 12 26
(a) (b) C2 
6 126
1 3
(c)  ,  (d) none of these
6 3 4
12 2 1 341
(c) C2  (d)
12 6
125 Ans. (a)

Ans. (d) 1 3
Sol. P( A)  , P ( A  B) 
3 4
 PROBABILITY 3

P(AB) = P(A) + P(B) – P(AB) P(A) + P(B)

1 3
P C    P C  
3 1 4 4
   P( B)
4 3 Now problem will be solved if any one of them will solve
the problem.
5
 P( B)  P(at least one of them solves the problem)
12
= 1– probability that none of them can solve the problem.
and B  (AB)
Or P(ABC) = 1 - P ( A) P ( B ) P (C )
3
P(B)  P(AB) =
4 1 2 3
 1 . .  3 / 4
2 3 4
5 3
  P ( B) 
12 4 12. The probability that A speaks truth is 4/5, while this
probability for B is 3/4. The probability that they
3 1 4 contradict each other when asked to speak on a fact, is
10. If P (B)  , P(A / B)  and P (A  B)  , then
5 2 5 (a) 7/20 (b) 1/5
P ((A B)’) + P (A’ B) = (c) 3/20 (d) 4/5
1 4 Ans. (a)
(a) (b)
5 5
4 1
Sol. P ( A)   P ( A) 
1 5 5
(c) (d) 1
2
3 1
P ( B)   P ( B) 
Ans. (d) 4 4
Sol. 1 – P(A B) + 1 – [P(A) – P(A B)] Now we need
4
 1   P  A  B   P  B  
1
5  
P ( A)P B  P  B  P A    4 1 3 1
   
7
5 4 4 5 20

4 4 3 13. If A and B are independent events such that

 2   0 < P (A) < 1 and 0 < P (B) < 1, then which of the following
5 5 5
is not correct ?
=1
(a) A and B are mutually exclusive
Multiplication Theorem & Independent Events (b) A and B’ are independent

11. A problem in mathematics is given to three student A, B, (c) A’ and B are independent
C and their respective probability of solving the problem (d) A’ and B’ are independent
is 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4. Probability that the problem is solved, Ans. (a)
is
Sol. If A and B are independent events, i.e., the occurrence of
(a) 3/4 (b) 1/2 one does not affect the occurrence of the other, then
(c) 2/3 (d) 1/3
obviously A and B are also independent of each other
Ans. (a)
similarly, A is independent of B and vice-versa.
1 1
Sol. Given P  A    P  A  Again, since A and B are independent events,
2 2
 
P  A | B   P  A  and similarly, P A | B  P A . 
1 2
P B   PB 
3 3 Since P  A   P  A   1, Hence, P  A| B  P  A| B  1.
 4 PROBABILITY

Hence All are correct except except option (a). 16. Three persons A, B and C fire at a target in turn, starting
14. Let A and B be two events such that with A. Their probabilities of hitting the target are 0.4,
0.3 and 0.2 respectively. The probability of two hits is
1 1
P (A  B)  , P (A  B)  and (a) 0.024 (b) 0.188
6 4
(c) 0.336 (d) 0.452
1 Ans. (b)
P(A)  , where A stands for the complement of the
4
Sol. We have P  A   0.4, P  B   0.3, P  C   0.2
event A. Then the events A and B are :
(a) independent and equally likely  Probability of two hits
(b) mutually exclusive and independent  P  A  .P  B  .P  C '  P  A  .P  B' .P  C 
(c) equally likely but not independent
(d) independent but not equally likely  P  A ' .P  B  .P  C 

Ans. (d)  0.4  0.3  0.8  0.4  0.7  0.2  0.6  0.3  0.2
 0.096  0.056  0.036  0.188
Sol.  
P(AB) = 1 – P A  B  1 
1 5

6 6 17. A box contains 3 orange balls, 3 green balls and 2 blue
balls. Three balls are drawn at random from the box
 
1
We have P A   P( A) 
4
3
4
without replacement. The probability of drawing 2 green
balls and one blue ball is
Again, P(AB) = P(A) + P(B) – P(AB)
2 3
(a) (b)
5 3 1 1 21 28
   P  B   P B 
6 4 4 3
1 167
Now, P(AB) = P(A) P(B) seems to be true. (c) (d)
28 168
Thus A and B are independent.
Ans. (b)
As P(A) P(B) So, A and B are not equally likely.
Sol. Probability of drawing 2 Green balls and one blue ball
15. If from each of the three boxes containing 3 white and 1
black, 2 white and 2 black, 1 white and 3 black balls, one  P  G  .P  G  .P  B   P  B .P  G  .P  G 
ball is drawn at random, then the probability that 2 white
and 1 black balls will be drawn, is  P  G  .P  B .P(G)

13 1 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 3
(a) (b)  . .  . .  . . 
32 4 8 7 6 8 7 6 8 7 6 28

1 3 18. The probability that certain electronic component fails

(c) (d) when first used is 0.10. If it does not fail immediately,
32 16
the probability that it lasts for one year is 0.99. The
Ans. (a)
probability that a new component will last for one year
Sol. P (2 white and 1 black) = P(W1W2B3 or W1B2W3 or is
B1W2W3)
(a) 0.891 (b) 0.692
= P(W1W2B3) + P(W1B2W3) + P(B1W2W3)
(c) 0.92 (d) none of these
= P(W 1 )P(W 2 )P(B 3 ) + P(W 1 )P(B 2 )P(W 3 ) +
Ans. (a)
P(B1)P(W2)P(W3)
Sol. Probability that a new component lasts for one year
3 2 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 13
= . . + . . + . . = (9 + 3 + 1) =
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 32 32
 PROBABILITY 5

