Chapter 24

Probability
Only One Option Correct Type Questions
1. Let Ec denote the complement of an event E. Let E, F, G be pairwise independent events with P(G) > 0 and
P(E ∩ F ∩ G) = 0. Then P(Ec ∩ Fc | G) equals [IIT-JEE-2007 (Paper-2)]
(A) P(Ec) + P(Fc) (B) P(Ec) – P(Fc)

(C) P(Ec) – P(F) (D) P(E) – P(Fc)

2. An experiment has 10 equally likely outcomes. Let A and B be two non-empty events of the experiment. If A
consists of 4 outcomes, the number of outcomes that B must have so that A and B are independent, is
[IIT-JEE-2008 (Paper-2)]

(A) 2, 4 or 8 (B) 3, 6 or 9
(C) 4 or 8 (D) 5 or 10
3. Let ω be a complex cube root of unity with ω ≠ 1. A fair die is thrown three times. If r1, r2 and r3 are the numbers
obtained on the die, then the probability that ω r1 + ω r2 + ω r3 = 0 is [IIT-JEE-2010 (Paper-1)]
1 1
(A) (B)
18 9
2 1
(C) (D)
9 36
4 1
4. A signal which can be green or red with probability and respectively, is received by station A and then
5 5
3
transmitted to station B. The probability of each station receiving the signal correctly is . If the signal received
4
at station B is green, then the probability that the original signal was green is
[IIT-JEE-2010 (Paper-2)]
3 6
(A) (B)
5 7
20 9
(C) (D)
23 20
5. Four fair dice D1, D2, D3 and D4, each having six faces numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, are rolled simultaneously.
The probability that D4 shows a number appearing on one of D1, D2 and D3 is
[IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-2)]
91 108
(A) (B)
216 216
125 127
(C) (D)
216 216

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1 3 1 1
6. Four persons independently solve a certain problem correctly with probabilities , , , . Then the probability
2 4 4 8
that the problem is solved correctly by at least one of them is [JEE (Adv)-2013 (Paper-1)]

235 21
(A) (B)
256 256

3 253
(C) (D)
256 256
7. Three boys and two girls stand in a queue. The probability, that the number of boys ahead of every girl is at
least one more than the number of girls ahead of her, is [JEE (Adv)-2014 (Paper-2)]

1 1
(A) (B)
2 3

2 3
(C) (D)
3 4
8. A computer producing factory has only two plants T1 and T2. Plant T1 produces 20% and plant T2 produces
80% of the total computers produced. 7% of computers produced in the factory turn out to be defective. It is
known that P(computer turns out to be defective given that it is produced in plant T1) = 10P (computer turns
out to be defective given that it is produced in plant T2) where P(E) denotes the probability of an event E. A
computer produced in the factory is randomly selected and it does not turn out to be defective. Then the
probability that it is produced in plant T2 is [JEE (Adv)-2016 (Paper-1)]

36 47
(A) (B)
73 79

78 75
(C) (D)
93 83

9. Three randomly chosen non-negative integers x, y and z are found to satisfy the equation x + y + z = 10. Then
the probability that z is even, is [JEE (Adv)-2017 (Paper-2)]

6 36
(A) (B)
11 55

1 5
(C) (D)
2 11

2 1
10. Let C1 and C2 be two biased coins such that the probabilities of getting head in a single toss are and ,
3 3

respectively. Suppose α is the number of heads that appear when C1 is tossed twice, independently, and
suppose β is the number of heads that appear when C2 is tossed twice, independently. Then the probability
that the roots of the quadratic polynomial x2 – αx + β are real and equal, is [JEE (Adv)-2020 (Paper-1)]

40 20
(A) (B)
81 81

1 1
(C) (D)
2 4

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11. Consider three sets E1 = {1, 2, 3}, F1 = {1, 3, 4} and G1 = {2, 3, 4, 5}. Two elements are chosen at random,
without replacement, from the set E1, and let S1 denote the set of these chosen elements. Let E2 = E1 – S1
and F2 = F1 ∪ S1. Now two elements are chosen at random, without replacement, from the set F2 and let
S2 denote the set of these chosen elements.

Let G2 = G1 ∪ S2. Finally, two elements are chosen at random, without replacement from the set G2 and
let S3 denote the set of these chosen elements.

Let E3 = E2 ∪ S3. Given that E1 = E3, let p be the conditional probability of the event S1 = {1, 2}. Then the
value of p is [JEE (Adv)-2021 (Paper-1)]

1 3
(A) (B)
5 5
1 2
(C) (D)
2 5
12. Suppose that [JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-2)]
Box-I contains 8 red, 3 blue and 5 green balls,
Box-II contains 24 red, 9 blue and 15 green balls,
Box-III contains 1 blue, 12 green and 3 yellow balls,
Box-IV contains 10 green, 16 orange and 6 white balls.

