SSAT Middle Level Math : How to find the probability of an outcome

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Outcomes

A large box contains some balls, each of which is marked with a number; one ball is marked with a "1", two balls are marked with a "2". and so forth up to ten balls with a "10". Two blank balls are also included.

Give the probability that a ball drawn at random will be an even-numbered ball.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{19}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{17}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{19}\)

Explanation:

The number of balls in the box is 

\(\displaystyle 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 2 = 57\).

The number of balls with even numbers is 

\(\displaystyle 2+ 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 30\).

Therefore, if a ball is drawn at random, the probability that an even-numbered ball will be selected is

\(\displaystyle \frac{30}{57} = \frac{10}{19}\)

Example Question #12 : Outcomes

A large box contains some balls, each of which is marked with a letter of the alphabet. Each vowel is represented by three balls, one red and two blue; each consonant is represented by one ball, which is red. Give the probability that a randomly drawn ball will be blue.

Note: For purposes of this question, "Y" is considered a consonant.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{18}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{31}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{21}{31}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{18}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{18}\)

Explanation:

Each of the 26 letters is represented by one red ball; in addition, each of the five vowels is represented by two blue balls for a total of \(\displaystyle 5 \times 2 = 10\) blue balls. The total number of balls is

\(\displaystyle 26 + 10 = 36\).

The probability that a random draw will result in a blue ball being selected is 

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{36} = \frac{5}{18}\).

Example Question #13 : Outcomes

A large box contains some balls, each marked with a whole number from "1" to "10". Each odd number is represented by one ball, which is red; each even number is represented by two balls, one red and one green. Five blank yellow balls are then put in the box.

Give the probability that a randomly-drawn ball will be green.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{6}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

Explanation:

Each whole number from one to ten will be represented by a red ball, for a total of ten balls; each even number will be represented by a green ball, for a total of five balls; there will also be five unmarked yellow balls. The number of balls in the box will be \(\displaystyle 10 + 5 + 5 = 20\), 5 of which are green, making the probability of a random draw resulting in a green ball

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{20} = \frac{1}{4}\).

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Probability Of An Outcome

A large box contains some balls, each of which is marked with a number; one ball is marked with a "1", two balls are marked with a "2". and so forth up to ten balls with a "10". A blank ball is also included.

Give the probability that a ball drawn at random will NOT be an odd-numbered ball.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{31}{55}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{15}{28}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{31}{56}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{11}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{31}{56}\)

Explanation:

The number of balls in the box is 

\(\displaystyle 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 1 = 56\);

The number of odd-numbered balls is 

\(\displaystyle 1+3+ 5 + 7 + 9 = 25\).

Therefore, there are \(\displaystyle 56- 25 = 31\) balls that are not marked with an odd number, making the probability that one of these will be drawn \(\displaystyle \frac{31}{56}\).

Example Question #11 : Data Analysis And Probability

Find the probability of drawing a 5 from a deck of cards.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{13}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{52}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{13}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{13}\)

Explanation:

To find the probability of an event, we will use the following formula:

\(\displaystyle \text{probability of event} = \frac{\text{number of ways event can happen}}{\text{total number of possible outcomes}}\)

 

Now, we will calculate the following:

\(\displaystyle \text{number of ways event can happen} = 4\)

because there are 4 different ways we can draw a 5 from a deck of cards:

  • 5 of hearts
  • 5 of diamonds
  • 5 of spades
  • 5 of clubs

 

Now, we will calculate the following:

\(\displaystyle \text{total number of possible outcomes} = 52\)

because there are 52 different cards we could potentially draw from a deck. 

 

So, we will substitute.  We get

\(\displaystyle \text{probability of drawing a 5} = \frac{4}{52}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{probability of drawing a 5} = \frac{2}{26}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{probability of drawing a 5} = \frac{1}{13}\)

Therefore, the probability of drawing a 5 from a deck of cards is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{13}\).

Example Question #12 : Data Analysis And Probability

A classroom contains the following:

  • 14 girls
  • 17 boys

Find the probability the teacher calls on a boy.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{17}\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{31}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{31}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{14}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{31}\)

Explanation:

To find the probability of an event, we will use the following formula:

\(\displaystyle \text{probability of event} = \frac{\text{number of ways event can happen}}{\text{total number of possible outcomes}}\)

 

Now, given the event of calling on a boy, we can calculate:

\(\displaystyle \text{number of ways event can happen} = 17\)

because there are 17 boys in the classroom who can be called on.

 

We can also calculate the following:

\(\displaystyle \text{total number of possible outcomes} = 31\)

because there are 31 total students (14 girls + 17 boys = 31 students) who could potentially be called on.

 

Now, we can substitute.  We get

\(\displaystyle \text{probability of calling on a boy} = \frac{17}{31}\)

Therefore, the probability of the teacher calling on a boy is \(\displaystyle \frac{17}{31}\).

Example Question #11 : Probability

All of the clubs are removed from a standard fifty-two-card deck. Two cards are then dealt without replacement. What is the probability that both cards will be red?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{25}{51}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{25}{57}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{25}{57}\)

Explanation:

Wihtout the clubs, the deck comprises 39 cards, 26 of which are red.

The probability that the first card will be red will be \(\displaystyle \frac{26}{39} = \frac{2}{3}\). The probability that the second will then also be red will be \(\displaystyle \frac{25}{38}\). Multiply the probabilities, and result is \(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{25}{38} =\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{25}{19} = \frac{25}{57}\)

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