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Sob04590 ch11 Sec4

This document discusses using tree diagrams and tables to find sample spaces and compute probabilities. It provides examples of using tree diagrams to find the sample space for genders of 3 children and compute the probability they are all the same gender. It also gives examples of using tables to find probabilities of drawing certain cards from a deck and getting certain outcomes when rolling dice.

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Shareena Katrin Pasno
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
31 views

Sob04590 ch11 Sec4

This document discusses using tree diagrams and tables to find sample spaces and compute probabilities. It provides examples of using tree diagrams to find the sample space for genders of 3 children and compute the probability they are all the same gender. It also gives examples of using tables to find probabilities of drawing certain cards from a deck and getting certain outcomes when rolling dice.

Uploaded by

Shareena Katrin Pasno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Math in Our World

Section 11.4
Tree Diagrams, Tables, and
Sample Spaces
Learning Objectives
 Use tree diagrams to find sample spaces and
compute probabilities.
 Use tables to find sample spaces and compute
probabilities.
Tree Diagram
A tree diagram consists of branches
corresponding to the outcomes of two or
more probability experiments that are done
in sequence.
When constructing a tree diagram, use branches
emanating from a single point to show the outcomes for
the first experiment, and then show the outcomes for
the second experiment using branches emanating from
each branch that was used for the first experiment, etc.
EXAMPLE 1 Using a Tree Diagram to Find a
Sample Space
Sample
Use a tree diagram to find the sample Space
space for the genders of three children
B BBB
in a family. B
G BGG
SOLUTION B
There are two B BGB
possibilities for the first G
G BGG
child, boy (B) or girl (G),
two for the second, boy B GBB
B
or girl, and two for the G GBG
third, boy or girl. So the G
tree diagram can be
B GGB
G
drawn as shown. G GGG
EXAMPLE 2 Computing a Probability

If a family has three children, find the probability


that all three children are the same gender; that is,
all boys or all girls. (Assume that all outcomes are
equally likely.)
SOLUTION
The sample space shown in Example 1 has eight
outcomes, and there are two possible ways to have three
children of the same gender, BBB or GGG.
So, the probability of the three children being of the same
gender is
2 1
P (same gender)  
8 4
EXAMPLE 3 Using a Tree Diagram to
Compute Probabilities
A coin is tossed, and then a die is rolled. Sample
Use a tree diagram to find the probability Space
of getting heads on the coin and an even 1 H1
2 H2
number on the die. 3 H3
H
SOLUTION 4 H4
First, we’ll use a tree diagram 5 H5
to find the sample space. The 6 H6
coin will land on either heads 1 T1
or tails, and there are six 2 T2
3 T3
outcomes for the die: 1, 2, 3, T
4 T4
4, 5, or 6.
5 T5
Now list the sample space. 6 T6
EXAMPLE 3 Using a Tree Diagram to
Compute Probabilities
SOLUTION
Sample
The total number of outcomes for Space
the experiment is 12. 1 H1
The number of ways to get a head on 2 H2
the coin and an even number on the H
3 H3
die is 3: H2, H4, or H6. 4 H4
5 H5
So, the probability of getting a 6 H6
head and an even number when 1 T1
a coin is tossed and a die is 2 T2
3 1 3 T3
rolled is or . T
12 4 4 T4
5 T5
6 T6
Tables
Another way of determining a sample space
is by making a table.

Consider the sample space of selecting a card from


a standard deck of 52 cards. (The cards are
assumed to be shuffled to make sure that the
selection occurs at random.)
Tables
There are four suits—hearts, diamonds, spades, and
clubs, and 13 cards of each suit consisting of the
denominations ace (A), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 3
picture or face cards—jack (J), queen (Q), and king (K).
EXAMPLE 4 Using a Table to Compute
Probabilities
A card is drawn from an ordinary deck. Use the
sample space in the previous slide to find the
probabilities of getting
(a) A jack.
(b) The 6 of clubs.
(c) A 3 or a diamond.
SOLUTION
(a) There are four jacks and 52 possible outcomes, so
4 1
P ( jack)  
52 13
EXAMPLE 4 Using a Table to Compute
Probabilities
SOLUTION
(b) Since there is only one 6 of clubs, the probability of
getting a 6 of clubs is
1
P (6 of clubs) 
52

(c) There are four 3s and 13 diamonds, but the 3 of


diamonds is counted twice in this listing. So, there are 16
possibilities of drawing a 3 or a diamond, and

16 4
P (3 or diamond)  
52 13
EXAMPLE 5 Using a Table to Compute
Probabilities
When two dice are rolled, find the probability of
getting
(a) A sum of 8.
(b) Doubles.
(c) A sum less than 5.

SOLUTION
Find the sample space
using a table.
There are 36 possible
outcomes.
EXAMPLE 5 Using a Table to Compute
Probabilities
SOLUTION
(a) There are five ways to get a sum of 8: (2, 6), (3, 5),
(4, 4), (5, 3), and (6, 2). So n(E) = 5, n(S) = 36, and
n(E ) 5
P (sum of 8)  
n(S ) 36

(b) There are six ways to


get doubles. So n(E) = 6,
n(S) = 36, and
6 1
P (doubles)  
36 6
EXAMPLE 5 Using a Table to Compute
Probabilities
SOLUTION
(c) A sum less than 5 means a sum of 4 or 3 or 2. The
number of ways this can occur is 6.
Sum of 4: (1, 3), (2, 2), (3, 1)
Sum of 3: (1, 2), (2, 1)
Sum of 2: (1, 1)
n(E) = 6, n(S) = 36, and so
1
P (sum less than 5) 
6

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