 Probability that   Probability that  4

 A = {2, 3, 4, 5}  P(A) =
    6
  the component    it lasts for one 
 doesn't fail   year  But die is rolled four times, therefore the probability in
   
getting four throws
= (1 – 0.1) × (0.99) = 0.90 × 0.99
 4  4  4  4  16
= 0.891 =      =
 6  6  6  6  81
19. The probability that an event A happens in one trial of
an experiment is 0.4. Three independent trials of the 22. A coin is tossed n times. The probability of getting at
experiments are performed. The probability that the event least one head is greater than that of getting at least
A happens at least once is
5
(a) 0.936 (b) 0.784 two tails by . Then n is
32
(c) 0.904 (d) None of these
(a) 5 (b) 10
Ans. (b)
(c) 15 (d) none of these
Sol.  
Given that, P(A) = 0.4, P A = 0.6 Ans. (a)
Sol. Probability of getting atleast one head = 1 – (Probability
P(the event A happens at least once) of O heads)
= 1 – P (none of the event happens)
1
= 1 – (0.6)(0.6)(0.6) = 1-0.216 = 0.784  1  n C0 .
2n
20. India plays two matches each with West Indies and
Australia. In any match the probabilities of India getting
1
points 0, 1 and 2 are 0.45, 0.05 and 0.50 respectively.  1 .... (i)
Assuming that the outcomes are independent, the 2n
probability of India getting at least 7 points, is Probability of atleast 2 tails = 1 – (Probability of atmost 1
(a) 0.8750 (b) 0.0875 tails)
(c) 0.0625 (d) 0.0250 n n
C0 C1
Ans. (b)  1 
n
2 2n
Sol. India play 4 matches and getting at least 7 points. It can
only be possible in WWWD or WWWW position,
1 n
where W represents two points and D represents one  1  .... (ii)
n
point. 2 2n

Therefore, the probability of the required event Now subtracting (ii) from (i), we get
= 4C3 (0.05) (0.5)3 + 4C4 (0.5)4 n 5

= [4(0.05) + 0.5] (0.5)3 = 0.0875 2 n 32
21. An unbiased die with faces marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is
rolled four times. Out of four face values obtained, the Hence n = 5
probability that the minimum face value is not less than 23. An unbiased cubic die marked with 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 is rolled 3
2 and the maximum face value is not greater than 5, is times. The probability of getting a total score of 4 or 6 is
(a) 16/81 (b) 1/81
16 50
(c) 80/81 (d) 65/81 (a) (b)
216 216
Ans. (a)
Sol. Let A = getting not less than 2 and not greater than 5
 6 PROBABILITY

Conditional Probability
60
(c) (d) none
216 25. The probabilities of four cricketers A, B, C and D scoring
Ans. (b) 1 1 1 1
more than 50 runs in a match are , , and . It is
2 3 4 10
1
Sol. P(getting 1) = known that exactly two of the players scored more than
6
50 runs in a particular match. The probability that players
2 1 were A and B is
P(getting 2) = 
6 3
27 5
(a) (b)
65 6
3 1
P(getting 3) = 
6 2
1
(c) (d) none of these
When the die is thrown 3 times a total of 4 or 6 can be 6
obtained from following combinations
Ans. (a)
(1,1,2), (2, 2, 2), (1, 2, 3).
Sol. Let E1 be the event that exactly two players scored more
Let the event of getting 4 or 6 be called E. than 50 runs, then

 3!  1 1 3 9  1 2 1 9 
Then P(E) =   P (1) P (1) P (2)+ P (2) P (2) P (2) + ( 3!) P P  E1              
 2!   2 3 4 10   2 3 4 10 
(1) P (2) P (3)
1 2 3 1  1 1 1 9 
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1         
 3         3!     2 3 4 10   2 3 4 10 
6 6 3 3 3 3 6 3 2
1 1 3 1  1 2 1 1 

25

50         
 2 3 4 10   2 3 4 10 
108 216
24. A Urn contains 'm' white and 'n' black balls. Balls are drawn 65

one by one till all the balls are drawn. Probability that the 240
second drawn ball is white, is
Let E2 be the event that A and B scored more than 50
m n( m  n  1) runs, then
(a) (b) (m  n)(m  n  1)
mn 1 1 3 1 27
P  E1  E2      
2 3 4 9 240
m(m  1) mn
(c) (m  n)(m  n  1) (d) (m  n)(m  n  1)
 E  P ( E1  E 2 )
Ans. (a) P 2  
 E1  PE1
Sol. Required probability 27 / 240

= First ball is white and second ball is white + first ball is 65 / 240
black and second ball is white  27 / 65

m m 1 n m 26. Assume that in a family, each child is equally likely to be

   
m  n m  n 1 m  n m  n 1 a boy or a girl. A family with three children is chosen at
random. The probability that the eldest child is a girl
m  m  n  1 m given that the family has atleast one girl is
 
 m  n  m  n  1 mn
 PROBABILITY 7

1 1 Sol. E1 : All the three balls are in the same cell.

