# 11.7 Probability  (Page 2/18)

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Construct a probability model for tossing a fair coin.

Outcome Probability
Roll of 1
Roll of 2
Roll of 3
Roll of 4
Roll of 5
Roll of 6

## Computing probabilities of equally likely outcomes

Let $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}S\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ be a sample space for an experiment. When investigating probability, an event is any subset of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}S.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ When the outcomes of an experiment are all equally likely, we can find the probability of an event by dividing the number of outcomes in the event by the total number of outcomes in $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}S.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Suppose a number cube is rolled, and we are interested in finding the probability of the event “rolling a number less than or equal to 4.” There are 4 possible outcomes in the event and 6 possible outcomes in $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}S,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ so the probability of the event is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{4}{6}=\frac{2}{3}.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

## Computing the probability of an event with equally likely outcomes

The probability of an event $E$ in an experiment with sample space $S$ with equally likely outcomes is given by

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}E$ is a subset of $S,$ so it is always true that $0\le P\left(E\right)\le 1.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

## Computing the probability of an event with equally likely outcomes

A number cube is rolled. Find the probability of rolling an odd number.

The event “rolling an odd number” contains three outcomes. There are 6 equally likely outcomes in the sample space. Divide to find the probability of the event.

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}P\left(E\right)=\frac{3}{6}=\frac{1}{2}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

A number cube is rolled. Find the probability of rolling a number greater than 2.

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{2}{3}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

## Computing the probability of the union of two events

We are often interested in finding the probability that one of multiple events occurs. Suppose we are playing a card game, and we will win if the next card drawn is either a heart or a king. We would be interested in finding the probability of the next card being a heart or a king. The union of two events     is the event that occurs if either or both events occur.

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}P\left(E\cup F\right)=P\left(E\right)+P\left(F\right)-P\left(E\cap F\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

Suppose the spinner in [link] is spun. We want to find the probability of spinning orange or spinning a $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}b.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

There are a total of 6 sections, and 3 of them are orange. So the probability of spinning orange is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{3}{6}=\frac{1}{2}.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ There are a total of 6 sections, and 2 of them have a $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}b.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ So the probability of spinning a $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}b$ is $\frac{2}{6}=\frac{1}{3}.$ If we added these two probabilities, we would be counting the sector that is both orange and a $b$ twice. To find the probability of spinning an orange or a $b,$ we need to subtract the probability that the sector is both orange and has a $b.$

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}-\frac{1}{6}=\frac{2}{3}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

The probability of spinning orange or a $b\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ is $\frac{2}{3}.$

## Probability of the union of two events

The probability of the union of two events $E$ and $F$ (written $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}E\cup F$ ) equals the sum of the probability of $E$ and the probability of $F$ minus the probability of $E$ and $F$ occurring together $\text{(}$ which is called the intersection of $E$ and $F$ and is written as $E\cap F$ ).

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}P\left(E\cup F\right)=P\left(E\right)+P\left(F\right)-P\left(E\cap F\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

## Computing the probability of the union of two events

A card is drawn from a standard deck. Find the probability of drawing a heart or a 7.

A standard deck contains an equal number of hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. So the probability of drawing a heart is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{1}{4}.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ There are four 7s in a standard deck, and there are a total of 52 cards. So the probability of drawing a 7 is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{1}{13}.$

The only card in the deck that is both a heart and a 7 is the 7 of hearts, so the probability of drawing both a heart and a 7 is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{1}{52}.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Substitute into the formula.

The probability of drawing a heart or a 7 is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{4}{13}.$

a colony of bacteria is growing exponentially doubling in size every 100 minutes. how much minutes will it take for the colony of bacteria to triple in size
I got 300 minutes. is it right?
Patience
no. should be about 150 minutes.
Jason
It should be 158.5 minutes.
Mr
ok, thanks
Patience
what is the importance knowing the graph of circular functions?
can get some help basic precalculus
What do you need help with?
Andrew
how to convert general to standard form with not perfect trinomial
can get some help inverse function
ismail
Rectangle coordinate
how to find for x
it depends on the equation
Robert
whats a domain
The domain of a function is the set of all input on which the function is defined. For example all real numbers are the Domain of any Polynomial function.
Spiro
foci (–7,–17) and (–7,17), the absolute value of the differenceof the distances of any point from the foci is 24.
difference between calculus and pre calculus?
give me an example of a problem so that I can practice answering
x³+y³+z³=42
Robert
dont forget the cube in each variable ;)
Robert
of she solves that, well ... then she has a lot of computational force under her command ....
Walter
what is a function?
I want to learn about the law of exponent
explain this
what is functions?
A mathematical relation such that every input has only one out.
Spiro
yes..it is a relationo of orders pairs of sets one or more input that leads to a exactly one output.
Mubita
Is a rule that assigns to each element X in a set A exactly one element, called F(x), in a set B.
RichieRich
If the plane intersects the cone (either above or below) horizontally, what figure will be created?