DPP-1

1. 6 married couples are standing in a room. If 4 people are chosen at random, then the
chance that exactly one married couple is among the 4 is :
16 8 17 24
(A) (B) (C) (D)
33 33 33 33
Sol.
Favour able
Pr obability 
Total ways
6
6
C1.  10 C1  5 C1 
C1  Select one Couple  12
C4
10 6  40
C2 Select 2 rest 
 12  11  10  9 
 4  3  2 
5 16
C1  As it should not be a couple 
33

2. A committee of 5 is to be chosen from a group of 9 people. The probability that a

certain married couple will either serve together or not at all is :
(A) 1/2 (B) 5/9 (C) 4/9 (D) 2/3
Sol. 9  5 to be selected

7 + AB
Fowour able ways
P
Total
7 C  7C 5
Both A,B Selected  3 Both A,B rejected
9C5
35  21 56 4
  
126 126 9
3. A quadratic equation is chosen from the set of all the quadratic equations which are
unchanged by squaring their roots. The chance that the chosen equation has equal
roots is :
(A) 1/2 (B) 1/3 (C) 1/4 (D) 2/3
Sol. The roots can be (0,0) (1,1) (0,1) or (w1w2)
{w is cube roots of unity}
 Equal roots can be (0,0) or (1,1)
2 1
Hence, probability  
4 2
4. The probability that a positive two digit number selected at random has its tens digit
at least three more than its unit digit is
(A) 14/45 (B) 7/45 (C) 36/45 (D) 1/6
Sol. ab a  b3
Total 2-digit nos. = 90
Favourable cases 

1
 b  0,a  3 to9
b  1, a  4 to9

b  6, a  9
7  6  ____  1
= 28
28 14
 Probability  
90 45

5. A 5 digit number is formed by using the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 without repetition. The
probability that the number is divisible by 6 is :
(A) 8 % (B) 17 % (C) 18 % (D) 36 %
Sol. For divisibility by ‘3’, sum of digit must be divisible by ‘3’
Case 1 use 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
4  3 2 1 2  48

2, 4
Case 2 Use 0, 1, 2, 4, 5
3  3  2  1  2  4  3  2  1 1
 
2, 4 0
 36  24  60
Also, total 5 digit nos. 
6  5  4  3  2 – 1 5  4  3  2

startiny with(0)
= 600
60  48
 Probability 
600
108 24 18
  
600 150 100
= 18%

6. A card is drawn at random from a well shuffled deck of cards. Find the probability
that the card is a
(i) king or a red card (ii) club or a diamond (iii) king or a queen
(iv) king or an ace (v) spade or a club (vi) neither a heart nor a
king.
Sol. (i) P(king or red) = P(K  R)
 P(K)  P(R)  P(K  R)
4 26 2
  
52 52 52
28 7
 
52 13

2
 (ii) P(C  D)  P(C)  P(D)  P(C  D)
13  13  0 1
 
52 2
(iii) P(K  Q)  P(K)  P(Q)  P(K  Q)
4 40 2
 
52 13
(iv) P(K  A)  P(K)  P(A)  P(K  A)
4 40 2
 
52 13
(v) P(S  C)  P(S)  P(C)  P(S  C)
13  13  0 1
 
52 2
(vi) P(H  K)  P(H  K)
 1  P(H  K)
 1   P(H)  P(K)  P(H  K) 
13  4  1 
 1  
 52 
36 9
 
52 13
7. A bag contain 5 white, 7 black, and 4 red balls, find the chance that three balls drawn
at random are all white.
Sol. 5W, 7B, 4R
Total Ways = 16C3
Favour able ways = 5C3
5
C3 1
 Probability  16

C3 56
8. If four coins are tossed, Two events A and B are defined as
A: No two consecutive heads occur B: At least two consecutive heads occur.
Find P(A) and P(B). State whether the events are equally likely, mutually exclusive
and exhaustive.
Sol.
HHHH HHTT HTTTT TTTT
HHHT HTHT THTT
HHTH HTTH TTHT
HTHH THHT TTTH
THHH THTH
TTHH

Not Favour able to ‘A’

8 1
 P(A)  
16 2
8 1
&P(B)  
16 2
Hence A & B are equally

3
 likely, mutually exclusive as well as exhaustive

9. Thirteen persons take their places at a round table, Find the odds against two
particular persons sitting together.
Sol. Total arrangements = 13  1  12
Favour able ways 12  1  2
 11  12
arrangement of P1P1

11 2 1
 P(P1,P2 together)  
12 6
1

1 5
Hence, odds against = 5 : 1

10. A has 3 shares in a lottery containing 3 prizes and 9 blanks, B has 2 shares in a lottery
containing 2 prizes and 6 blanks. Compare their chances of success.
Sol. Success  winning at least one prize
P(A) is successful = 1 – P (no prize)
9
C
 1  12 3
C3
21 34
 P(A)  1  
55 55
P(B is successful) = 1 – P (no prize)
6
C
 1 8 2
C2
30
 1
56
26 13
 P(B)  
56 28
34
P(A) 55 952
  
P(B) 13 715
28

11. There are three works, one consisting of 3 volumes, one of 4 and the other of one
volume. They are placed on a shelf at random, find the chance that volumes of the
same works are all together.
Sol. A1A 2 A3 B1B2 B3B4 C
Total arrangement = 8

4
 Favour able = 3  3  4 arranging B1  B4
arranging A1 , A2 , A3
overall arrangement
334 3
P  
8 140

12. 5 persons entered the lift cabin on the ground floor of an 8 floor building. Suppose
that each of them independently and with equal probability, can leave the cabin at any
other floor, starting from the first, find the probability that all 5 persons leave at
different floors.
Sol. Total ways = 85 (as every person has & ways of leaving)
Favourable ways = 8 C 5  5
8
C5  5 105
P  
85 512
13. Consider a function f (x) that has zeroes 4 and 9. Given that Mr. A randomly selects a
number from the set {– 10, – 9, – 8, ..... 8, 9, 10}, what is the probability that Mr. A
chooses a zero of f (x2) ?
Sol. If f(x) has zeroes 4 & 9,
f(x2) has zeroes 2 & 3
 Total choices = 21
Favour able Choices = 4
4
P
21

14. (a) A fair die is tossed. If the number is odd, find the probability that it is prime.
(b) Three fair coins are tossed. If both heads and tails appear, determine the
probability that exactly one head appears.

Sol. (A) If number is odd, new sample space = {1,3,5}

2
 P(prime) 
3
(B) New sample space = {HHT,HTH,THH,TTH,THT,HTT}
 1
P(exactly one head)  
6 2

15. n different books (n  3) are put at random in a shelf. Among these books there is a
particular book 'A' and a particular book B. The probability that there are exactly 'r'
books between A and B is
2 2(n  r  1) 2(n  r  2) (n  r)
(A) (B) (C) (D)
n(n  1) n(n  1) n(n  1) n(n  1)
Sol. Total arrangement = n String arrangement
n2
Favour able = Cr  n  r  1 r  2 

5
 Overall arrangement
Select r books to place between A & B
n2
Cr  n  r  1 r 2
P 
n
n2
 n  r 1 r 2
r n2r

n
2(n  r  1)

n(n  1)
16. A coin is biased so that heads is three times as likely to appear as tails. Find P(H) and
P(T). If such a coin is tossed twice find the probability that head occurs at least once.
Sol. P(H)  3P(T)
Also, P(H)  P(T)  1
1 3
 P(T)  , P(H) 
4 4
Now, P(H at least once)  1  P (no H)
 1  P(TT)
1 1
 1 
4 4
15

16

17. Nine number 1, 2, 3, ......, 9 are put into a 3 × 3 array so that each number occur
exactly once. Find the probability that the sum of the numbers in atleast one
horizontal row is greater than 21.
Sol. Sum > 21  24, 23, 22
  
987 986 985 or 976

Choose a row choose a combination out of 987,986,985,976

3 4
C  C  3 6
 P 1 1 rest arrangement
9
arrangement 987 etc.

1
P
7

18. Mr. A lives at origin on the cartesian plane and has his office at (4, 5). His friend lives
at (2, 3) on the same plane. Mr. A can go to his office travelling one block at a time
either in the + y or + x direction. If all possible paths are equally likely then the
probability that Mr. A passed his friends house is

6
 (A) 1/2 (B) 10/21 (C) 1/4 (D) 11/21
9
Sol. Total ways =
45 (4,5)
{Arrange 4H & 5V in a row}
5 4
Favourable ways =  
23 22
(2,3)
 
HHVVV HHVV
(0,0)  (2,3) (2,3)  (4,5)
10  6 30 10
 P   (0,0)
126 63 21

19. In a hand at "whist" what is the chance that the 4 kings are held by a specified player
?
Sol. Total ways = 52C13 of giving 13 cards to a player
Favour able = 4 C 4  48 C 9

given him all kings
48
C9
 P 52
C13
20. I have 3 normal dice, one red, one blue and one green and I roll all three
simultaneously. Let P be the probability that the sum of the numbers on the red and
blue dice is equal to the number on the green die. If P is the written in lowest terms as
a/b then the value of (a + b) equals
(A) 79 (B) 77 (C) 61 (D) 57
Sol. R  B  G  2,3, 4,5, 6
P(R  B  2,3, 4,5, 6)
1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1
         
36 6 36 6 36 6 36 6 36 6
getting a ‘2’ on ‘G’ die
1 2  3  4  5

216
15 5
 
216 72

DPP-2
1. In throwing 3 dice, the probability that atleast 2 of the three numbers obtained are
same is
(A) 1/2 (B) 1/3 (C) 4/9 (D) none
Sol. P(at least 2 are same)
= 1 – P(all show different)
65 4
 1
666

7
 4

9
2. There are 4 defective items in a lot consisting of 10 items. From this lot we select 5
items at random. The probability that there will be 2 defective items among them is
1 2 5 10
(A) (B) (C) (D*)
2 5 21 21
Sol. 4D + 6Good 5 taken
4
C  6C3 6  20  5  4  3  2 10
P  102  
C5 10  9  8  7  6 21

3. From a pack of 52 playing cards, face cards and tens are removed and kept aside then
a card is drawn at random from the ramaining cards. If
A : The event that the card drawn is an ace H : The event that the card drawn is a
heart
S : The event that the card drawn is a spade then which of the following holds ?
(A) 9 P(A) = 4 P(H) (B) P(S) = 4P (A  H)
(C) 3 P(H) = 4 P(A S) (D) P(H) = 12 P(A S)
Sol. 12 face cards & 4 10’ removed
4 1
P(A)  
36 9 (A) Correct
9 1
P(H)  
36 4
9 1
P(S)  
36 4 (B) in correct
1
P(A  H) 
36
P(A  S)  P(A)  P(S)  P(A  S)
4  9 1 1
 
36 3
 (C) incorrect
1
P(A  S)   (D) incorrect
36
4. If two of the 64 squares are chosen at random on a chess board, the probability that
they have a side in common is :
(A) 1/9 (B) 1/18 (C) 2/7 (D) none
Sol.