(a) (b)
2 3
E 2 : At least two balls are in the same cell.
2 4 Since each ball can be place in a cell in 3 ways, so three
(c) (d)
3 7 distinct balls can be place in three cell by

Ans. (d) 3  3  3  27 ways.

Sol. G BB GGB GGG
3 3! 21
BGB BGG P  E1   , P  E2   1  
27 27 27
BBG GBG
3
4 P  E1  E 2   P  E1    E1  E 2 
P 27
7
27. Let A = {2, 3, 4, ...., 20, 21}. A number is chosen at random 3
from the set A and it is found to be a prime number. The P  E1  E 2  1
P  E1 | E 2    27 
probability that it is more than 10 is P  E2  21 7
27
9 1
(a) (b)
10 10 29. In a certain town, 40% of the people have brown hair,
25% have brown eyes and 15% have both brown hair
1 and brown eyes. If a person selected at random from the
(c) (d) none of these
2 town, has brown hair, the probability that he also has
brown eyes, is
Ans. (c)
Sol. A : getting number greater than 10 1 3
(a) (b)
B : getting prime number 5 8

P A  B 1 2
P A / B  (c) (d)
P  B 3 3
Ans. (b)
No. greater than 10 as well as prime = 11, 13, 17, 19
Sol. Let BE : Brown eyes
So, P(AB) = 4/20
BH : Brown hair
Also, all prime no. in set A = 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 19
According to the question
So, P(B) = 8/20
40 25
 A  4 / 20 1 P  BH    0.4, P  BE    0.25
P    . 100 100
 B  8 / 20 2
28. Three distinguishable balls are distributed in three cells. 15
P  BH and BE    0.15
The probability that all three occupy the same cell, given 100
that atleast two of them are in the same cell, is
 BE  P  BE  BH  0.15
1 1 P  
(a) (b)  BH  P  BH  0.40
7 9

3
1 = .
(c) (d) none of these 8
6
30. A pair of numbers is picked up randomly (without
Ans. (a)
replacement) from the set{1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19}.
 8 PROBABILITY

The probability that the number 11 was picked given that will be found in one week is
the sum of the numbers was even, is nearly : (a) 0.3 (b) 0.4
(a) 0.1 (b) 0.125 (c) 0.5 (d) 0.6
(c) 0.24 (d) 0.18 Ans. (b)
Ans. (c) Sol. A  Stolen
Sol. Let, A be the event of picking 11 from the set, say s Let, B B  found
be the event where the sum is even. This can happen only
P (A B) = 0.0006
when the two numbers picked are both odd or both even.
P(A) = 0.0015
 n(B) = 1 + 8C2 = 1 + 28 = 29

n(A  B)  7 C1  B  P  A  B  0.0006 2
P    
A P A 0.0015 5
 A  P(A  B)
p   Total Probability Law and Baye's Theorem
B P(B)

Hence, the given probability 33. A letter is known to have come either from LONDON or
CLIFTON; on the postmark only the two consecutive
n(A  B) letters ON are legible. The probability that it came from
A n(S) n(A  B) 7 LONDON is
p      0.24
B
  n(B) n(B) 29
5 12
n(S) (a) (b)
17 17
31. For a biased die the probabilities for the diffferent faces to
17 3
turn up are given below : (c) (d)
30 5
Faces : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Ans. (b)
Probabilities : 0.10 0.32 0.21 0.15 0.05 0.17
Sol. Let E1 is event that letter has come from LONDON and
The die is tossed & you are told that either face one or face
two has turned up. Then the probability that it is face one E2 be the event that letter has come from CLIFTON.
is : 1
(a) 1/6 (b) 1/10 Then P(E1) = P(E2) =
2
(c) 5/49 (d) 5/21
Let A be the event that consecutive (two) letters are ON.
Ans. (d)
Sol. Let A be the event that face 1 turns up  A 2  A 1
P   ,P  
B be the event that face 2 turns up.  E1  5  E2  6
Then P (A) = 0.10 and P(B) = 0.32,
Since A, B are mutually exclusive, we have 1 2

 E1  2 5
P  
P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  0.10  0.32  0.42 Now,  A  1 2 1 1
  
2 5 2 6
P  A  (A  B) 
We are to find P (A | A  B) 
P(A  B) 2 6
=
2 6  5
0.10 5
Hence = P(A | A  B)  
0.42 21 12
=
17
32. The probability that an automobile will be stolen and found
within one week is 0.0006. The probability that an automobile 34. For k = 1, 2,3 the box Bk contains k red balls and (k + 1)
will be stolen is 0.0015. The probability that a stolen automobile
 PROBABILITY 9

A2 : He does not know the answer

1 1 1
white balls. Let P(B1 )  , P(B2 )  and P(B3 )  . A
2 3 6 E : He gets the correct answer
box is selected at random and a ball is drawn from it. If a
 E 
red ball is drawn, then the probability that it has come P  denotes the event for which A2 gets correct
from box B2, is  A2 

35 14  E  1
(a) (b) answer without knowing the answer. So, P   .
78 39  A2  4

10 12  E 
(c) (d) Also, P    1 (sure event)
13 13
 A1 
Ans. (b)
Sol. In B1 2W, 1R A  P  A2  P  E / A2 
P 2  
In B2  2R, 3W  E E 
P  A1  P    P  A2  P  
In B3  3R, 4W  A1   A2 
Now
1 1
P  B2  P  R / B2  
B  10 4
P 2   
 R  R  R   R 9 1 1
P( B1 ) P    P  B2  P    P  B3  P   1  
10 10 4
 B1   B2   B3 