A ball is chosen randomly from Box-I; call this ball b. If b is red then a ball is chosen randomly from Box-II, if
b is blue then a ball is chosen randomly from Box-III, and if b is green then a ball is chosen randomly from
Box-IV. The conditional probability of the event ‘one of the chosen balls is white’ given that the event ‘at least
one of the chosen balls is green’ has happened, is equal to

15 3
(A) (B)
256 16

5 1
(C) (D)
52 8

One or More Option(s) Correct Type Questions

11
13. Let E and F be two independent events. The probability that exactly one of them occurs is and the
25
2
probability of none of them occurring is . If P(T ) denotes the probability of occurrence of the event T, then
25
[IIT-JEE-2011 (Paper-2)]
4 3
(A) P (E ) = , P (F ) =
5 5
1 2
(B) P (E ) = , P (F ) =
5 5
2 1
(C) P (E ) = , P (F ) =
5 5
3 4
(D) P (E ) = , P (F ) =
5 5

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14. A ship is fitted with three engines E1, E2 and E3. The engines function independently of each other with
1 1 1
respective probabilities , and . For the ship to be operational at least two of its engines must function.
2 4 4
Let X denote the event that the ship is operational and let X1, X2 and X3 denote respectively the events that
the engines E1, E2 and E3 are functioning. Which of the following is (are) true? [IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-1)]

3
(A) P [ X1c | X ] =
16

7
(B) P[Exactly two engines of the ship are functioning |X] =
8

5
(C) P [ X | X 2 ] =
16

7
(D) P [ X | X1] =
16

1 1 1
15. Let X and Y be two events such that P ( X | Y ) = , P (Y | X ) = and P ( X ∩ Y ) = . Which of the following
2 3 6
is (are) correct? [IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-2)]

2
(A) P ( X ∪ Y ) = (B) X and Y are independent
3

1
(C) X and Y are not independent (D) P ( X c ∩ Y ) =
3

1 1 2
16. Let X and Y be two events such that P(X) = , P ( X |Y ) = and P (Y | X ) = . Then
3 2 5
[JEE (Adv)-2017 (Paper-1)]

1 4
(A) P ( X ∩ Y ) = (B) P (Y ) =
5 15

1 2
(C) P ( X ′ | Y ) = (D) P ( X ∪ Y ) =
2 5
17. There are three bags B1, B2 and B3. The bagB1 contains 5 red and 5 green balls, B2 contains 3 red and 5
3 3 4
green balls and B3 contains 5 red and 3 green balls. Bags B1, B2 and B3 have probabilities , and
10 10 10
respectively of being chosen. A bag is selected at random and a ball is chosen at random from the bag. Then
which of the following options is/are correct? [JEE (Adv)-2019 (Paper-1)]

3
(A) Probability that the selected bag is B3 and the chosen ball is green equals
10

5
(B) Probability that the selected bag is B3, given that the chosen ball is green, equals
13

3
(C) Probability that the chosen ball is green, given that the selected bag is B3, equals
8

39
(D) Probability that the chosen ball is green equals
80

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18. Let E, F and G be three events having probabilities

1 1 1 1
P (E ) = , P (F ) = and P (G ) = , and P (E ∩ F ∩ G ) = .
8 6 4 10
For any event H, if Hc denotes its complement, then which of the following statements is(are) TRUE?
[JEE (Adv)-2021 (Paper-1)]

(A) P ( E ∩ F ∩ G ) ≤
c 1
40

(B) P ( E ∩ F ∩ G ) ≤
c 1
15
13
(C) P ( E ∪ F ∪ G ) ≤
24

(D) P ( E ∩ F ∩ G ) ≤
c c c 5
12

Linked Comprehension Type Questions

Paragraph for Q.Nos. 19 to 21

A fair die is tossed repeatedly until a six is obtained. Let X denote the number is tosses required.
[IIT-JEE-2009 (Paper-1)]
Choose the correct answer :
19. The probability that X = 3, equals

25 25
(A) (B)
216 36

5 125
(C) (D)
36 216
20. The probability that X ≥ 3 equals

125 25
(A) (B)
216 36

5 25
(C) (D)
36 216
21. The conditional probability that X ≥ 6 given X = 3 equals