8
 7 pairs low wise  (7  8)
(7  8)
7 pairs Column wise 
112
112 1
 P  64 
C 2 18
5. Two red counters, three green counters and 4 blue counters are placed in a row in
random order. The probability that no two blue counters are adjacent is
7 7 5
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
99 198 42
Sol. 2R, 3G, 4B
Total arrangement = 9
Favourable  5  6 C 4  4
RRGGG
5.6 C4  4 5
P  
9 42
6. South African cricket captain lost the toss of a coin 13 times out of 14. The chance of
this happening was
7 1 13 13
(A) 13 (B) 13 (C) 14 (D) 13
2 2 2 2
Sol. Total outcomes = 214
Favourable = 14 C13 113 1 1 way of winning once

1 ways of losing all 13 times

14
C 14 7
 P  1413  14  13
2 2 2
7. There are ten prizes, five A's, three B's and two C's, placed in identical sealed
envelopes for the top ten contestants in a mathematics contest. The prizes are awarded
by allowing winners to select an envelope at random from those remaining. When the
8th contestant goes to select the prize, the probability that the remaining three prizes
are one A, one B and one C, is
(A) 1/4 (B) 1/3 (C) 1/12 (D) 1/10
Sol. 5A, 3B, 2C
4A 2B 1C A B C
 

9
 Total arrangement for prizes
10

5 3 2
7
Favourable ways =  3
4 2 1
1
P 
4
8. Of all the mappings that can be defined from the set A : {1, 2, 3, 4}  B(5, 6, 7, 8,
9}, a mapping is randomly selected. The chance that the selected mapping is strictly
monotonic, is
1 2 5 5
(A) (B) (C) (D)
125 125 4096 2048
4
Sol. Total mapping = 5
Favourable = 5 C 4  2
increasing order or decreasing
5
C 2 2
 P  44 
5 125
9. If , in lowest terms, be the probability that a randomly chosen positive divisor of 1099
is an integral multiple of 10 88 then (m + n) is equal to
(A) 634 (B) 643 (C) 632 (D) 692
Sol. 1099  299  599
Let, Divisor D = 2a 5b ,  
a  0 to 99
b  0 to 99
Total ways of
Choosing a & b = 100×100
Favourable ways = 12×12
{a, b  88 to 99 for being 1088 multiple }
12 12
P 
100 100
9 m
 
625 n
 m  n  634

10. A coin is tossed and a die is thrown. Find the probability that the outcome will be a
head or a number greater than 4.
Sol. A : Heads obtained
B : 5,6 obtained
P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
1 2 2 642
   
2 6 12 12
2

3
Sample Space ={H1, H2, ___H6, T1,T2,_____T6}

11. Let A and B be events such that P(A) = 4/5, P(B) = 1/3, P(A/B) = 1/6, then

10
 (a) P(A  B) ; (b) P(A  B) ;
(c) P(B/A) ; (d) Are A and B independent?
4 1
Sol. P(A)   P(A) 
5 5
1
P(B) 
3
 A  P(A  B)
(A)  P   
B P(B)
1 P(A  B) 1
   P(A  B) 
6 1 18
3
(B) P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
1 1 1 18  30  5
   
5 3 18 90
43

90
1
 B  P(B  A) 18 5
(C) P     
A P(A) 1 18
5
 1   1 1
(D) P(A  B)     P(A)  P(B)    
 18   5 3
Hence, A& B are not independent
1 1 1
12. If A and B are two events such that P (A) = , P (B) = and P (A and B) = , find
4 2 8
(i) P (A or B), (ii) P (not A and not B)
Sol. (i)P (A or B) = P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
1 1 1 2  4 1
   
4 2 8 8
5

8
(ii) P(A  B)  P(A  B)
 1  P(A  b)
5 3
 1 
8 8

13. Given two independent events A, B such that P (A) = 0.3, P (B) = 0.6. Determine
(i) P (A and B) (ii) P (A and not B) (iii) P (not A and B)
(iv) P (neither A nor B) (v) P (A or B)
Sol. (i) For independent events,
P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
 P(A  B)  0.3  0.6  0.18
(ii) P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
 0.3  (1  0.6)

11
  0.12
(iii) P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
 (1  0.3)(0.6)
= 0.42
(iv) P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
 (1  0.3)(1  0.6)
= 0.28
(v) P(A or B)  P(A  B)
 P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
 0.3  0.6  0.18
= 0.72
Note that when A & B are independent, so are (A & B)(A & B)(A & B)

14. The probabilities that a student will receive A, B, C or D grade are 0.40, 0.35, 0.15
and 0.10 respectively. Find the probability that a student will receive
(i) not an A grade (ii) B or C grade (iii) at most C grade
Sol. (i) P(A)  1  P(A)
 1  0.40  0.60
(ii) P(B  C)  P(B)  P(C)  P(B  C)

 0.35  0.15 O  not possible to get B grade as well as C

= 0.50
(iii) P(at most C) = P(C) + P(D)
 0.15  0.10
= 0.25
M2 P(at mast C)= 1–[P(A)+P(B)]
 1  [0.40  0.35]
= 0.25

15. In a single throw of three dice, determine the probability of getting

(i) a total of 5 (ii) a total of at most 5 (iii) a total of at least 5.
Sol. (i) Total out comes = 6  6  6
= 216
Favourable = 113, 131, 311
122, 212, 221
6 1
 P(sum  5)  
216 36
(ii) P(sum  5) = P(S  3)  P(S  4)  P(S  5)
111 112
121
211

1  3  6 10 5
  
216 216 108
(iii) P(Sum  5) = 1–P(Sum <5)
= 1 – [P(sum = 3)+P(sum = 4)]

12
 1 3
 1
216
212 53
 
216 54

16. A natural number x is randomly selected from the set of first 100 natural numbers.
100
Find the probability that it satisfies the inequality. x + > 50
x
Sol. Favourable value of x = 50, 51, ……100 (51)
Also x= 1, 2, 48, 49 (4)
55 11
 P 
100 20

17. 3 students A and B and C are in a swimming race. A and B have the same probability
of winning and each is twice as likely to win as C. Find the probability that B or C
wins. Assume no two reach the winning point simultaneously.
Sol. Let P(A) = P(B)= 2P(C) = 

      1 {As A,B,C winning are exclusive and exhaustive events}
2
Now, P(B or C) = P (B  C)
 P(B)  P(C)  P(B  C)
 3 3
  
2 2 5

18. A box contains 7 tickets, numbered from 1 to 7 inclusive. If 3 tickets are drawn from
the box without replacement, one at a time, determine the probability that they are
alternatively either odd-even-odd or even-odd-even.
Sol. 1 7 1357  O
246  E
4 3 3 3 4 2
P(OEO or EOE) =     
7 6 5 7 6 5
2

7

19. 5 different marbles are placed in 5 different boxes randomly. Find the probability that
exactly two boxes remain empty. Given each box can hold any number of marbles.
Sol. Total ways = 55
Favourable = 5 C2  [K]
Choose two which will remain empty

1 1
For K 5 2 or 5 2
3 3
5 5
K  3 3
11 3 2 12 2 2

13
  K  150
5
C (150)
P  2 5
5
10 150

25  25  5
12

25

DPP-3
1. Let A & B be two events. Suppose P(A) = 0.4 , P(B) = p & P(A  B) = 0.7. The
value of p for which A & B are independent is :
(A) 1/3 (B) 1/4 (C) 1/2 (D) 1/5
Sol. For independence, P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)
 P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)
 0.4  P  0.7  (0.4)P
 (0.6)p  0.3
1
 p
2
2. A pair of numbers is picked up randomly (without replacement) from the set
{1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19}. The probability that the number 11 was picked
given that the sum of the numbers was even, is nearly :
(A) 0.1 (B) 0.125 (C) 0.24 (D) 0.18
Sol. P(11 was selected / sum = Even)
P(11  Sum  even)

P(Sum  even)
 7 C1 
 10 C 
7 7
 8 2 
2
  = 0.24
 C2  C 2  28  1 29
 10 C 
 2 
One no = 11
other no. = odd
Both odd Both even

3. For a biased die the probabilities for the diffferent faces to turn up are given below :
Faces : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Probabilities : 0.10 0.32 0.21 0.15 0.05 0.17
The die is tossed & you are told that either face one or face two has turned up. Then
the probability that it is face one is :
(A) 1/6 (B) 1/10 (C) 5/49 (D) 5/21
0.10
Sol. P(1/ Given 1or 2) 
0.10  0.32
5

21

14
4. A determinant is chosen at random from the set of all determinants of order 2 with
elements 0 or 1 only. The probability that the determinant chosen has the value non
negative is :
(A) 3/16 (B) 6/16 (C) 10/16 (D) 13/16
a b
Sol. Let D   ad  bc
c d
Total possible D = 24 = 16 (a, b, c, d,  {0,1})
Favourable cases = D is 0 or 1
 Unfavour able = D is ‘‘– 1’’
0,1 

a, d can be 1, 0  (3)
0, 0
b, c can be 1,1 (1)
Total 3  1  3 ways
 Favour able = 13 ways
13
P
16

5. 15 coupons are numbered 1, 2, 3,..... , 15 respectively. 7 coupons are selected at

random one at a time with replacement. The probability that the largest number
appearing on a selected coupon is 9 is :
6 7 7
9 8 3 9 7  87
(A)   (B)   (C)   (D)
 16   15  5 157
7
Sol. Total Cases = 15
Favourable = 9 7 – 87 when 9 doesn’t appear

 all must be 1 to 9
97  87
P
157

6. A card is drawn & replaced in an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. Minimum

number of times must a card be drawn so that there is atleast an even chance of
drawing a heart, is
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) more than four
Sol. P(drawing a heart) = 1 –P(no heart)
n
 39 
 1  
 52 
(Assuming n trials)
1
Now P {At least even chance}
2
n
3 1
 1   
4 2

15
 n
3 1
   
4 2
n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,……..
× ×
9 1 8
P  
16 2 16
3 1
P 
4 2
27 1 32
P  
64 2 64

