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IGCSE/GCSE Mathematics - Exploring and Applying Probability

Exploring and Applying Probability

August 25, 2021

Probability

= (number of ways) / (total number of possible outcomes)
= (Frequency of desired outcomes) / (no.of trials)

For example, tossing a die

  • P(6) - probability of getting a six = 1/6 —> chance/total possible results
  • Probabilities add to 100%
  • Probabilities add to 1, e.g. P(0.3) +P(0.7)

Venn Diagrams

  • U = or ⟶ both options, e.g. A U B’— A or not B
  • = and/but also ⟶ Same time e.g. A B — A but also B

Mutually exclusive

  • Not at the same time (cannot happen) - e.g. picking a letter that is S and a vowel - P(A and B)

Mutually exhaustive

  • One or more can occur e.g. P(A and B) — P(heart and king)

Exhaustive event

  • When all possible outcomes have been used up, only probability is 1

Independent event

  • Does not affect the next event e.g. roll dice twice

Dependent event

  • Affected by another event

Expectation

  • Long-run average you would get if a test was repeated many times.
  • Expectation = nP (no. trials x probability)
  • E.g. Probability of heads with biased coin = 3/4
    - Coin thrown 200 times
    - Expectation = nP = 3/4 x 200 = 150

When it comes to IGCSE/GCSE Maths, do you remember the following rules?

Rules

  • A U B = A union B = A or B
  • A B = A and B = A intersect B
  • A’ = Complement A = everything that does not include A
  • ∅ = empty set
  • ∈ = an element of A/B e.g. 1 in A
  • ∉ = Not an element

Tree diagrams

  • Multiply across branches to find combined probability of 2+ events.

References:

1. https://www.mashupmath.com/blog/probability-tree-diagrams

That's the end of the topic!

Drafted by Bonnie (Mathematics)