1 1
1 2   .
 36  1 37
3 5
=  1 1 1 2 1 3 36. Two coins are available, one fair and the other two
       headed. Choose a coin and toss it once assume that the
 2 3  3 5  6 7 
3
unbiased coin is chosen with probability . Given that
2 /15 4

1/ 6  2 /15  1/14 the outcome is head, the probability that the two-headed
coin was chosen is
2 210 14
   3 2
15 78 39
(a) (b)
5 5
35. In an entrance test there are multiple choice questions.
There are four possible answers to each question of 1 2
which one is correct. The probability that a student knows (c) (d)
5 7
the answer to a question is 90%. If he gets the correct
answer to a question, then the probability that he was Ans. (b)
guessing, is Sol. Let F denotes fair coin

37 1 T denotes two headed

(a) (b)
40 37 H denotes Head occurs

3 3 1
36 1  P( F )  , P  T   1  
(c) (d) 4 4 4
37 9
Ans. (b) H
P   denotes the event for getting head from tossing
Sol. Let F
A1 : He knows the answer
 10 PROBABILITY

a fair coin.
1 3

H 1  6 4
P   1 3 5 1
F 2   
6 4 6 4
H
Also, P    1 (sure event)
T 3

8

 H 38. One bag contains 5 white and 4 black balls. Another bag
 .P T 
P
contains 7 white and 9 black balls. A ball is transferred
T   T
P   from the first bag to the second and then a ball is drawn
H
  P  H  H
  .P T   P   .P  F  from second. The probability that the ball is white, is
T  F
(a) 8/17 (b) 40/153
(c) 5/9 (d) 4/9
1
1.
4 2 Ans. (d)
 
1 1 3 5 Sol. Let E1 be the case that ball transferred from the bag is
1.  .
4 2 4 white and E2 be the case that ball transferred from the
bag is black.
37. A man is known to speak truth 3 out of 4 times. He
throws a dice and reports that it is six. The probability Also, E is the event that the ball drawn from the second
that it is actually six is bag is white
Now p(E1) = 5/9 p(E2) = 4/9
3 1
(a) (b)
8 5 E  E 
p    8 /17 p   7 / 17
 E1   E2 
3
(c) (d) none of these
5 p(E) = p(E1) P(E/E1) + p(E2) p(E/E2)
Ans. (a) 5 8 4 7 68 4
      .
Sol. E1 : Six occurs 9 17 9 17 153 9
E2 : Six doesn’t occur 39. Three groups A, B, C are competing for positions on the
A : Man reports that it is a six. Board of Directors of a company. The probabilities of
their winning are 0.5, 0.3, 0.2 respectively. If the group A
1 5
P  E1   , P  E2   wins, the probability of introducing a new product is 0.7
6 6 and the corresponding probabilities for group B and C
are 0.6 and 0.5 respectively. The probability that the new
3 3 1 product will be introduced, is
P  A / E1   , P  A / E2   1  =
4 4 4
(a) 0.18 (b) 0.35

E  P  E1  P  A / E1  (c) 0.10 (d) 0.63

P 1  
 A  P  E1  P  A / E1   P  E2  P  A / E2  Ans. (d)
Sol. Let E be the event that the new product is introduced
then
P(A) = 0.5, P(B) = 0.3, P(C) = 0.2 and

E E E

P    0.7, p    0.6, P    0.5
 A B C
Now as A, B, C are mutually exclusive and exhaustive
 PROBABILITY 11

events
3 3
 
so,   
10 14 140

E E E 41. A, B and C are contesting the election for the post of
P(E) = P(A) P   + P(B). P   + P(C). P  
A
  B
  C secretary of a club which does not allow ladies to become
members. The probabilities of A, B and C winning the
= (0.5)(0.7) + (0.3)(0.6) + (0.2)(0.5)
= 0.35 + 0.18 + 0.10 1 2 4
election are , and respectively. The probabilities
3 9 9
= 0.63
of introducing the clause of admitting lady members to
40. A survey of people in a given region showed that 20%
the club by A, B and C are 0.6, 0.7 and 0.5 respectively.
were smokers. The probability of death due to lung cancer, The probability that ladies will be taken as members in
given that a person smoked, was 10 times the probability
the club after the election is
of death due to lung cancer, given that a person did not
smoke. If the probability of death due to lung cancer in 26 5
the region is 0.006, what is the probability of death due (a) (b)
45 9
to lung cancer given that a person is a smoker
(a) 1/140 (b) 1/70 19
(c) (d) none of these
(c) 3/140 (d) 1/10 45

Ans. (c) Ans. (a)

Sol. Let L be the event of lung cancer; S be the event of Sol. Probability of ladies being included in the club =
smoker and S be the event of non-smoker. (Probability that A wins* probability that he introduces
Given : woman)+ (Probability that B wins* probability that he
introduces women) + (Probabilit that C wins* probability
L L that he introduces women) =
P    10  P  
S  S'
1 2 4 26
P(L) = 0.006, P(S) = 0.2 * 0.6  * 0.7  * 0.5 
3 9 9 45
P(S’) = 1 – P(S) = 0.8
42. A certain player, say X, is know to win with probability
To find : 0.3 if the track is fast and 0.4 if the track is slow. For
Probability of death due to lung cancer given that a Monday, there is a 0.7 probability of a fast-track and 0.3
probability of slow track. The probability that player X
L
person is a smoker, P   will win on Monday, is
S
(a) 0.22 (b) 0.11
 L L (c) 0.33 (d) none of these
P( L)  P(S ).P    P  S ' .P  
S
   S' Ans. (c)
Sol. Let
 L 1  L
0.006  P   .0.2   P    0.8 A : Players wins on monday
S 10 S
B : Track is fast
L C : Track is slow
 0.006  P    0.2  0.08
S Given