7. A license plate is 3 capital letters (of English alphabets) followed by 3 digits. If all
possible license plates are equally likely, the probability that a plate has either a letter
palindrome or a digit palindrome (or both), is
7 9 8
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
52 65 65
Sol. A  Letter palindrome B  digit pal.
P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
2  6  2  6 1 10 10 1 1 1
     P(A  B)
263 10 10 10 26 10
Palindrome = P(A) P(B) for independent events
1 1 1
 P(A  B)   
26 10 26 10
7

52

8. Whenever horses a, b, c race together, their respective probabilities of winning the

race are 0.3, 0.5 and 0.2 respectively. If they race three times the probability that “the
same horse wins all the three races” and the probablity that a, b, c each wins one race,
are respectively (Assume no dead heat)
8 9 16 3 12 15 10 8
(A) ; (B) , (C) ; (D) ;
50 50 100 100 50 50 50 50
Sol. P(Same wins) = (0.3)3  (0.5)3  (0.2)3

st
1 wins all
 0.027  0.125  0.008
8

50
P(Each wins one) = (0.3)(0.5)(0.2). 3
9
 deciding which wins which
50

9. Two cubes have their faces painted either red or blue. The first cube has five red faces
and one blue face. When the two cubes are rolled simultaneously, the probability that
the two top faces show the same colour is 1/2. Number of red faces on the second
cube, is

16
 (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
Sol. 5R,1B
 (x)R, (6  x)B
 
1
P(Same face) 
2
1
 P(BB)  P(RR) 
2
1 6 x 5 x 1
   
6 6 6 6 2
 6  4x  18
x3

10. A committee of thr ee persons is to be randomly selected from a group of three

men and two women and the chair person will be randomly selected from the
committee. The probability that the committee will have exactly two women and one
man, and that the chair person will be a woman, is/are
(A) 1/5 (B) 8/15 (C) 2/3 (D) 3/10
Sol. 3M, 2W
Select 1M

2
C 2  3C1  2C1
P(2W, 7M) = 5
Choose a chairperson as woman
C3  3C1
1
 Select 2W
5
11. An urn contains 3 red balls and n white balls.
Mr. A draws two balls together from the urn. The probability that they have the same
colour is 1 2 .
Mr. B draws one ball from the urn, notes its colour and replaces it. He then draws a
second ball from the urn and finds that both balls have the same colour is, 5 8 . The
possible value of n is
(A) 9 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 1
Sol. 3R, nW
 
3
C2  n C2
P(A draws same colour ) =
n  3C 2
1 3 C1  n C2
  …(1)
2 n  3C 2
2 2
 3   n 
P(B drawn same)     
 n 3  n 3
5 9  n2
 
8 (n  3) 2
 5(n 2  9  6n)  72  8n 2
 3n 2  30n  27  0
 n 2  10n  9  0
n = 1, 9

17
 But only n = 1 Satisfies equation (1)

12. The probability that an automobile will be stolen and found within one week is
0.0006. The probability that an automobile will be stolen is 0.0015. The probability
that a stolen automobile will be found in one week is
(A) 0.3 (B) 0.4 (C) 0.5 (D) 0.6
Sol. P(Stolen  Found) = 0.0006
& P(Stolen) = 0.0015
P(Found  stolen)
 P(Found/ Stolen) =
P(Stolen)
0.0006

0.0015
2
  0.4
5
REASONING TYPE
13. In one day test match between India and Australia the umpire continues tossing a fair
coin until the two consecutive throws either H T or T T are obtained for the first time.
If it is H T, India wins and if it is T T, Australia wins.
Statement-1: Both India and Australia have equal probability of winning the toss.
Statement-2: If a coin is tossed twice then the events HT or TT are equiprobable.
(A) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is correct explanation for
statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is NOT the correct
explanation for statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false.
(D) Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is true.
Sol. P(Australia wins) = TT
1 1 1
   Not equal S1
2 2 4
1 3
 P(India wins) = 1  
4 4
{Note that Australia can only win as TT, else if anytime H appears, eventually indian
will win the toss}
Further, in two tosses P(HT) = P(TT)
1 1
 
2 2
1
 S2
4
SUBJECTIVE
14. A certain team wins with probability 0.7, loses with probability 0.2 and ties with
probability 0.1. The team plays three games. Find the probability
(i) that the team wins at least two of the games, but lose none.
(ii) that the team wins at least one game.
Sol. w  win L  loss D  Tie draw
(i) P  WWD  WDW  DWW  WWW
 (0.7)2 .(0.1)   3  (0.7)3

18
  0.49
(ii) P(at least one win)=1–P(no win)
 1  WWW
 1  (1  0.7)3
 1  (0.3)3
 0.973

15. The probability that a person will get an electric contract is 2 5 and the probability
that he will not get plumbing contract is 4 7 . If the probability of getting at least one
contract is 2 3 , what is the probability that he will get both ?

2 4
Sol. P(E)  , P(P) 
5 7
3
 P(P) 
7
2
P(at least one )= P(E  P) 
3
2
 (E)  P(P)  P(E  P) 
3
2 3 2
   P(E  P) 
5 7 3
29 2 17
 P(E  P)   
35 3 105
16. Five horses compete in a race. John picks two horses at random and bets on them.
Find the probability that John picked the winner. Assume no dead heat.
Sol. P(Picked winner) = 1 – P(no winner)
4
C
 1   2 he pick losers
C2
Total ways
4 2
 
10 5
17. There are 6 red balls and 6 green balls in a bag. Five balls are drawn out at random
and placed in a red box. The remaining seven balls are put in a green box. If the
probability that the number of red balls in the green box plus the number of green
p
balls in the red box is not a prime number, is where p and q are relatively prime,
q
then find the value of (p + q)
Sol. 6R  6G

(x)R (6  x)R
(5  x)G (x)G ; x {0,1, 2,.....5}
 
Re d Green
we want (6  x)  (5  x)  Prime
 11  2x  Prime

19
  
 x  0,1, 2,3, 4,5
 
6
C16C 4 6 C5
 Pr obability(P)  12
 12
C5 C5
x=1
1R 4G in Bag Red 5R in Bag Red
{Ignore bag green as it gets covered itself}
6
C 6 C  6 C5 4 p
 P  1 12 4  
C5 33 q
 p  q  37

18. The odds that a book will be favourably reviewed by three independent critics are 5 to
2, 4 to 3, and 3 to 4 respectively. What is the probability that of the three reviews a
majority will be favourable ?
Sol. A  Ist critics reviews favourably etc.
5 4 3
P(A)  P(B)  P(B) 
7 7 7
P(majority favour) = ABC  ABC  ABC  ABC
5 43  5 4 4  533  2  4 3

777
6080  45  24

343
209

343

19. When three cards are drawn from a standard 52-card deck, what is the probability
they are all of the same rank? (e.g. all three are kings).
13
C  4 C3 1
Sol. P  521 
C3 425
Select 3 Cards of teat rank.
Select a rank e.g. A,2,………,K,Q,J

20. A and B in order draw alternatively from a purse containing 3 rupees and 4 nP's, find
their respective chances of first drawing a rupee, the coins once drawn not being
replaced.
Sol. 3 Re /-
4 nps/-
A  A drawn a rupee
B  B drawn a rupee
P(A)  A  A B A  A B A B A  A B A B A B A

not possible

3 4 3 3 4 3 2 1 3
        
7 7 6 5 7 6 5 4 3

20
 3 6 1 22
   
7 35 35 35
22 13
 P(B)  1  
35 35

DPP-4
1. If E & F are events with P(E)  P(F) & P(E  F) > 0, then :
(A) occurrence of E  occurrence of F
(B) occurrence of F  occurrence of E
(C) non  occurrence of E  non  occurrence of F
(D) none of the above implications holds.
Sol.
S

F happens E doesn't
E happens F doesn't (B) incorrect
(C) incorrect
(A) incorrect

E
F

2. One bag contains 3 white & 2 black balls, and another contains 2 white & 3 black
balls. A ball is drawn from the second bag & placed in the first, then a ball is drawn
from the first bag & placed in the second. When the pair of the operations is repeated,
the probability that the first bag will contain 5 white balls is:
(A) 1/25 (B) 1/125 (C) 1/225 (D) 2/15
Sol.

1W
2W
3W
3W,2B 4W 2W,3B
Bag 1 Bag 2

first a white should be transferred to by 1 from 2

P = WBWB
2 2 1 1 1
    
5 6 5 6 225
4W
After this
2B

Bag1

3. A child throws 2 fair dice. If the numbers showing are unequal, he adds them together
to get his final score. On the other hand, if the numbers showing are equal, he throws

21
 2 more dice & adds all 4 numbers showing to get his final score. The probability that
his final score is 6 is:
145 146 147 148
(A) (B) (C) (D)
1296 1296 1296 1296
Sol. P(Score = 6) = P(6 by unequal) + P(11 followed by a sum of 4) + P(22 followed by a
sum of 2)

4 1 3 1 1
    
36 36 36 36 36
148

1296

4. A person draws a card from a pack of 52 cards, replaces it & shuffles the pack. He
continues doing this till he draws a spade. The probability that he will fail exactly the
first two times is :
(A) 1/64 (B) 9/64 (C) 36/64 (D) 60/64
Sol. Success needed in 3rd

39 39 13 3 3 1 9
P      
52 52 52 4 4 4 64

P(not a spade)

5. Events A and C are independent. If the probabilities relating A, B and C are P (A) =
1/5; P (B) = 1/6;P(A  C) = 1/20; P(B  C) = 3/8 then
(A) events B and C are independent
(B) events B and C are mutually exclusive
(C) events B and C are neither independent nor mutually exclusive
(D) events A and C are equiprobable
Sol.  P(B  C)  P(B)  P(C)  P(B  C)
3 1
   P(C)  P(B  C)
8 6
Also, P(A  C)  P(A  C)  P(A)P(C) (as they are independent)
1 1 1
   P(C)  P(C) 
20 5 4
 By (1) 
1 1 3
P(B  C)   
6 4 8
10 3
 
24 8
1

24
 P(B  C)  P(B)P(C)
 B & C are independent

22
6. An unbaised cubic die marked with 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 is rolled 3 times. The probability of
getting a total score of 4 or 6 is
16 50 60
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
216 216 216
Sol. - - - Sum = 4 or 6

112, 123, 222

3
1 1 2 3 1 2 3   2  3 
 P          3      
6 6 6 2 6 6 6    6  3 
50

216
7. A bag contains 3 R & 3 G balls and a person draws out 3 at random. He then drops 3
blue balls into the bag & again draws out 3 at random. The chance that the 3 later
balls being all of different colours is
(A) 15% (B) 20% (C) 27% (D) 40%
Sol. 3R, 3G

