Class 10 Mathematics | Unit 14 Probability | Formula, Notes & Solutions ← Back
Class 10 Math Unit 14 Probability
Class 10 Mathematics | Unit 14 Probability
तथ्याङ्कशास्त्र र सम्भाव्यता (Statistics & Probability)

Unit 14: Probability (सम्भाव्यता) Formulae & Solutions

Solutions by Important Edu Notes Team

1. Probability Formulas & Rules

Concept Rule / Formula Description (Nepali)
Basic Probability $$P(E) = \frac{n(E)}{n(S)}$$ सम्भाव्यता = अनुकूल परिणामहरूको सङ्ख्या / कुल परिणामहरूको सङ्ख्या
Mutually Exclusive Events $$P(A \cup B) = P(A) + P(B)$$ यदि A र B परस्पर निषेधक छन् भने, A वा B को सम्भाव्यता जोडिन्छ।
Non-Mutually Exclusive Events $$P(A \cup B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A \cap B)$$ यदि A र B परस्पर निषेधक होइनन् भने, A र B दुवै एकैचोटि हुन सक्छन्।
Independent Events $$P(A \cap B) = P(A) \times P(B)$$ यदि A र B स्वतन्त्र घटनाहरू छन् भने, A र B दुवै एकैसाथ हुने सम्भाव्यता गुणन हुन्छ।
Complementary Events $$P(A’) = 1 – P(A)$$ A नहुने सम्भाव्यता 1 मा A हुने सम्भाव्यता घटाउँदा पाइन्छ।

Key Terms (मुख्य शब्दावली):

  • Sample Space (प्रतिदर्श समूह): All possible outcomes of an experiment.
  • Event (घटना): A subset of sample space.
  • Mutually Exclusive (परस्पर निषेधक): Events that cannot occur at the same time.
  • Independent Events (स्वतन्त्र घटनाहरू): Occurrence of one does not affect the other.

2. Exercise 14.1 – Q1: Mutually Exclusive Events

Q1.a: When a coin is tossed, A = getting head (H) and B = getting tail (T).

Given: Sample space $S = \{H, T\}$, $A = \{H\}$, $B = \{T\}$

$$A \cap B = \{H\} \cap \{T\} = \phi$$

Since $A \cap B = \phi$, there are no common outcomes. Both cannot happen at the same time.

Therefore, events A and B are Mutually Exclusive.
Q1.b: When a die is rolled, P = even number and Q = odd number.

Given: $S = \{1,2,3,4,5,6\}$, $P = \{2,4,6\}$, $Q = \{1,3,5\}$

$$P \cap Q = \{2,4,6\} \cap \{1,3,5\} = \phi$$
Therefore, events P and Q are Mutually Exclusive.
Q1.c: A card is drawn, F = face card, A = spade card.

Given: Face cards = King, Queen, Jack of all suits. Spade cards include King, Queen, Jack of Spades.

$$F \cap A = \{\text{King of Spades, Queen of Spades, Jack of Spades}\} \neq \phi$$

There are common cards (face cards that are also spades).

Therefore, events F and A are NOT Mutually Exclusive.
Q1.d: A card is drawn, T = 10, A = ace.

Given: A card cannot be both ’10’ and ‘Ace’ at the same time.

$$T \cap A = \phi$$
Therefore, events T and A are Mutually Exclusive.
Q1.e: A bag contains 5 white, 8 green, 7 blue balls. G = green, B = blue.

A single ball drawn cannot be both green and blue.

$$G \cap B = \phi$$
Therefore, events G and B are Mutually Exclusive.
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3. Exercise 14.1 – Q2: Basic Probability

Q2.a: Getting at least one head when two coins are tossed.

Sample Space: $S = \{HH, HT, TH, TT\}$, $n(S) = 4$

Event E (at least one head): $E = \{HH, HT, TH\}$, $n(E) = 3$

$$P(E) = \frac{n(E)}{n(S)} = \frac{3}{4}$$
Probability = $\frac{3}{4}$
Q2.b: Getting prime number when a die is rolled.

Sample Space: $S = \{1,2,3,4,5,6\}$, $n(S) = 6$

Prime numbers: $\{2,3,5\}$, $n(E) = 3$

$$P(E) = \frac{3}{6} = \frac{1}{2}$$
Probability = $\frac{1}{2}$
Q2.c: Getting a face card from a pack of 52 cards.

Total cards: $n(S) = 52$

Face cards: King, Queen, Jack of 4 suits = $3 \times 4 = 12$

$$P(E) = \frac{12}{52} = \frac{3}{13}$$
Probability = $\frac{3}{13}$
Q2.d: A boy born in a month with 30 days.