 L  0.006 6 100  A
 P      P(B) = 0.7, P(C) = 0.3 , P    0.3
 S  0.28 1000 28 B
 12 PROBABILITY

Sol. For ‘X’

 A
P    0.4
C  1 1
n = 5, p  ,q 
P(player X will win on Monday) 2 2

 P(A) = P(AB) + P(AC) for ;Y’

 P  B  . P  A / B   P  C  .P  A / C  1 1
n = 7, p  ,q 
2 2
= (0.3)(0.7) + (0.3)(0.4)
now,
= 0.33
P(X + Y  1) = 1 – P(X + Y  1)
Bernoulli trials and binomial distribution = 1 – P(X + Y = 0)
43. A coin is tossed 7 times. Each time a man calls head. = 1 – P(X = 0, Y = 0)
The probability that he wins the toss on more occasions = 1 – P(X = 0) . P(Y = 0)
is
5 7
 
1 5  1  5 C0   . 7 C0  
(a) (b) 2 2
4 8
12
1 1 4096  1 4095
(c) (d) none of these  1    
2 2 4096 4096

Ans. (c) 45. The mean and variance of a random variable X having a
Sol. n=7 binomial distribution are 4 and 2 respectively, then
P (X = 1) is
1 1
p  ,q  1 1
2 2 (a) (b)
4 32
P(x = 4) + P( x = 5) + P (x = 6) + P (x = 7)

7 7 7 7 1 1
1 1 1 1 (c) (d)
 C4    7 C5    7 C6    7 C7  
7
16 8
2  2  2 2
Ans. (b)
1 7 Sol. npq = 2, np = 4
 7 
C4  7 C5  7 C6  7 C7 
2
1 1
q= ,p=
2 2
1  1 7  1 27 1

2 7  2
 
2  7.
 2 2

2  n=8

44. If X and Y are the independent random variables B 8

1 1
P(x = 1) = 8C1   =
 1  1 2 32
 5,  and B  7,  , then P(X  Y  1) 
 2  2
46. 6 ordinary dice are rolled. The probability that at least
half of them will show at least 3 is
4095 309
(a) (b)
4096 4096 24 24
(a) 41  6 (b)
3 36
4032
(c) (d) none of these
4096
Ans. (a)
 PROBABILITY 13

24 7
(c) 20  (d) none of these 
3 6 128

Ans. (a) 48. Suppose that a random variable X follows Binomial

distribution with parameters n and p, where 0 < p < 1. If
4 2 1 P (X = r)/P (X = n – r) is independent of n and r, then p is
Sol. P  ,q 
6 3 3 equal to

n=6 1 1
(a) (b)
P(x  3) 2 3
= P(x = 3) + P(x = 4) + P)(x = 5) + P(x = 6)
1 1
(c) (d)
2 1
3
 2 1
3
  1
4 2 5 5 7
 6C3      6 C4      6 C5     
 3  2  3 3  3 3 Ans. (a)

n r
2
6
24
n
Cr p r 1  p  1  p n 2 r
6
C6    41. 6 Sol. 
3 3
n
Cn  r P n  r 1  p 
r
p n  2r

47. The probability of guessing correctly atleast 8 out of 10

n  2r
answers on a true-false type examination is 1 
   1
p 
7 7
(a) (b)
64 128 Also, expression is independent of n and r if

45 7 1 1
(c) (d)  1  1, p 
1024 41 p 2

Ans. (b) 49. How many times must a man toss a fair coin so that the
Sol. The probability of guessing True or False type question probability of having atleast one head is more than 90%?
(a) 2 (b) 3
1 1
correct is and the probability of guessing wrong is (c) 4 (d) 5
2 2
Ans. (c)
The probability of guessing at least 8 questions correct
out of 10 is Sol. Let the man toss the coin ‘n’ times. The n tosses are n
Bernull trials. Probability (p) of getting a head at the toss
1
10
1
10
1
10 of a coin is 1/2
10 C 8    10 C 9   10 C10  
2 2 2 n x n
1 1 n 1
 P  X  x  n Cx p n  x q x n Cx      Cx  
 2  
2 2

1
210
 10
C8  10C9  10C10 .  It is given that,

90
1  10  9  P (getting at least one head) >
 10  2
 10  1 100
2  
P x  1   0 .9
1 7
  7   23   1  P  x  0   0.9
210 27
n 1
1 C 0 .  0 .9
2n
 14 PROBABILITY

n 1 3 5
C 0 .  0 .1 2 1  2 1 2 1
2 n
 .    .    .    ........
3 3  3 3  3 3
1
 0 .1
2n
2/9 2
 
1 4 5.
2 n
 1
0 .1 9
2 n  10 ...(1) 52. Ram and Shyam throw with one dice for a prize of Rs 88
The minimum value of n that satisfies the given inequality which is to be won by the player who throws 1 first. If
is 4. Ram starts, then mathematical expectation for Shyam is