P (3 Later balls are different)
3
C  3C  3C13C2 1 C12C 23C1
 2 61  6
C3 C3
9  9 6 18  6
  
20 20 400
18  6
For % 100  27%
400
8. A biased coin with probability P, 0 < P < 1, of heads is tossed until a head appears for
the first time. If the probability that the number of tosses required is even is 2/5, then
the value of P is
(A) 1/4 (B) 1/6 (C) 1/3 (D) ½
Sol. Probability = (TH)  (TTTH)  (TTTTTH)  ......
a TH
 S  
1  r 1  TT
(1  P)P
 Probability =
1  (1  P)2
2 (1  P)P
 
5 1  (1  P)2
1
 P
3
9. Two numbers a and b are selected from the set of natural number then the probability
that a2 + b2 is divisible by 5 is
9 7 11 17
(A) (B) (C) (D)
25 18 36 81

23
Sol. Let a = 5  + r1
b = 5 + r2 ,   I
 a 2  b 2  5k  [r12  r22 ]
As r1 , r2 {0,1, 2,3,4}
and r12  r22 must be “5 m” ,
we have (for r1r2 ) 
Total ways = 5  5  25
Favourable ways  r1  0 r2  0
r1  1 r2  2,3
r1  2 r2  1, 4
r1  3 r2  1, 4
r1  4 r2  2,3
 9 ways

10. In an examination, one hundred candidates took paper in Physics and Chemistry.
Twenty five candidates failed in Physics only. Twenty candidates failed in chemistry
only. Fifteen failed in both Physics and Chemistry. A candidate is selected at random.
The probability that he failed either in Physics or in Chemistry but not in both is
9 3 2 11
(A) (B) (C) (D)
20 5 5 20
Sol.
S
P
C

25 15 20

Failed in physics
25  20
Required probability =
100
45 9
 
100 20
11. When a missile is fired from a ship, the probability that it is intercepted is 1/3. The
probability that the missile hits the target, given that it is not intercepted is 3/4. If
three missiles are fired independently from the ship, the probability that all three hits
the target, is
(A) 1/12 (B) 1/8 (C) 3/8 (D) ¾
Sol. I : Intercepted
H : Hits
H
P(Hitting) = P(I)P  
 I 

24
 2 3 1
  
3 4 2
1 1 1 1
 P (All three hit) =   
2 2 2 8
12. An urn contains 10 balls coloured either black or red. When selecting two balls from
the urn at random, the probability that a ball of each colour is selected is 8 15 .
Assuming that the urn contains more black balls than red balls, the probability that at
least one black ball is selected, when selecting two balls, is
18 30 39 41
(A) (B) (C) (D)
45 45 45 45
(5  x)R, (5  x)B
Sol. 
5 x
C15 x C1
P (Ball of each colour) = 10
C2
8 25  x 2
 
15 45
 x  1 or –1
But black < red
 x  1 4R, 6B

P(at least 1 black) = 1 – P(no black)
4
C
 1  10 2
C2
6 39
1 
45 45
13. A fair die is tossed repeatidly. Mr. A wins if it is 1 or 2 on two consecutive tosses and
Mr. B wins if it is 3, 4, 5 or 6 on two consecutive tosses. The probability that A wins
if the die is tossed indefinitely, is
1 5 1 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 21 4 5
Sol. S  Success 2/6 f  failure 4/6
P(A)  ss  sfss  fsfsfss  ....  [fsst fs
 fss fs
 fs
 fsst...]
{ two conse cutive ‘f’ will make B win}
2 2
2 4 2
    5
6 6 6
 P(A)       
2 4 4 2 21
1  1 
6 6 6 6

14. An unbiased die with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 on its six faces is rolled. After
this roll if an odd number appeares on the top face, all odd numbers on the die are
doubled. If an even number appears on the top face, all the even numbers are halved.
If the given die changes in this way then the probability that the face 2 will appear on
the second roll is
(A) 2/18 (B) 3/18 (C) 2/9 (D) 5/18

25
Sol. P(2) = P(odd) .P(2/ odd) + P(Even) P(2/ Even)
2 2 4 1
    because 4 is now 2 & 2 is now 1
6 6 6 6
2
  1 is now 2
9

15. A butterfly randomly lands on one of the six squares of

the T-shaped figure shown and then randomly moves to
an adjacent square. The probability that the butterfly
ends up on the R square is
(A) 1/4 (B) 1/3 (C) 2/3 (D) 1/6
R  R 
Sol. P(ends on R) = P(W)P    P(B)P  
W W
1 1 1
   1
6 2 6
1

4
16. A fair coin is tossed a large number of times. Assuming the tosses are independent
which one of the following statement, is True ?
(A) Once the number of flips is large enough, the number of heads will always be
exactly half of the total number of tosses. For example, after 10,000 tosses one
should have exactly 5,000 heads.
(B) The proportion of heads will be about 1/2 and this proportion will tend to get closer
to 1/2 as the number of tosses inreases
(C) As the number of tosses increases, any long run of heads will be balanced by a
corresponding run of tails so that the overall proportion of heads is exactly 1/2
(D) All of the above
Sol. In n tosses;
n
1
P(r heads) = n Cr  
2
Definitely the probability of
n  n 1 n 1 
r  or  ,  heads is max.
2  2 2 
(n = even, odd resp.) but to say 5,000 out of 10,000 will be heads is not true.

MULTIPLE OBJECTIVE TYPE

17. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct ?
(A) 3 coins are tossed once. Two of them atleast must land the same way. No
mater whether they land heads or tails, the third coin is equally likely to land
either the same way or oppositely. So, the chance that all the three coins land the
same way is 1/2.
(B) Let 0 < P(B) < 1 and P(A/B) = P(A/Bc) then A and B are independent.
(C) Suppose an urn contains 'w' white and 'b' black balls and a ball is drawn from
it and is replaced along with 'd' additional balls of the same colour. Now a second
ball is drawn from it. The probability that the second drawn ball is white is
independent of the value of 'd'.

26
 (D) A, B, C simultaneously satisfy P(ABC) = P(A)·P(B)·P(C) and P(ABC) =
P(A)·P(B)· P(C) and P(ABC) = P(A)· P(B) ·P(C) and P(ABC) = P(A) ·P(B)·P(C)
then A, B, C are independent.
Sol. (A) Assuming ‘‘which two’’ are same violates the basic probability principles
A  A 
(B) P    P  C 
B B 
P(A  B) P(A  BC )
 
P(B) P(BC )
P(A  B) P(A)  P(A  B)
 
P(B) 1  P(B)

1  P(B) P(A)  P(A  B)

  A B
P(B) P(A  B)
1 P(A)
 
P(B) P(A  B) AB
C

 P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
Hence independent
W white
(C)
b black
 
P(2nd is white) = P(W)P(W/W)+P(B)P(W/B)
w wd b w
   
w b w bd w d w bd
w
  independent of d
wb
(D) By definition
18. In each of a set of games it is 2 to 1 in favour of the winner of the previous game.
What is the chance that the player who wins the first game shall win three at least, of
the next four ?
2
Sol. 2 :1  P 
3
P  WWWW  WWWL  WWLW  WLWW  LWWW
4 3 2
2  1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 2
 P     .            
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
16  8  4  4  4 36 4
P  
34 81 9
19. A normal coin is continued tossing unless a head is obtained for the first time. Find
the probability that
(a) number of tosses needed are at most 3.
(b) number of tosses are even.
Sol. (A) P(At most 3) = 1– P(failure in first 3)
1 1 1 7
 1   
2 2 2 8
(B) P(even) = TH  TT Ht.......

27
 a TH
 P  S  
1  r 1  TT
1 1
 1
 2 2 
1 1 3
1 
2 2
20. Before a race the chance of three runners, A, B, C were estimated to be proportional
to 5, 3, 2, but during the race A meets with an accident which reduces his chance to
1/3. What are the respective chance of B and C now ?
Sol.
A : B:C
5 : 3
:2

 
1 2
 Combined Probability 
3 3
3 2 2
Hence P(B)   
3 2 3 5
2 2 4
& P(C)   
3  2 3 15
21. A is one of the 6 horses entered for a race, and is to be ridden by one of two jockeys B
or C. It is 2 to 1 that B rides A, in which case all the horses are equally likely to win;
if C rides A, his chance is trebled, what are the odds against his winning ?
Sol. A Horse

B or C
2 1
Prob. of riding
3 3
1 3
Prob. of winning
6 6
P(A Wins) = P(B Wins) P(Wins /Brides) + P(C)P(wins/C)
2 1 1 3 5 5
     
3 6 3 6 18 5  13
Hence odds against are 13 to 5

DPP-5
1. Indicate the correct order sequence in respect of the following :
I. If the probability that a computer will fail during the first hour of
operation is 0.01, then if we turn on 100 computers, exactly one will fail in the
first hour of operation.
II. A man has ten keys only one of which fits the lock. He tries them in a
door one by one discarding the one he has tried. The probability that fifth key
fits the lock is 1/10.
III. Given the events A and B in a sample space. If P(A) = 1, then A and B
are independent.
IV. When a fair six sided die is tossed on a table top, the bottom face can
not be seen. The probability that the product of the numbers on the five faces
that can be seen is divisible by 6 is one.

28
 (A) FTFT (B) FTTT (C) TFTF (D) TFFF
100 1 99
Sol. (1) P  C1 (0.01) (0.99)
As we can see, the required probability is “Not 1”; hence the conclusion is wrong
(2) P (5th is success) = ffffs
9 9 7 6 1 1
     
10 10 8 7 6 10
(3) If P(A) = 1 then P(AB) = P(B)
 P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
Hence, independent.
(4) Either 6 will be present or both 2 & 3, in the top five faces; hence the conclusion is
true.