Total months: $n(S) = 12$

Months with 30 days: April, June, September, November → $n(E) = 4$

$$P(E) = \frac{4}{12} = \frac{1}{3}$$
Probability = $\frac{1}{3}$
Q2.e: Getting a white ball from a bag with 4 white, 7 green, 5 blue balls.

Total balls: $4+7+5 = 16$, $n(S) = 16$

White balls: $n(E) = 4$

$$P(E) = \frac{4}{16} = \frac{1}{4}$$
Probability = $\frac{1}{4}$

4. Exercise 14.1 – Q3: Probability of “OR” Events

Q3.a: Bag with 6 red, 5 yellow, 7 blue balls. Probability of red or blue.

$n(S)=18$, $n(R)=6$, $n(B)=7$. Mutually exclusive.

$$P(R \cup B) = P(R) + P(B) = \frac{6}{18} + \frac{7}{18} = \frac{13}{18}$$
Probability = $\frac{13}{18}$
Q3.b: Three coins tossed, all heads or all tails.

$n(S)=8$, $A=\{HHH\}$, $B=\{TTT\}$.

$$P(A \cup B) = \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} = \frac{2}{8} = \frac{1}{4}$$
Probability = $\frac{1}{4}$
Q3.c: Die rolled, prime number or 4.

Prime numbers = $\{2,3,5\}$, $n(P)=3$, $F=\{4\}$, $n(F)=1$.

$$P(P \cup F) = \frac{3}{6} + \frac{1}{6} = \frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3}$$
Probability = $\frac{2}{3}$
Q3.d: Card drawn, 10 or ace.

$n(S)=52$, $n(10)=4$, $n(Ace)=4$.

$$P(10 \cup Ace) = \frac{4}{52} + \frac{4}{52} = \frac{8}{52} = \frac{2}{13}$$
Probability = $\frac{2}{13}$
Q3.e: Card drawn, face card or spade.

Not mutually exclusive: Some face cards are spades.

$P(F)=\frac{12}{52}$, $P(Sp)=\frac{13}{52}$, $P(F \cap Sp)=\frac{3}{52}$

$$P(F \cup Sp) = \frac{12}{52} + \frac{13}{52} – \frac{3}{52} = \frac{22}{52} = \frac{11}{26}$$
Probability = $\frac{11}{26}$

5. Exercise 14.1 – Q4: Word Problems

Q4.a: Letter from “MATHEMATICS”, getting M or T.

Total letters = 11, M’s = 2, T’s = 2.

$$P(M \cup T) = \frac{2}{11} + \frac{2}{11} = \frac{4}{11}$$
Probability = $\frac{4}{11}$
Q4.b: Letter from “STATISTICS”, getting S or T.

Total letters = 10, S’s = 3, T’s = 3.

$$P(S \cup T) = \frac{3}{10} + \frac{3}{10} = \frac{6}{10} = \frac{3}{5}$$
Probability = $\frac{3}{5}$
Q4.c: Letter from “RHODODENDRON”, getting O or D.

Total letters = 12, O’s = 3, D’s = 3.

$$P(O \cup D) = \frac{3}{12} + \frac{3}{12} = \frac{6}{12} = \frac{1}{2}$$
Probability = $\frac{1}{2}$
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Q4.d: 15 students: 8 English, 9 Math, 4 both. Probability of Math or English.

$n(S)=15$, $n(E)=8$, $n(M)=9$, $n(E \cap M)=4$.

$$P(E \cup M) = \frac{8}{15} + \frac{9}{15} – \frac{4}{15} = \frac{13}{15}$$
Probability = $\frac{13}{15}$

6. Exercise 14.2: Compound Events

Q1: Coin tossed and die rolled. Probability of tail on coin and 3 on die.

Independent events:

$P(T) = \frac{1}{2}$, $P(3) = \frac{1}{6}$

$$P(T \cap 3) = P(T) \times P(3) = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{6} = \frac{1}{12}$$
Probability = $\frac{1}{12}$
Q2: Box: 2 green, 3 red, 5 black balls. Two balls drawn with replacement.

Total balls = 10. With replacement → independent events.

(a) Both same color:

$$P = (\frac{2}{10})^2 + (\frac{3}{10})^2 + (\frac{5}{10})^2 = \frac{4+9+25}{100} = \frac{38}{100} = \frac{19}{50}$$

(b) Both different color:

$$P = 1 – \frac{19}{50} = \frac{31}{50}$$

(c) At least one red or black:

$$P = 1 – P(\text{both green}) = 1 – (\frac{2}{10})^2 = 1 – \frac{4}{100} = \frac{24}{25}$$
(a) $\frac{19}{50}$, (b) $\frac{31}{50}$, (c) $\frac{24}{25}$
Q3: Same box (2G,3R,5B). Two balls drawn WITHOUT replacement.

Without replacement → dependent events.