Thus, The man should toss coin 4 or more than 4 times. (a) Rs 32 (b) Rs 40

50. One hundred identical coins, each with probability, p, of (c) Rs 48 (d) none of these
showing up heads are tosses once. If 0 < p < 1 and the Ans. (b)
probability of heads showing on fifty coins is equal to that Sol. probability of winning of shyam
of heads showing on 51 coins, then the value of p is :
(a) 1/2 (b) 49/101 5 1 5 5 5 1
         1........
(c) 50/101 (d) 51/101 6 6 6 6 6 6
Ans. (d)
5  25  25  
2
Sol. 100C p50 (1 - p)50 = 100C51 p51 (1 - p)49
50  1      ......... 
36  36  36  

100! 100!
1  p   p
50!50! 51!49!
5 1 5
  
51 - 51 p = 50p 36 25 11
1
36
51
p
101 5
Mathematical expectation =  88
11
Misc Examples-Probability
= 5 × 8 = 40
51. An unbiased die is tossed until a number greater than 4
answer : Rs. 40
appears. The probability that an even number of tosses
is needed is 53. A square is inscribed in a circle. If p1 is the probability
that a randomly chosen point of the circle lies within
1 2 the square and p2 is the probability that the point lies
(a) (b) outside the square then
2 5
(a) p1  p 2
1 2
(c) (d)
5 3 1
2 2
(b) p1  p 2 and p1  p 2 
Ans. (b) 3
Sol. Let A denotes the event that a number greater than 4
(c) p1  p 2
appears, then
(d) none of these
2 1 2
P( A)   , P( A ')  Ans. (b)
6 3 3
Sol. a : radius of circle,
P(even number of tosses are required)
Area of the inscribed square = 2a2
= P(A’ A) + P(A’A’A’A) + P(A’A’A’A’A’A) + .......
 PROBABILITY 15

positive is
2a 2 2
and p1  
 a2  16 7
(a) (b)
81 16
 2
p2 = 1 – p =
 3
(c) (d) none of these
since, 16

< 4 and so  – 2 < 2 which gives p1 > p2 Ans. (c)

Sol. Since, determinant is of order 2×2 and each element is
4  1
p12  p22   p1  p2  p1  p2    either 0 or 1 only.
 3
n(s) = 24 = 16
as 3 < < 4
and the determinant is positive are.
54. A pair of dice is rolled again and again till a total of 5 or
a total of 7 is obtained. The chance that a total of 5 1 0 1 1 1 0
comes before a total of 7 is ; ;
0 1 0 1 1 1

2 3  n(E) = 3
(a) (b)
5 7
3
Thus, the required probability = .
3 16
(c) (d) none of these
13 56. If the integers m and n belongs to set of first hundred
Ans. (a) natural numbers then the probability that a number of
the form 7m + 7n is divisible by 5 is
Sol. Let A denote that event that a sum of 5 occurs, B the
event that a sum of 7 occurs and C the event that neirther 1 1
a sum of 5 nor a sum of 7 occurs. (a) (b)
5 7
4 1 6 1
we have P  A    , P  B   1 1
36 9 36 6 (c) (d)
4 49

and P  C   26  13 . Ans. (c)

36 18 Sol. We observe that
Thus, P (A occurs before B) 71, 72, 73 and 74 ends in 7, 9, 3 and 1 respectively.

 P  A or  C  A  or  C  C  A  or... Thus, 7i ends in 7, 9, 3 or 1 according as i is of the form

4k+ 1, 4k + 2, 4k – 1 and 4k respectively,
 P  A   P  C  A   P  C  C  A   ... Number of sample spaces = 100 × 100 = (100)2
Now,
 P  A   P  C  P  A   P  C  P  A   ...
2
7m + 7n is divisible by 5, if

2
(i) m is of the form 4k + 1 and n is of the form 4k – 1,
1  13  1  13  1
        ... (ii) m is of the form 4k + 2 and n is of the form 4k
9  18  9  18  9
(iii) m is of the form 4k – 1 and n is of the form 4k + 1
1/ 9 2  a  (iv) m is of the form 4k and n is of the form 4k + 2
  sum of an infinite G.P.= 1  r 
1  13 / 18 5   So, number of favourable ordered pairs (m,n)
55. A determinant is chosen at random from the set of all = 4 × 25 × 25
determinants of order 2 with elements 0 or 1 only. The
4  25  25 1
probability that value of the determinant chosen is Required probability =  .
100  100 4
 16 PROBABILITY

57. The number 'a' is randomly selected from the set = Coefficient of x15 in (1 + x)5 (1 + x 10)5
{0, 1, 2, 3, ...... 98, 99}. The number 'b' is selected from the = Coefficient of x15 in
same set. Probability that the number 3a + 7b has a digit
(1 + 5x + 10x2 + 10x3 + 5x4 + x5)×(1+5x10 + 10x20 + ......)
equal to 8 at the units place, is
=5
1
(a) 5
16 Required Probability = .
1024
2
(b) 59. 2n boys are randomly divided into two subgroups
16
containing n boys each. The probability that the two
tallest boys are in different groups is
4
(c)
16 n n 1
(a) (b)
3 2n  1 2n  1
(d)
16
2n  1
(c) (d) none of these
Ans. (d) 4n 2
Sol. 3a can have last digit of 3, 9, 7, 1 Ans. (a)
7 can have last digit of 7, 9, 3, 1
b

(2n)!
3a +7b has 8 at units place if 3a ends with 7b, with 1 Sol. Number of ways (to form two groups) =  n!n!
OR 3a with 9, 7b with 9
OR 3a with 1, 7b with 7 Leaving the tallest boys, we can divide (2n – 2)

i) 3a ends with 7 for 4n+3 from (2n  2)!

boys into two groups in  (n  1)!(n  1)!
7b ends with 1 for 4n from

25
C1.25 C1 25  25 1 2  (2n  2)!
 
So, probability =
100  100 100  100 16 Total favourable cases =  (n  1)!(n  1)!