125 25
(A) (B)
216 216

5 25
(C) (D)
36 36

Paragraph for Q.Nos. 22 and 23

Let U 1 and U 2 be two urns such that U 1 contains 3 white and 2 red balls, and U 2 contains only
1 white ball. A fair coin is tossed. If head appears then 1 ball is drawn at random from U1 and put into U2. However,
if tail appears then 2 balls are drawn at random from U1 and put into U2. Now 1 ball is drawn at random from U2.
[IIT-JEE-2011 (Paper-1)]

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Choose the correct answer :

22. The probability of the drawn ball from U2 being white is

13 23
(A) (B)
30 30

19 11
(C) (D)
30 30

23. Given that the drawn ball from U2 is white, the probability that head appeared on the coin is

17 11
(A) (B)
23 23

15 12
(C) (D)
23 23

Paragraph for Q.Nos. 24 and 25

A box B1 contains 1 white ball, 3 red balls and 2 black balls. Another box B2 contains 2 white balls, 3 red balls
and 4 black balls. A third box B3 contains 3 white balls, 4 red balls and 5 black balls.
[JEE (Adv)-2013 (Paper-2)]
Choose the correct answer :
24. If 1 ball is drawn from each of the boxes B1, B2 and B3, the probability that all 3 drawn balls are of the same
colour is

82 90
(A) (B)
648 648

558 566
(C) (D)
648 648
25. If 2 balls are drawn (without replacement) from a randomly selected box and one of the balls is white and the
other ball is red, the probability that these 2 balls are drawn from box B2 is

116 126
(A) (B)
181 181

65 55
(C) (D)
181 181
Paragraph for Q.Nos. 26 and 27
Box 1 contains three cards bearing numbers 1, 2, 3; box 2 contains five cards bearing numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; and
box 3 contains seven cards bearing numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. A card is drawn from each of the boxes. Let xi be
number on the card drawn from the ith box, i = 1, 2, 3. [JEE (Adv)-2014 (Paper-2)]
Choose the correct answer :
26. The probability that x1 + x2 + x3 is odd, is

29 53
(A) (B)
105 105

57 1
(C) (D)
105 2

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27. The probability that x1, x2, x3 are in an arithmetic progression, is

9 10
(A) (B)
105 105

11 7
(C) (D)
105 105
Paragraph for Q.Nos. 28 and 29
Let n1 and n2 be the number of red and black balls, respectively, in box I. Let n3 and n4 be the number of red and
black balls, respectively, in box II. [JEE (Adv)-2015 (Paper-2)]
Choose the correct answer :
28. One of the two boxes, box I and box II, was selected at random and a ball was drawn randomly out of this
1
box. The ball was found to be red. If the probability that this red ball was drawn from box II is , then the
3
correct option(s) with the possible values of n1, n2, n3 and n4 is(are)
(A) n1 = 3, n2 = 3, n3 = 5, n4 = 15
(B) n1 = 3, n2 = 6, n3 = 10, n4 = 50
(C) n1 = 8, n2 = 6, n3 = 5, n4 = 20
(D) n1 = 6, n2 = 12, n3 = 5, n4 = 20
29. A ball is drawn at random from box I and transferred to box II. If the probability of drawing a red ball from
1
box I, after this transfer, is , then the correct option(s) with the possible values of n1 and n2 is(are)
3
(A) n1 = 4 and n2 = 6
(B) n1 = 2 and n2 = 3
(C) n1 = 10 and n2 = 20
(D) n1 = 3 and n2 = 6
Paragraph for Q.Nos. 30 and 31
Football teams T1 and T2 have to play two games against each other. It is assumed that the outcomes of the two
1 1 1
games are independent. The probabilities of T1 winning, drawing and losing a game against T2 are , and ,
2 6 3
respectively. Each team gets 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 point for a loss in a game. Let X and Y
denote the total points scored by teams T1 and T2, respectively, after two games.
[JEE (Adv)-2016 (Paper-2)]
Choose the correct answer :
30. P(X > Y) is
1 5
(A) (B)
4 12
1 7
(C) (D)
2 12
31. P(X = Y) is
11 1
(A) (B)
36 3
13 1
(C) (D)
36 2
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Paragraph for Q.Nos. 32 and 33

There are five students S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 in a music class and for them there are five seats R1, R2, R3, R4
and R5 arranged in a row, where initially the seat Ri is allotted to the student Si, i = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. But, on the
examination day, the five students are randomly allotted the five seats. [JEE (Adv)-2018 (Paper-1)]
Choose the correct answer :
31. The probability that, on the examination day, the student S1 gets the previously allotted seat R1, and NONE
of the remaining students gets the seat previously allotted to him/her is
3
(A)
40
1
(B)
8
7
(C)
40
1
(D)
5
32. For i = 1, 2, 3, 4, let T i denote the event that the students S i and S i + 1 do NOT sit
adjacent to each other on the day of the examination. Then, the probability of the event T1 ∩ T2 ∩ T3 ∩ T4 is