2. If a, b and c are three numbers (not necessarily different) chosen randomly and with
replacement from the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, the probability that (ab + c) is even, is
35 59 64 75
(A) (B) (C) (D)
125 125 125 125
Sol. ab  c even
(Event + Even) or (odd + odd)
(1) ab Even  Total – both odd
 5  5  3  3  16
c even  (2)
16  2 ways = 32
ab  odd  3  3
(2)   9  3  27
c  odd  3
Total ways for a, b, c = 5  5  5
32  27 59
 P 
125 125
3. A examination consists of 8 questions in each of which one of the 5 alternatives is the
correct one. On the assumption that a candidate who has done no preparatory work
chooses for each question any one of the five alternatives with equal probability, the
probability that he gets more than one correct answer is equal to
(A) (0.8)8 (B) 3 (0.8)8 (C) 1  (0.8)8 (D) 1  3 (0.8)8
Sol. P(Correct  1) = 1 – [P(0 Correct)+ P(1 Correct)]
 4  8 7
 1  4  
 1     8C1     
 5   5   5  
4 options are incorrect
7
 4  4 8
 1     
 5  5 5
8
 4
 1  3 
5
 1  3(0.8)8

4. An ant is situated at the vertex A of the triangle ABC. Every movement of the ant
consists of moving to one of other two adjacent vertices from the vertex where it is
situated. The probability of going to any of the other two adjacent vertices of the

29
 triangle is equal. The probability that at the end of the fourth movement the ant will
be back to the vertex A, is :
4 6 7 8
(A) (B) (C) (D)
16 16 16 16
Sol.
A ______ A
B B
A  2  2  4ways
C C
C B C  1 1  1ways
B C B  1 1  1ways
6 ways
6
P 
16

5. A key to room number C3 is dropped into a jar with five other keys, and the jar is
throughly mixed. If keys are randomly drawn from the jar without replacement until
the key to room C3 is chosen, then what are the odds in favour that the key to room C3
will be obtained on the 2nd try?
(A) 1 : 4 (B) 1 : 5 (C) 1 : 6 (D) 5 : 6
Sol. 1+5
5 1 1 1
P(2 nd success) =   
6 5 6 1 5
 Odds in favour = 1 : 5

6. Lot A consists of 3G and 2D articles. Lot B consists of 4G and 1D article. A new lot
C is formed by taking 3 articles from A and 2 from B. The probability that an article
chosen at random from C is defective, is
(A) 1/3 (B) 2/5 (C) 8/25 (D) none
Sol. 3G  2D
  4G  1D
 
A B

(3) (2)
 
C
1  D=?
 3 2   2 1
P(D)        
5 5  5 5
or it come from (B)
either it come from (A) and it is defective
8

25

7. Mr. A and Mr. B each have a bag that contains one ball of each of the colours blue,
green, orange, red and violet. 'A' randomly selects one ball from his bag and puts it
into B's bag. 'B' then randomly selects one ball from his bag and puts it into A's bag.
The probability that after this process the contents of the two bags are the same, is
(A) 1/6 (B) 1/5 (C) 1/3 (D) 1/2

30
Sol. B, G, Q, R, V B, G, Q, R, V
 
I II
5 2 1
P(Same Contents) =  
5 6 3
A Can transfer anything
B Must try the same colour which are now ‘2’ in quantity

8. On a Saturday night 20% of all drivers in U.S.A. are under the influence of alcohol.
The probability that a driver under the influence of alcohol will have an accident is
0.001. The probability that a sober driver will have an accident is 0.0001. If a car on a
saturday night smashed into a tree, the probability that the driver was under the
influence of alcohol, is
(A) 3/7 (B) 4/7 (C) 5/7 (D) 6/7
1
Sol. P(Alcohol ) = 20% 
5
P(Accident / Alcohol) = 0.001
P(Accident / Alcohol) = 0.0001
P(Alcohol  Accid)
P(Accident / Car under tree) =
P(Accident)
P(Alcoh)P(Accid / Alc.)

P(Accident)
1
 0.001
 5
1 4
 0.001   0.0001
5 5
10 5
 
10  4 7

9. A box has four dice in it. Three of them are fair dice but the fourth one has the
number five on all of its faces. A die is chosen at random from the box and is rolled
three times and shows up the face five on all the three occassions. The chance that the
die chosen was a rigged die, is
216 215 216
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
217 219 219
Sol. 3 fair ; 4th (rigged)  ”5 on all”
P(Rigged  5)
P(Rigged /5 on all 3 tries) =
P(5)
1 3
1
 4
3
1 3 3 1
1    
4 4 6
1 216
 
3 219
1 3
6

31
10. A real estate man has eight master keys to open several new houses. Only one master
key will open a given house. If 40% of these homes are usually left unlocked, the
probability that the real estate man can get into a specific home if he selects three
master keys at random, is
(A) 1/2 (B) 5/8 (C) 2/3 (D) 3/4
Sol. P(Gets insides) = P(No lock). P (Enters / No Lock) + P(Lock)P (Enters / Lock)
40 60 1 C1  7 C 2
 1   8
100 100 C3
2 3 21
  
5 5 56
25 5
 
40 8

11. A purse contains 100 coins of unknown value, a coin drawn at random is found to be
a rupee, The chance that it is the only rupee in the purse, is (Assume all numbers of
rupee coins in the purse to be equally likely.)
1 2 1 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
5050 5151 4950 4950
Sol. There can be 1 to 1 possibilities 
0, 1, 2, ________, 100  (No of rupees coin)
P(Only Rupee / Found to be a rupee)
P(Only rupee  Found to be a rupees)

P(Found to be a rupees)
 1 1 
  
  101 100 
 1  1 1   1 2   1 100 
  0       .....    
 101  101 101   101 101   101 101 
1 2
 
0  1  2  ...  100 100  101
1

50 101
1

5050

12. A purse contains 2 six sided dice. One is a normal fair die, while the other has 2 ones,
2 threes, and 2 fives. A die is picked up and rolled. Because of some secret magnetic
attraction of the unfair die, there is 75% chance of picking the unfair die and a 25%
chance of picking a fair die. The die is rolled and shows up the face 3. The probability
that a fair die was picked up, is
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
7 4 6 24
Sol. 1 normal 1,1,3,3,
 5,5,
 
25% 75%

P(Fair  showns 3)
P(Fair / shows 3) 
P(shows 3)

32
  25 1 
  
 100 6 

 25 1   75 2 
    
 100 6   100 6 
 
Fair die Biased Die
25 1 1
  
25  150 1  6 7

13. An instrument consists of two units. Each unit must function for the instrument to
operate. The reliability of the first unit is 0.9 & that of the second unit is 0.8. The
instrument is tested & fails. The probability that "only the first unit failed & the
second unit is sound" is :
(A) 1/7 (B) 2/7 (C) 3/7 (D) 4/7
st
Sol. 1  0.9
2nd  0.8
P(12  Fail)
P(12 / Fail) 
P(Fail)
(0.1)(0.8) 1
 Definite Fail
1  (0.9)(0.8)
 
Both working

0.08 2
 
0.28 7
14. A box contains 10 tickets numbered from 1 to 10. Two tickets are drawn one by one
without replacement. The probability that the "difference between the first drawn
ticket number and the second is not less than 4" is
7 14 11 10
(A) (B) (C) (D)
30 30 30 30
Sol. ab  4
x1 | x 2 | x 3
a b
x1  x 2  x 3  8 (x 2  3)
 x1  x 2 ' x 3  5
5  2C 2  7 C2  21
Total ways = 10C 2  2  45  2  90
21 7
P  
90 30

Paragraph for question nos. 15 to 17

A JEE aspirant estimates that she will be successful with an 80 percent chance if she
studies 10 hours per day, with a 60 percent chance if she studies 7 hours per day and
with a 40 percent chance if she studies 4 hours per day. She further believes that she
will study 10 hours, 7 hours and 4 hours per day with probabilities 0.1, 0.2 and 0.7,
respectively
15. The chance she will be successful, is

33
 (A) 0.28 (B) 0.38 (C) 0.48 (D) 0.58

16. Given that she is successful, the chance she studied for 4 hours, is
6 7 8 9
(A) (B) (C) (D)
12 12 12 12

17. Given that she does not achieve success, the chance she studied for 4 hour, is
18 19 20 21
(A) (B) (C) (D)
26 26 26 26
Sol. (0.1) 10 hrs. 80%
(0.2) 7 hrs.  60%
(0.7) 4hrs.  40%
15. P(Success)  (0.1)80%  (0.2)60%  (0.7)40%
8  12  28 48
   0.48
100 100
P(4 hrs  Success)
16. P((4 hrs./ success) =
P(success)
(0.7)40%

[0.48]
0.28 7
 
0.48 12
17. P(4hr / No success)
P(4 hr  No Success)

P(No success)
0.7  60%

1  0.48
0.42 21
 
0.52 26

SUBJECTIVE

18. A and B each throw simultaneously a pair of dice. Find the probability that they
obtain the same score.
2 2 2 2 2 2
 1   2   3   6   5   1 
Sol. P(Same Score)           .....       ....   
 36   36   36   36   36   36 
2 2 2 2
2 1  2 ......  5   6
 
(36)2
2.5.6.11
 36
 6
36  36
110  36 146
 
36  36 36  36
73

648

34
19. If mn coins have been distributed into m purses, n into each find
(1) the chance that two specified coins will be found in the same purse, and
(2) what the chance becomes when r purses have been examined and found not to
contain either of the specified coins.
Sol. n n n ....... n
   
1 2 3 m

n 1
(1)P 
mn  1
 Throw the first coin any where.
 Now the end coin has total (mn) – 1 total place
 Favour able = (n – 1) in that same purse
n 1
(2) P 
mn  nr  1

20. A, B are two inaccurate arithmeticians whose chance of solving a given question
correctly are (1/8) and (1/12) respectively. They solve a problem and obtained the
same result. If it is 1000 to 1 against their making the same mistake, find the chance
that the result is correct.
1
Sol. A
8
1
B
12
1
1000 :1  = Prob. of same mistake
1001
P(Correct / Same result)
P(Correct  Same result)

P(Same result)

1 1 
  1
  8 12  But make same mistake
 1 1   7 11 1 
   1     
 8 12   8 12 1001 
Either they solve Correctly, then same result is quaranteed
1001 1001
P 
1001  77 1078
91

98
13

14

35
 DPP-6
(Special DPP on Probability)

1. A bowl has 6 red marbles and 3 green marbles. The probability that a blind folded
person will draw a red marble on the second draw from the bowl without replacing
the marble from the first draw, is
(A) 2/3 (B) 1/4 (C) 5/12 (D) 5/8
Sol. 6R, 3G

P(2 nd is red) = RR + GR
6 5 3 6
 .  .
5 8 9 8
48 2
 
72 3

2. The probability that a radar will detect an object in one cycle is p. The probability that
the object will be detected in n cycles is :
(A) 1  pn (B) 1  (1  p)n (C) pn (D) p(1 – p)n–1

Sol. P(detected in n cycles) = 1 – P (no detection)

 1  (1  P) n

3. In a certain factory, machines A, B and C produce bolts. Of their production,

machines A, B, and C produce 2%, 1% and 3% defective bolts respectively. Machine
A produces 35% of the total output of bolts, machine B produces 25% and machine C
produces 40%. A bolts is chosen at random from the factory's production and is found
to be defective. The probability it was produced on machine C, is
6 23 24 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
11 45 43 11
A B C
Sol. 2% 1% 3%  Defective
35% 25% 40%
P(C  Defective)
P(C / Defective) 
P(Defective)
40 3