1 2(2n  2)! n !n !
ii, iii) Similarly for other 2 cases also, the probability  Required probability =  (n  1)!(n  1)!   2n !
16

1 1 3
So, Total probability   2 

 n
16 16 16
2n  1
58. Four tickets marked 00, 01, 10 and 11 respectively are 60. 5 girls and 10 boys sit at random in a row having 15
placed in bag. A ticket is drawn at random five times, chairs numbered as 1 to 15. Find the probability that
being replaced each time. The probability that the sum end seats are occupied by the girls and between any
of the numbers on the ticket is 15, is two girls odd number of boys sit, is
3 5 20 10! 5! 20  10!
(a) (b) (a) (b)
1024 1024 15! 15!

7 20  5!
(c) (d) none of these (c) (d) none of these
1024 15!
Ans. (a)
Ans. (b)
Sol. There are four gaps in between the girls where the boys
Sol. Total number of cases = 45 =1024 can sit:
No. of favourable cases = coefficient of Let the, number of boys in these gaps be
2a + 1, 2b + 1, 2c + 1, 2d + 1
x15 in (x0 + x + x10 + x11)5
 PROBABILITY 17

 2a  1  2b  1  2c  1  2d  1  10  an  an 1  an  2 for n  3
 a bcd  3  a3  5  a4  8  a5  13  a6  21  a7  34
Then number of solution of above equation  a8  55  a9  89  a10  144  a11  233
= coefficient of x3 in (1 – x)4 = 6C3 = 20
These boys and girls can sit in (20) × 10! × 5! way  a12  377

20 10 ! 5! 377

Hence, the required probability is p
Hence the required probability = 4096
15!
Numerical Value Type Questions 377
 4096 p  4096   377
61. If 15 boys of different ages are distributed into 3 groups 4096
of 4, 5 and 6 randomly, and the probability that three 63. Two fair dice, each with faces numbered 1,2,3,4,5 and 6,
3a are rolled together and the sum of the numbers on the
youngest boys are in different groups is equal to , faces is observed. This process is repeated till the sum
13b
is either a prime number or a perfect square. Suppose
3a the sum turns out to be a perfect square before it turns
where a and b are coprime natural numbers and out to be a prime number. If P is the probability that this
13b
perfect square is an odd number, then the value of 14P
is in its simplest form, then the value of a  b is equal is
to ____. Ans: 8.00
Ans: 1.00 Sol: Prime : 2, 3, 5, 7, 11
Sol: Total number of ways of distributing 15 boys in three
1  2  4  6  2 15
P(Sum is prime)  
15! 36 36
groups of 4, 5 and 6 
4!5!6! Perfect square : 4, 9
The number of ways of distributing 12 remaining boys
3 4 7
12! P(Sum is perfect square)  
36 36
(excluding three youngest) 
3!4!5! P = Probability that sum is an odd number given that
The number of ways of distributing three youngest boys sum turns out to be a perfect square before it turns out
is then 3 P3  3! to be a prime number
2
4 14 4  14  4
3!12! 4!5!6! 24        ...
 The required probability    36 36 36  36  36
3!4!5! 15! 91 2
7 14 7  14  7
       ...
3a 24 36 36 36  36  36
Now,   a  8, b  7  a  b  1
13b 91 4
62. A fair coin is tossed 12 times. If the probability that two 36
heads do not occur consecutively is p, then the value 14
1
of 4096p must be 36

Ans: 377.00 7
Sol: Total number of outcomes  2  2  2...12 times = 4096 36
14
Let an denote the number of outcomes in which two 1
36
consecutive heads do not occur when the fair coin is
tossed n times 4
P
7
 a1  2, a2  3
4
For n  3 , if the last outcome is T, then we cannot have  14 P  14   8
7
two consecutive heads in the first (n – 1) tosses. This 64. A bag contains 10 different balls. Five balls are drawn
can happen in an 1 ways. simultaneously and then replaced and then seven balls
are drawn. The probability that exactly three balls are
If the last outcome is H, we must have T the  n  1
th
common to the two draws is p, then the value of 12p is
toss and we cannot have two consecutive heads in the Ans: 5.00
first (n – 2) tosses. This can happen in an  2 ways Sol: In the second draw of 7 balls, 3 balls should be from 5
 18 PROBABILITY