1
(A)
15

1
(B)
10

7
(C)
60

1
(D)
5

Integer / Numerical Value Type Questions

33. Of the three independent events E1, E2 and E3, the probability that only E1 occurs is α, only E2 occurs is β
and only E3 occurs is γ. Let the probability p that none of events E1, E2 or E3 occurs satisfy the equations
(α – 2β)p = αβ and (β – 3γ)p = 2βγ. All the given probabilities are assumed to lie in the interval (0, 1). Then

Probability of occurrence of E1
= [JEE (Adv)-2013 (Paper-1)]
Probability of occurrence of E3

34. The minimum number of times a fair coin needs to be tossed, so that the probability of getting at least two
heads is at least 0.96, is [JEE (Adv)-2015 (Paper-1)]

35. Let S be the sample space of all 3 × 3 matrices with entries from the set {0, 1}. Let the events E1 and E2
be given by

E1 = {A ∈ S : det A = 0} and
E2 = {A ∈ S : sum of entries of A is 7}.

If a matrix is chosen at random from S, then the conditional probability P(E1|E2) equals ___.
[JEE (Adv)-2019 (Paper-1)]

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36. Let |X| denote the number of elements in a set X. Let S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} be a sample space, where each
element is equally likely to occur. If A and B are independent events associated with S, then the number of
ordered pairs (A, B) such that 1 ≤ |B| < |A|, equals ____ [JEE (Adv)-2019 (Paper-2)]

37. The probability that a missile hits a target successfully is 0.75. In order to destroy the target completely, at
least three successful hits are required. Then the minimum number of missiles that have to be fired so that
the probability of completely destroying the target is NOT less than 0.95, is _____

[JEE (Adv)-2020 (Paper-2)]

38. Two fair dice, each with faces numbered 1,2,3,4,5 and 6, are rolled together and the sum of the numbers on
the faces is observed. This process is repeated till the sum is either a prime number or a perfect square.
Suppose the sum turns out to be a perfect square before it turns out to be a prime number. If p is the probability
that this perfect square is an odd number, then the value of 14p is _____

[JEE (Adv)-2020 (Paper-2)]

Question Stem for Question Nos. 39 and 40

Question Stem

Three numbers are chosen at random, one after another with replacement, from the set S = {1, 2, 3, ..., 100}. Let
p1 be the probability that the maximum of chosen numbers is at least 81 and p2 be the probability that the minimum
of chosen numbers is at most 40. [JEE (Adv)-2021 (Paper-1)]

625
39. The value of p1 is _____.
4

125
40. The value of p2 is _____.
4

41. A number is chosen at random from the set {1, 2, 3......, 2000}. Let p be the probability that the number is a
multiple of 3 or a multiple of 7. Then the value of 500p is ______. [JEE (Adv)-2021 (Paper-2)]

42. In a study about a pandemic, data of 900 persons was collected. It was found that [JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-1)]

190 persons had symptom of fever,

220 persons had symptom of cough,

220 persons had symptom of breathing problem,

330 persons had symptom of fever or cough or both,

350 persons had symptom of cough or breathing problem or both,

340 persons had symptom of fever or breathing problem or both,

30 persons had all three symptoms (fever, cough and breathing problem).

If a person is chosen randomly from these 900 persons, then the probability that the person has at most one
symptom is _____________.

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Matrix-Match / Matrix Based Type Questions

43. Two players, P1 and P2, play a game against each other. In every round of the game, each player rolls a fair
die once, where the six faces of the die have six distinct numbers. Let x and y denote the readings on the
die rolled by P1 and P2, respectively. If x > y, then P1 scores 5 points and P2 scores 0 point. If x = y, then
each player scores 2 points. If x < y, then P1 scores 0 point and P2 scores 5 points. Let Xi and Yi be the
total scores of P1 and P2, respectively, after playing the ith round. [JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-1)]

List-I List-II

3
(I) Probability of (X2 ≥ Y2) is (P)
8

11
(II) Probability of (X2 > Y2) is (Q)
16

5
(III) Probability of (X3 = Y3) is (R)
16

355
(IV) Probability of (X3 > Y3) is (S)
864

77
(T)
432
The correct option is:
(A) (I) → (Q); (II) → (R); (III) → (T); (IV) → (S)
(B) (I) → (Q); (II) → (R); (III) → (T); (IV) → (T)
(C) (I) → (P); (II) → (R); (III) → (Q); (IV) → (S)
(D) (I) → (P); (II) → (R); (III) → (Q); (IV) → (T)

‰ ‰ ‰

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