 100 100
35 2 25 1 40 3
    
100 100 1 100 100 10
120 120
 
70  25  120 215
24

43

36
4. Mr. Dupont is a professional wine taster. When given a French wine, he will identify
it with probability 0.9 correctly as French, and will mistake it for a Californian wine
with probability 0.1. When given a Californian wine, he will identify it with
probability 0.8 correctly as Californian, and will mistake it for a French wine with
probability 0.2. Suppose that Mr. Dupont is given ten unlabelled glasses of wine,
three with French and seven with Californian wines. He randomly picks a glass, tries
the wine, and solemnly says : "French". The probability that the wine he tasted was
Californian, is nearly equal to
(A) 0.14 (B) 0.24 (C) 0.34 (D) 0.44
Sol. F  0.9 C  0.8
0.1 0.2
3 are F out of 10
P(C  says F)
P(C / saysF) 
P(syas F)
7
 0.2
 10
3 7
 0.9   0.2
10
  10 
 
It is F&he says F It is C

1.4 14
 
2.7  1.4 41
= 0.34

5. Three numbers are chosen at random without replacement from {1, 2, 3,...... , 10}.
The probability that the minimum of the chosen numbers is 3 or their maximum is 7 is
(A) 1/2 (B) 1/3 (C) 1/4 (D) 11/40
Sol. P(Min = 3 or Max = 7)
= P(Min = 3) + P(Max = 7) – P(Min = 3  Max = 7)
7 6
C2 C 2 3 C1
10
 
C3 10 C3 10 C3
7
C 2  6C 2  3C1
 10
C3
21  15  3 33 11
  
10.9.8 120 40
3

6. Two buses A and B are scheduled to arrive at a town central bus station at noon. The
probability that bus A will be late is 1/5. The probability that bus B will be late is
7/25. The probability that the bus B is late given that bus A is late is 9/10. Then the
probabilities
(i) neither bus will be late on a particular day and
(ii) bus A is late given that bus B is late, are respectively
(A) 2/25 and 12/28 (B) 18/25 and 22/28
(C) 7/10 and 18/28 (D) 12/25 and 2/28
1 7
Sol. P(A)  , P(B) 
5 25

37
  B 9
P  
 A  10
P(B  A) 9
 
P(A) 10
9
 P(B  A) 
50
(i) Now, we need P(A  B)  1  P(A  B)
 1   P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B) 
1 7 9 
 1    
 5 25 50 
50  10  14  9

50
7

10
9
 A  P(A  B) 52
(ii) P   
B P(B) 7
25
9

14

7. If at least one child in a family with 3 children is a boy then the probability that
exactly 2 of the children are boys, is
(A) 3/7 (B) 4/7 (C) 1/3 (D) 3/8
Sol. Sample Space = {BBG, BGB, GBB, GGB, GBG, BGG, GGG}
3
P 
7

8. From an urn containing six balls, 3 white and 3 black ones, a person selects at random
an even number of balls (all the different ways of drawing an even number of balls are
considered equally probable, irrespective of their number). Then the probability that
there will be the same number of black and white balls among them
(A) 4/5 (B) 11/15 (C) 11/30 (D) 2/5
Sol. 3W, 3B

P(B  W  Even)
P(B = w / Even no of balls are drawn) =
P(Even)
1 3 C 3C 1 3 C 2 3C 2 1 3 C 33C 3
  61 1  
3 C2 3 6 C4 3 6 C6
3 3 1 2 1
    
15 15 3 5 3

38
9. There are three main political parties namely 1,
2, 3. If in the adjoining table p ij , (i, j=1, 2, 3)
denote the probability that party j wins the
general elections contested when party i is in the
power. What is the probability that the party 2
will be in power after the next two elections,
given that the party 1 is in
the power ?
(A) 0.27 (B) 0.24 (C) 0.14 (D) 0.06
Sol. 1 _ _ _
Right we want party 2
Now

 P  12  22  32
 P11P12  P12 P22  P13 P32
 P1 is in power % want it to win again
 0.14  0.06  0.04  0.24
10. Shalu bought two cages of birds : Cage-I contains
5 parrots and 1 owl, and Cage-II contains 6 parrots,
as shown
One day Shalu forgot to lock
both cages and two birds flew
from Cage-I to Cage-II. Then two
birds flew back from Cage-II to
Cage-I. Assume that all birds
have equal chance of flying, the
probability that the Owl is still in
Cage-I, is

(A) 1/6 (B) 1/3 (C) 2/3 (D) 3/4

Sol. P(Owl is in Cage 1 still) = P(owl didn’t move at all) + P(owl went to cage 2, then
came back)
5
C2 5 C11C1 7 C11C1
6
 6  8
C2 C2 C2
10 5 7 45 3
    
15 15 28 60 4
REASONING TYPE

11. From a well shuffled pack of 52 playing cards a card is drawn at random. Two events
A and B are defined as
A: Red card is drawn.
B: Card drawn is either a Diamond or Heart
Statement-1 : P(A + B) = P(AB)
Statement-2 : A / B and B / A
(A) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is correct explanation for
statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is NOT the correct
explanation for statement-1.

39
 (C) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false. (D) Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is
true.
Sol. P(A  B)  P(A  B)
 P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
26 26 26 1
   
52 52 52 2
13  13 1
P(AB)  P(A  B)  P(B)  
52 2
Also, A implies and vice-verca
As red means Diamond or Heats.

Paragraph for question nos. 14 to 16

A box contains b red balls, '2b' white balls and '3b' blue balls where b is a positive
integer. 3 balls are selected at random from the box.
12. If balls are drawn without replacement and 'A' denotes the event that "No two of the
selected balls have the same colour" then
(A) there is no value of b for which P(A) = 0.3
(B) There is exactly one value of b for which P(A) = 0.3 and this value is less than 10.
(C) There is exactly one value of b for which P(A) = 0.3 and this value is greater than
10.
(D) There is more than one value of b for which P(A) = 0.3

13. If balls are drawn without replacement and 'B' denotes the event that "No two of the 3
drawn balls are blue" then
1 2 1
(A) P(B) = if b = 1 (B) P(B) = if b = 2 (C) P(B) = if b = 4 (D) P(B) =
3 3 4
1
for all value of b.
2
14. If P(A) = 0.3, then the value of P(A/B) equals
(A) 3/5 (B) 3/10 (C) 1/2 (D) 2/3
'b ' R
Sol. ' 2b ' W
'3b ' B

b C 1 2b C 1 3b C 1
12. P(No Same colour) =
6b C3
(b  2b  3b)

(6b)(6b  1)(6b  2)
3
6b 2
 P(A)
(6b  1)(6b  2)
6b 2
 0.3 
(6b  1)(6b  2)
 3(6b  1)(6b  2)  60b 2
 36b2  18b  2  20b 2
 18b 2  19b  1  0

40
  (18b  1)(b  1)  0
1
 b  ,1
18
( b  I)
13. P(no two are blue) = P(ma × 1 is blue)
= P(0 Blue) + P(1 Blue)
3b C3 3b C2  3b C1
= 
6b C3 6b C3
3b C1  3b C2 3b C1
 P(B) 
6b C3
(3b)(3b  1)(3b  2) 3b(3b  1)
  3b
3 3

6b.(6b  1)(6b  2)
3
(3b)(3b  1)  (3b  2)  3b  3

6b(6b  1)(6b  2)
1

2
(14) If P(A)  b = 1

 A  P(A  B)
Now P   
B P(B)
1 2 3
 C1 C1 C1 
 6C 
 3 
1
2
123 3
6 
C3 5

Pagragraph for question nos. 15 to 17

Urn-I contains 5 Red balls and 1 Blue ball, Urn-II contains 2 Red balls and 4 Blue
balls.
A fair die is tossed. If it results in an even number, balls are repeatedly withdrawn one
at a time with replacement from urn-I. If it is an odd number, balls are repeatedly
withdrawn one at a time with replacement from urn-II. Given that the first two draws
both have resulted in a blue ball.

15. Conditional probability that the first two draws have resulted in blue balls given urn-II
is used is
(A) 1/2 (B) 4/9 (C) 1/3 (D) None

16. If the probability that the urn-I is being used is p, and q is the corresponding figure for
urn-II then

41
 (A) q = 16p (B) q = 4p (C) q = 2p (D) q = 3p

17. The probability of getting a red ball in the third draw, is

(A) 1/3 (B) 1/2 (C) 37/102 (D) 41/102

5R 2R
Sol.
1B 4B
 
Even Odd

P(BB  urn2)
15. P  BB / urn2  
P(urn2)
2
3 4
 
6 6 4
 
3
  9
 
6
 
4 16
16. q  p = P(BB/urn 1)
9 36
2
1 1
  
 6 36
 q  16p
17. P(_ _ R/BB in first 2)
P(   R  BB)

P(BB)
2 2
3 1 5 3 4 2
      
6 6 6 4 6 6
 2 2
3  1   3  4 
     
6  6   6  6 
15  96 111
 
18  288 306
37

102
MULTIPLE OBJECTIVE TYPE

18. Two whole numbers are randomly selected and multiplied. Consider two events E1
and E2 defined as
E1 : Their product is divisible by 5 E2: Unit's place in their product is 5.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct ?
(A) E1 is twice as likely to occur as E2. (B) E1 and E2 are disjoint
(C) P(E2/E1) = 1/4 (D) P(E 1/E2) = 1
Sol. P(E1) = P(at least one is div, by 5)
= 1 – P(none divisible)
4 4 9
 1  
5 5 25
Sample Space = {5,5  1,5  2,5  3,5  4}  I

42
 2 2
 5  4
P  E2       
 10   10 
Both end in 1, 3, 7, 9
both end in 1,3,5,7,9
9

100
 E  P E2  E2 
P 2  
 E1  P(E1 )
9
1
100 1
 
9 4
25
 E  P  E1  E 2  P(E 2 )
P 1    1
 E2  P  E2  P(E 2 )

MATCH THE COLUMN

19. Column-I Column-II

(A) The probability of a bomb hitting a bridge is 1/2. Two direct hits are needed
(P) 4
to destroy it. The least number of bombs required so that the probability of
the bridge being destroyed is greater than 0.9, is

