GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

23.6 Conditional probability — 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. Simplify 612\frac{6}{12}.
  2. In a group of 20, 8 are in set A. How many are not in A?
Check
  1. 12\frac12. 2. 12.

Practise with help

1. Of 15 people who walk, 9 carry a bag. Find the probability a walker carries a bag.

Hint

Use the number of walkers as the restricted total.

Full working

P(bag∣walk)=915=35P(\text{bag}\mid\text{walk})=\frac9{15}=\frac35.

2. Of 20 students who cycle, 13 wear helmets. Find the probability a cyclist does not wear a helmet.

Hint

The condition restricts the group to cyclists. First find how many cyclists do not wear helmets.

Full working

There are 20−13=720-13=7 without helmets, so the probability is 720\frac7{20}.

3. In a group, 15 people are in A and 6 are in both A and B. Find the probability a person is in B, given they are in A.

Hint

Use the size of A as the restricted total; the overlap is the matching count.

Full working

The matching count is 6 and the restricted total is 15, so P(B∣A)=615=25P(B\mid A)=\frac6{15}=\frac25.

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