GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

23.1 The probability scale and equally likely outcomes — Practise with help

Work each question first. Open the hint if you need it, then reveal the working to check.

Warm-up: remember

Try these from memory before opening the answers.

  1. Work out 12+14\frac12+\frac14.
  2. A bag has 3 red counters and 2 blue counters. How many counters are there?
Check
  1. 34\frac34. 2. 5 counters.

Practise with help

1. A fair four-sided spinner has outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4. Find the probability of an even number.

Hint

Count matching outcomes and divide by all equally likely outcomes.

Full working

Even outcomes are 2 and 4, so P(even)=24=12P(\text{even})=\frac24=\frac12.

2. A fair six-sided die is rolled. Find the probability of a result less than 3.

Hint

List the die results that meet the condition, then divide by six.

Full working

The matching results are 1 and 2, so the probability is 26=13\frac26=\frac13.

3. A bag has 2 white and 6 black counters. Find the probability of not choosing black.

Hint

Find the total number of counters. The white counters are the outcomes that are not black.

Full working

Not black means white, so P=28=14P=\frac28=\frac14.

4. A fair six-sided die is rolled 60 times. Find the expected number of fives. Then compare the expected relative frequency with the theoretical probability of a five.

Hint

Find the probability of a five first. Multiply it by 60 for the expected count.

Full working

The probability of a five is 16\frac16. The expected number is 60×16=1060\times\frac16=10. The expected relative frequency is 1060=16\frac{10}{60}=\frac16, which matches the theoretical probability. An actual set of 60 rolls may differ.

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