(B) A bag contains 2 red, 3 white and 5 black balls, a ball is drawn its colour is
(Q) 5
noted and replaced. Minimum number of times, a ball must be drawn so that

the probability of getting a red ball for the first time is at least even, is
(C) A hunter knows that a deer is hidden in one of the two near by bushes,
(R) 6
the probability of its being hidden in bush-I being 4/5. The hunter
having a rifle containing 10 bullets decides to fire them all at bush-I or II.
It is known that each shot may hit one of the two bushes, independently (S)
7
of the other with probability 1/2. Number of bullets must he fire on bush-I
to hit the animal with maximum probability is (Assume that the bullet hitting
the bush also hits the animal).
Sol. (A) P(destroyed) = P(at least 2 hits)
= 1 – P(0 hit) – P(1 hit)
n n 1
1  1  1 
 1     n C1    
2  2  2 
 
No hit one hit (Assume n tries)
n n
1 1
 1     n C1    0.9
2 2

43
 1 n
 0.1 
2n
1 8 4

10 128 64

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, _ _
n=       
2 3 4 5 6 3 7 8 4
 
2 4 8 16 32 16 64 128 64
 n min  7
(B) 2R,3W,5B

Assume n triars
P(at least 1 Red) = 1 – P(no red)
n
 8
 1  
 10 
n
4 1
 1   
5
  2
n
1 4
  
2 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, _ _ _
n=    
4 16 64 256
5 25 125 625
(C) Let there be ‘n’ fires at bush – 1
n 10  n
4  1  1  1 
P (Hitting the dear) =   1        1    
5   2   5   2  
n 10  n
4 1 41 11
       
5 5 5 2 5 2
 4  1 n 1  1 10 n 
 1       
 5  2  5  2  

use AM  GM

hence minimum at equality

n 10  n
4 1 11
i.e.    
52 5 2
4 1
 n
 10 n
2 2
2n 10
 42
 2n  10  2
n=6

44
 SUBJECTIVE
20. A lot contains 50 defective & 50 non defective bulbs . Two bulbs are drawn at
random, one at a time, with replacement . The events A, B, C are defined as :
A = { the first bulb is defective} ; B = { the second bulb is non defective}
C = { the two bulbs are both defective or both non defective}
Determine whether (i) A,B,C are pair wise independent (ii) A,B,C are
independent
Sol. 52D,50 Good

52 1
P(A)  
100 2
50 1
P(B)   (Don’t worry about 1st, as we are replacing)
100 2
2 2
1 1 1
P(C)       
2 2 2
1 1 1
P(A  B)  DG     P(A)P(B)
2 2 4
1 1
P(B  C)  GG    P(B)P(C)
2 2
1 1
P(C  A)  DD    P(A)P(C)
2 2
Hence A,B,C are independent pairwise
2 nd G 

P(A  B  C)  0 as 1st D  not posible
Both G or D 

Hence A, B, C, are not independent

DPP- 7
1 1
1. Suppose families always have one, two or three children, with probabilities , and
4 2
1
respectively. Assume everyone eventually gets married and has children, the
4
probability of a couple having exactly four grandchildren is
27 37 25 20
(A) (B) (C) (D)
128 128 128 128
Sol.

45
 1 3

2 1 2 3
Couple 3 2 1

3 1 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1
P             3
2  4 4 2 2 4 4 44 4 2
 
than Then children have 1 & 3 etc.
have ‘2’
1  1 4 1 3
 P  
2  16  128
3 3 27
  
16 128 128

2. Miss C has either Tea or Coffee at morning break. If she has tea one morning, the
probability she has tea the next morning is 0.4. If she has coffee one morning, the
probability she has coffee next morning is 0.3. Suppose she has coffee on a Monday
morning. The probability that she has tea on the following Wednesday morning is
(A) 0.46 (B) 0.49 (C) 0.51 (D) 0.61
T C
Sol. P    0.4  P    0.6
T T
C T
P    0.3  P    0.7
C C
P(_ _ T  C _ _)
P( T / C ) 
P(C _ _ _)
Monday Tuesday
P(CCT)  P(CTT)

P(C _ _ _)
1 1
 (0.3)(0.7)  (0.7)(0.4)
2 2
1
2
 0.21  0.28
 0.49
3. In a maths paper there are 3 sections A, B & C. Section A is compulsory. Out of
sections B & C a student has to attempt any one. Passing in the paper means passing
in A & passing in B or C. The probability of the student passing in A, B & C are p, q
& 1/2 respectively. If the probability that the student is successful is 1/2 then :
(A) p = q = 1 (B) p = q = 1/2 (C) p = 1, q = 0 (D) p = 1, q = 1/2
Sol. P(Success) = P(AB) + P(AC)

46
 1  1 1
 P q  P  
2  2 2
1 2pq  p
 
2 4
 P(2q  1)  2

4. A box contains 100 tickets numbered 1, 2, 3,.... ,100. Two tickets are chosen at
random. It is given that the maximum number on the two chosen tickets is not more
than 10. The minimum number on them is 5, with probability
1 2 3
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
9 11 19
 Min  5  P(Min  5 & max  10)
Sol. P 
 max  10  P(max  10)
1 5
 C1  C1 
 100 
C
  10 2 
 C2 
 100 
 C2 
5 1
 10 
C2 9
5. Sixteen players s1 , s2 ,..... , s16 play in a tournament. They are divided into eight pairs
at random. From each pair a winner is decided on the basis of a game played between
the two players of the pair. Assume that all the players are of equal strength. The
probability that "exactly one of the two players s1 & s2 is among the eight winners" is
4 7 8 9
(A) (B) (C) (D)
15 15 15 15
Sol.
1 14  1 1 1 1 
P       one wins, one loses his match
15 15  2 2 2 2 
If they don’t play each other
either S1 plays S2
{1 represents S2
15 represents total possible opponents}
1 7 8
P  
15 15 15

6. The number 'a' is randomly selected from the set {0, 1, 2, 3, ...... 98, 99}. The number
'b' is selected from the same set. Probability that the number 3a + 7b has a digit equal
to 8 at the units place, is
1 2 4 6
(A) (B) (C) (D*)
16 16 16 11
Sol. 34  1 7 4  1
34 1  3 7 4 1  7
34  2  9 7 4  2  9

47
 343  7 7 43  3
1 1 1 1 1 1 3
P      
4 4 4 4 4 4 16
7b ends in 7
3a ends in1
(Note that all powers 4, 4  1, 4  2, 4  3 are equally available from 0 to 99);
25 1
hence =  )
100 4

7. On a normal standard die one of the 21 dots from any one of the six faces is removed
at random with each dot equally likely to be chosen. The die is then rolled. The
probability that the top face has an odd number of dots is
5 5 11 6
(A) (B) (C) (D)
11 12 21 11
Sol. 1  3  5  odd dots; 2  4  6  even
9 2 12 4
P   
21 6 21 6
now we have 2 odd faces
an odd face dot is removed
18  48 66 11
P  
126 126 21

8. Two boys A and B find the jumble of n ropes lying on the floor. Each takes hold of
one loose end randomly. If the probability that they are both holding the same rope is
1
then the number of ropes is equal to
101
(A) 101 (B) 100 (C) 51 (D) 50
Sol. For the other boy, there are total 2n – 1 ends available, and (1) is favourable ;
1 1
hence P  
2n  1 101
 n  51
REASONING TYPE
9. A fair coin is tossed 3 times consider the events
A : first toss is head B : second toss is head
C : exactly two consecutive heads or exactly two consecutive tails.
Statement-1 : A, B, C are independent events.
Statement-2 : A, B, C are pairwise independent.
(A) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is correct explanation for
statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is NOT the correct
explanation for statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false. (D) Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is
true.
1 1
Sol. P(A)  P(B) 
2 2
4 1
P(C)    C  {HHT, THH, TTH, HTT}
8 2

48
 2 1 1 1
P(A  C)      P(A)P(B)
8 4 2 2
 A  C  {HHT, HTT}
2
P(B  C)   P(B)P(C)
8
B  C  {HHT, THH}
P(A  B)  P(A)P(B) ; Obviously as tosses are independent
1
Also P(A  B  C)  A  B  C  {HHT}
8
 P(A)P(B)P(C)
Hence both statement are true, but pairwise in dependence is not enough for overall
independence.

10. Let a sample space S contains n elements. Two events A and B are defined on S, and
B  .
Statement-1: The conditional probability of the event A given B, is the ratio of the
number of elements in AB divided by the number of elements in B.
Statement-2: The conditional probability model given B, is equally likely model on
B.
(A) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is correct explanation for
statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is NOT the correct
explanation for statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false. (D) Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is
true.
 n(A  B) 
 
 A  P  A  B   n(S) 
Sol. P   
B P(B)  n(B) 
 n(S) 
 
n(A  B)

n(B)
 S1 is true
S2 is obviously true

11. A bag contains 6 balls of 3 different colours namely White, Green and Red, atleast
one ball of each different colour. Assume all possible probability distributions are
equally likely.
(a) The probability that the bag contains 2 balls of each colour, is
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 5 10 4
(b) Three balls are picked up at random from the bag and found to be one of each
different colour. The probability that the bag contained 4 Red balls is
1 2 3 4
(A) (B) (C) (D)
14 14 14 14

49
 (c) Three balls are picked at random from the bag and found to be one of each different
colour. The probability that the bag contained equal number of White and Green balls,
is
4 3 2 5
(A) (B) (C) (D)
14 14 14 14
Sol. x1  x 2  x 3  6
1 1 1
 x 2 ' x 2 ' x 3 '  3
3  2 C2  5C 2  10 total configurations
1
(A) P(2 each) 
10
(B) P(4R/ 3 = each different)
P(4R  3  each diff )

P(3  each diff )

1 4 C11C11C1
 6
10 C3
1 1 1
 C1  1 C14 C1  2 C13 C 4  3C12 C1  4 C11C1   2 C1  1 C13C1  2 C12 C1  3 C11C1   3C1  1 C12 C1  2 C11C1   4C1  1 C11C1 
10 6 C 3 
4
P
(4  6  6  4)  2(3  4  3)  3(2  2)  4
4 1
 
56 14
P(W  G  3diff )
(C) P(W  G(3diff )) 
P(3 diff )
2
C1  2 C12C1   4C1  1 C11C1 

56
8 4 3
 
56 14
1 1
(Terms of & 6 cancel out)
10 C3

12. Two fair dice are rolled. Let P(Ai) >0 denotes the event that the sum of the number
appearing on the faces of the dice is divisible by i.
(a) Which one of the following events is most probable?
(A) A3 (B) A4 (C) A5 (D) A6

(b) For which one of the following pairs (i, j) are the events Ai and Aj are independent?
(A) (3, 4) (B) (4, 6) (C) (2, 3) (D) (4, 2)