(a) Both same color:

$$P = \frac{2}{10} \times \frac{1}{9} + \frac{3}{10} \times \frac{2}{9} + \frac{5}{10} \times \frac{4}{9} = \frac{2+6+20}{90} = \frac{28}{90} = \frac{14}{45}$$

(b) Both different color:

$$P = 1 – \frac{14}{45} = \frac{31}{45}$$

(c) At least one red or black:

$$P = 1 – P(\text{both green}) = 1 – (\frac{2}{10} \times \frac{1}{9}) = 1 – \frac{2}{90} = \frac{44}{45}$$
(a) $\frac{14}{45}$, (b) $\frac{31}{45}$, (c) $\frac{44}{45}$
Q4: Bag: 7 red, 8 yellow balls. Two balls drawn without replacement. Both red or both yellow.

Total = 15. Without replacement.

$P(RR) = \frac{7}{15} \times \frac{6}{14} = \frac{42}{210} = \frac{1}{5}$

$P(YY) = \frac{8}{15} \times \frac{7}{14} = \frac{56}{210} = \frac{4}{15}$

$$P = \frac{1}{5} + \frac{4}{15} = \frac{3}{15} + \frac{4}{15} = \frac{7}{15}$$
Probability = $\frac{7}{15}$
Q5: Two cards drawn without replacement from 52 cards.

(a) Both are aces:

$$P = \frac{4}{52} \times \frac{3}{51} = \frac{1}{13} \times \frac{1}{17} = \frac{1}{221}$$

(b) One ace and one king (order matters):

$$P = (\frac{4}{52} \times \frac{4}{51}) + (\frac{4}{52} \times \frac{4}{51}) = \frac{16}{2652} + \frac{16}{2652} = \frac{32}{2652} = \frac{8}{663}$$
(a) $\frac{1}{221}$, (b) $\frac{8}{663}$
Q6: Bag: 1 red, 1 green, 1 black marble. Two drawn, then another, without replacement.

All possible sequences of drawing all 3 marbles:

RGB, RBG, GRB, GBR, BRG, BGR → 6 equally likely sequences.

$$P(\text{any specific sequence}) = \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{2} \times 1 = \frac{1}{6}$$
Each sequence has probability $\frac{1}{6}$.
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7. Exercise 14.3: Tree Diagrams

Q1: Coin tossed three times. Tree diagram and probabilities.

Sample Space (8 outcomes): HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT

Start

H
T
H
T

Full tree has 8 terminal branches.

(a) All three tails: $P(TTT) = \frac{1}{8}$

(b) At least two heads: Outcomes = {HHH, HHT, HTH, THH} → $P = \frac{4}{8} = \frac{1}{2}$

(c) Three tails: Same as (a) → $\frac{1}{8}$

(a) $\frac{1}{8}$, (b) $\frac{1}{2}$, (c) $\frac{1}{8}$
Q2: Spinner (R, B, Br) and coin tossed together.

Sample Space (6 outcomes): RH, RT, BH, BT, BrH, BrT

(a) Red on spinner and Head on coin:

$$P = \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{6}$$

(b) Brown on spinner and (Tail or Head) on coin:

$$P = P(Br) \times 1 = \frac{1}{3} \times 1 = \frac{1}{3}$$
(a) $\frac{1}{6}$, (b) $\frac{1}{3}$
Q3: Coin tossed and die rolled one after another.

Sample Space (12 outcomes): H1, H2,…, T6

(a) Head and even number (2,4,6):

$$P = \frac{3}{12} = \frac{1}{4}$$

(b) Tail and square number (1,4):

$$P = \frac{2}{12} = \frac{1}{6}$$
(a) $\frac{1}{4}$, (b) $\frac{1}{6}$
Q4: Card drawn (spade, club, diamond, heart) and coin tossed.

(a) Red card and Head:

$$P = \frac{26}{52} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{4}$$

(b) Black card and Tail:

$$P = \frac{26}{52} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{4}$$
(a) $\frac{1}{4}$, (b) $\frac{1}{4}$
Q5: Bag: 7 red, 5 green marbles. Three drawn (i) with replacement (ii) without replacement.

Total marbles = 12

(i) With replacement: Probabilities remain constant.

Example: $P(RRR) = (\frac{7}{12})^3 = \frac{343}{1728}$

(ii) Without replacement: Probabilities change.

Example: $P(RRR) = \frac{7}{12} \times \frac{6}{11} \times \frac{5}{10} = \frac{210}{1320} = \frac{7}{44}$

Tree diagram would show all 8 branches (RRR, RRG, RGR, RGG, GRR, GRG, GGR, GGG) with respective probabilities.

Tree diagram required showing all sequences.
Disclaimer: The solutions provided here are prepared by the Important Edu Notes Team and are based on the CDC curriculum.

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