balls drawn in first draw and 4 balls should be from

1
remaining 5 balls. Sol: Probability of hitting P  H   ;
10
5
C3  5 C4 5
Hence, p   9
Probability of missing P  M  
10
C7 12
10
 12 p  5 We have, 1- (probability of all shots result in failure)
65. A box contains 9 balls. One ball is selected at random
1
and is known to be white. If the probability that the box 
4
1
contains exactly k white balls is then k =
9 1
1 P M  
n
Ans: 5.00 4
n
 Box contains exactly k white balls  9 1
Sol: P  1   
 Selected ball is white   
10 4
n
9 3
k   
1 10
  4
 9 
1 2 9 9 n3
  ... 
9 9 9 68. A box contains two white balls, three black balls and
k 5 four red balls. In how many ways can three balls be
66. For two events A and B, the probability of their drawn from the box if at least one black ball is to be
included in the draw
1 Ans: 64.00
simultaneous occurrence is and the probability that
5 Sol: A selection of 3 balls so as to include at least one black
ball, can be made in the following 3 mutually exclusive
3
at least one of A and B occurs is . If the value of ways
5
(i) 1 black ball and 2 others  3C1  6 C2  3  15  45
a
P  A   P  B  is , (where a,b are coprime numbers), (ii) 2 black balls and one other  3C2  6 C1  3  6  18
b
(iii) 3 black balls and no other  3C3  1
then value of a  b is
 Total numbers of ways  45  18  1  64.
Ans: 1.00
69. The probability that a teacher will give a surprise test in
Sol: P  A  B   P  A  P  B   P  A  B 
1
a class is . If a student is absent twice, the probability
5
3 1
 P  A  P  B   k
5 5 that he will miss at least one test will be , then k 
4 25
 P  A  P  B  
5 Ans: 9.00
4 Sol: We know that
 1 P  A  1 P  B  
5 PE  PE  1
6
 P  A  P  B   P  E   Event E occurs
5
 a b  65 1 P  E   Event E does not occur
P(miss. no tests) = P(no test on day 1 and no test on
1 day 2)
67. The probability of a man hitting a target is . The
10 = P (no test on day 1) × P(no test on day 2)
least number of shots required, so that the probability
1
of his hitting the target at least once is greater than ,
4
is …
Ans: 3.00
PROBABILITY 19

4 4
 
5 5 R
P  E1  .P  

16  E1  
32
25 R  R  33
P  E1  .P    P  E2  .P  
16  E1   E2 
So, P(miss at least 1 test)  1  1 2
n
25  
2 3 32
 
25  16 n
1  2 11
n
33
     
25 2  3 23
9
 2n 32
25  n 
2  1 33
k 9
 n  5.
70. Two friends A and B have equal number of daughters.
There are three cinema tickets which are to be distributed 72. Two squares are chosen at random on a chess board. If
among the daughters of A and B. The probability that the probability that they may have a contact at corner is
1 
all the tickets go to daughters of A is . The number then  should be equal to
20 144
of daughters each of them have is Ans: 7.00
Ans: 3.00 Sol: Total cases of choosing two squares on a chess board
Sol: Let x be the number of daughters to each of A, B = 64 × 63
Probability that all the tickets go to daughters of A is Favourable cases  4  1  24  2  36  4  4  49
x
C3 x  x  1 x  2  x2 4  49 7
  Required probability  
2x
C3 2 x  2 x  1 2 x  2  4  2 x  1 64  63 144
x2 1  7
 
4  2 x  1 20 73. A box contains 12 mangoes out of which 5 are rotten
 5 x  10  2 x  1 and rest are good. Two mangoes are randomly taken
out together. If it is known that atleast one of them is
 3x  9 good, then the probability that both are good is (p/q),
where p, q are coprime numbers. The value of |p–q| is:
 x3
Ans: 5
71. Die A has four red and two white faces whereas die B
has two red and four white faces. A coin is flipped once. 7
C2 3 p
If it falls a head, the game continues by throwing die A, Sol: Required probability = 7 7 5
 
C2  C1. C1 8 q
if it falls tail then die B is to be used. If the probability
 pq 5
32
that die A is used is when it is given that red turns 74. 5 girls and 10 boys sit at random in a row having 15
33
chairs numbered as 1 to 15. If the probability that the
up every time in first n throws, then the value of n is
end seats are occupied by the girls and between any
___.
Ans: 5.00 n
two girls odd number of boys take seat is , then
Sol: Let R be the event that a red face appears in each of the 3003
first n throws. n
Ans: 20.00
E1 : Die A is used when head has already fallen
Sol: n  S   15!
E2 : Die B is used when tail has already fallen. For favourable number of ways, firstly 5 girls can be
n n seated in 5! ways.
 R  2  R  1
 P      and P      G_G_G_G_G
 E1   3   E2   3  There are 4 gaps in between the girls where boys can
As per the given condition
 20 PROBABILITY

sit. 3 3
 17   17  5 
Thus,  1       1     11  1331
Let the number of boys in these gaps be 3

2 x1  1, 2 x2  1, 2 x3  1, 2 x4  1.  2   2 17 

So, 2 x1  1  2 x2  1  2 x3  1  2 x4  1  10
 x1  x2  x3  x4  3
Its number of solutions  3 3C3  6 C3  20
Now, 10 boys can be seated in 10! Ways
So, favourable number of ways  5! 20  10!
5! 20 10!
Hence, required probability 
15!
n 20
 
3003 3003
 n  20
75. If P  A   0.4, P  A  B   0.15 and

 A  3

   , then  1     is equal to ___.

P  17
  A  B    2 
Ans: 1331.00
 A  P  A   A  B  
Sol: P   
  A  B    P  A  B  

P   A  A    A  B   

P  A  B  
P    A  B   


P  A  B  
P  A  B

1 P  A  B
P  A  P  A  B 

1 P  A  B
0.4  0.15

1  0.15
0.25

0.85
5

17

5
Hence,  
17