(c) Number of all possible ordered pairs (i, j) for which the events Ai and Aj are
independent.
(A) 6 (B) 12 (C) 13 (D) 25
Sol. (A) A 3  {3, 6} A 4  {4}

50
 A5  {4} A 6  {6}
 P(A 3 ) is max.
(B) A 3  A 4  A 4  A 6  
 Can’t be independent
3 2
P(A 2 )  P(A3 ) 
6 6
1
P(A 2  A3 )   P(A 2 )P(A3 )
6
Hence, independent
1 3
P(A 4 )  P(A 2 ) 
6 6
1
P(A 2  A 4 )   P(A 2 )P(A 4 )
6
6
(C) There are C2  2  30 ordered pairs.
Let talk about ‘15’
If i = 1  Definitely Ai & Aj are independent (5)
3, 4, 5, 6
   
If i = 2  j  3 , 2 , 3 , 1
2 6 6 6
1 1
6 6
5, 6
1 1
If i = 3  j  ,
6 6
0
6
If I = 5  j  6
 5  1  6 for order ,
6  2  12 are independent

13. A multiple choice test question has five alternative answers, of which only one is
correct. If a student has done his home work, then he is sure to identify the correct
answer; otherwise, he chooses an answer at random.
Let E : denotes the event that a student does his home work with P(E) = p and
F : denotes the event that he answer the question correctly.
(a) If p = 0.75 the value of P(E/F) equals
8 10 12 15
(A) (B) (C) (D)
16 16 16 16

(b) The relation P(E/F)  P(E) holds good for

(A) all values of p in [0, 1] (B) all values of p in (0, 1) only
(C) all values of p in [0.5, 1] only (D) no value of p.
(c) Suppose that each question has n alternative answers of which only one is correct, and
p is fixed but not equal to 0 or 1 then P(E/F)

51
 (A) decreases as n increases for all p  (0, 1) (B) increases as n increases for
all p  (0, 1)
(C) remains constant for all p  (0, 1)
(D) decreases if p  (0, 0.5) and increases if p  (0.5, 1) as n increases
 E  P(E  F)
Sol. (A) P   
F P(F)
P.1

1
P.1  (1  P)
5
5P

4P  1
15
15
 4 
3  1 16
(B) P(E / F)  P(E)
P(E  F)
  P(E)
P(F)
 P(E  F)  P(E)P(F)
 p.1  P.P(F)
 1  P(F) which is always true
E 5p 5
(C) P    
 F  4p  1 4  1
P
If P 
1

P
1
 4 
P
5
 
1
4
P

MULTIPLE OBJECTIVE TYPE

14. A boy has a collection of blue and green marbles. The number of blue marbles belong
to the sets {2, 3, 4, ..... 13}. If two marbles are chosen simultaneously and at random
from his collection, then the probability that they have different colour is 1 2 .
Possible number of blue marbles is :
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 6 (D) 10
Sol. x(B)y(G)

x
C1y C1 1

x  y C2 2

52
 (x  y)(x  y  1)
 xy 
4
2
 (x  y)  (x  y)  4xy
 (x  y) 2  (x  y)  4xy
 x 2  y 2  x  y  2xy
 y 2  (2x  1)y  (x 2  x)  0
(2x  1)  4x 2  4x  1  4x 2  4x
y
2
(2x  1)  8x  1
y
2
As y  I
8x  1 must be perfect square & also odd
which it is by detant
 8x  1 is odd

15. If A & B are two events such that P(B)  1, BC denotes the event complementry to B,
then
P (A)  P (A  B)
(A) P  A BC  =
1  P (B)
(B) P (A  B)  P(A) + P(B)  1
(C) P(A) > < P  A B  according as P  A BC  > < P(A)
(D) P  A BC  + P  A C BC  = 1
C
 A  P(A  B )
Sol. (A) P  C  
B  P(BC )
P(A)  P(A  B)

1  P(B)
(B) P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
 

1

 P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  1

 A 
(C) P  C   P(A)
B 
P(A)  P(A  B)
  P(A)
1  P(B)
 P(A)  P(A  B)  P(A)  P(A)P(B)
 P(A  B)  P(A)P(B)
P(A  B)
  P(A)
P(B)
A
 P    P(A)
B
(D) P(A / B )  P(AC / BC )  1  True
C
  


53
 LHS is the probability of
A happening or not happening, is sure as a will either happen or not happen.

3 1 5
16. For P(A) = ; P(B) = ; P(A  B) = which of the following do/does hold good?
8 2 8
(A) P  A B   2P  A B 
c c
(B) P(B) = P  A B 
(C) 15 P  A c Bc   8 P  B A c  (D) P  A Bc   P  A  B 
Sol.  P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
5 3 1
    P(A  B)
8 8 2
1
 P(A  B) 
4
 A C  P(A  B)
(A) P   (A C  A)
 B  P(B)
P(B)  P(A  B)

P(B)
1
1
 1 4 
1 2
2
P(A  B) P(A)  P(A  B)
P(A / BC )  
P(B) P(B)
3 1

8 4
1
1
2
1

4
Similarly, check other options

17. If E1 and E2 are two events such that P(E1) = 1/4, P(E2/E1) =1/2 and P(E1/ E2) = 1/4
(A) then E1 and E2 are independent
(B) E1 and E2 are exhaustive
(C) E2 is twice as likely to occur as E1
(D) Probabilities of the events E1  E2 , E1 and E2 are in G.P.
E  1 P  E 2  E1  1
Sol.  P 2    
 E1  2 P(E1 ) 2
1
 P(E 2  E1 ) 
8
1
Also P  E1 / E 2  
4
P(E1  E 2 ) 1
 
P(E 2 ) 4

54
 1 1
 P(E 2 )   4   2P(E1 )
8 2
1
Now P(E1  E 2 )   P(E1 )P(E 2 )
8
 Independent
Also P(E1  E 2 )  P(E1 )  P(E 2 )  P(E1  E 2 )
1 1 1
   1
4 2 8
Hence, not exhanstive
Finally, P(E1  E 2 ), P(E1 ), P(E 2 )
1 1 1
are , ,  GP
8 4 4

18. Two events A and B are such that the probability that at least one of them occurs is
5/6 and both of them occurring simultaneously is 1/3. If the probability of not
occurrence of B is 1/2 then
(A) A and B are equally likely (B) A and B are independent
(C) P(A/B) = 2/3 (D) 3 P(A) = 4 P(B)
5
Sol. P(A  B) 
6
1 1
P(A  B)  P(PB) 
3 2
 P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B)
5  1 1
  P(A)  1   
6  2 3
2
 P(A) 
3
1 1 2
Now, P(A  B)     P(B)  P(A)
3 2 3
 Independent
 A  P(A  B)
Also, P   
B P(B)
1
2
3
1 3
2
2
P(A) 3 4
And  
P(B) 1 3
2
19. The probabilities of events, A  B, A, B & A  B are respectively in A.P. with
probability of second term equal to the common difference. Therefore the events A
and B are
(A) mutually exclusive
(B) independent
(C) such that one of them must occur

55
 (D) such that one is twice as likely as the other
Sol.
20. A box contains 11 tickets numbered from 1 to 11. Six tickets are drawn
simultaneously at random.
Let E1 denotes the event that the sum of the numbers on the tickets drawn is even
and E2 denotes the event that the sum of the numbers on the tickets drawn is odd
Which of the following hold good ?
(A) E1 and E2 are equally likely (B) E1 and E2 are exhaustive
(C) P(E2) > P(E1) (D) P(E 1/E2) = P(E2 / E1)
Sol. P(E1) = P(Even)
= P(6 Even ) + P(4 Even ) + P(2 Even ) + P(0 Even )
0  5C 4 6 C 4  5C 2  6C 4  6C6
 11
C6
5  15  10  15  1
 11
C6
90  150  1 241
 11

C6 420
179
 P(E 2 )  1  P(E1 )   P(E1 )
420
Also, sum be even or odd, hence exhanstive

21. If E & F are the complementary events of events E & F respectively & if 0 < P
(F) < 1, then :
(A) P (EF) + P( E F) = 1 (B) P (EF) + P(E F ) = 1
(C) P ( E F) + P (E F ) = 1 (D) P (E F ) + P ( E  F ) = 1
E E
Sol. (A) P       1
F F
is the probability of E happening or not happening, after ‘F’ has happened; hence it is
true.
(D) same as (A)
E E
(B) P       1 is the probab of E happening, with or without F; which is not
F  F
necessarily true
(C) Similar reasoning

22. Probability of n heads in 2n tosses of a fair coin can be given by

n
2
n
 2r  1  n
nr n n
 Cr 
2  n
Cr 
(A)   2r 
 (B)   
2r 
(C) 
r 0  2
n 
(D) r 0
2
r 1 r 1   n n 
  Cr 
 r0 

56
 n n
2n1 1
Sol. P  Cn    
 2 2
 
n tosses heads n tails
2n
1
P  2n C n .  
2
2n
2n  1 
(A) P   
n n2
2n
2n  n  (1  3  5.....(2n  1))  1 
  
n n 2
1  3  5......(2n  1)

n 2n
1  2  3........n
1  3  5.........(2n  1)

2  4  6..........(2n)
n
 2r  1 
  
r 1  2r 
2
n
 n Cr   1  n n 2
(C)   n    n    Cr 
r 0  2   2  r 0
1
 2n  (2n Cn )
2
2n
C
 2n n  P
2
2
(D) Denominator    C n
r

 (2n ) 2  2 2n
23. Which of the following statements is/are True?
(A) A fair coin is tossed n times where n is a positive integer. The probability that nth
toss results in head is 1/2.
(B) The conditional probability that the nth toss results in head given that first (n – 1)
tosses results in head is 1 2 n
(C) Let E and F be the events such that F is neither impossible nor sure.
If P(E/F) > P(E) then P(E/Fc) > P(E)
(D) If A, B and C are independent then the events (A  B) and C are independent.
Sol. (A) All tosses are independent
(B) All tosses are independent
(C) P(F)  0;1
E
If P    P(E)
F
P(E  F)
  P(E)
P(F)
 P(E  F)  P(E)P(F)
Now, for P(E / F)  P(E)

57
 P(E  F)
  P(E)
P(F)
P(E)  P(E  F)
  P(E)
1  P(F)
 P(E)  P(E  F)  P(E)  P(E)P(F)
 P(E  F)  P(E)P(F)
(D) P((A  B)  C)  P((A  C)  (B  C))
 P(A  C)  P(B  C)  P((A  C)  (B  C))
 P(A)P(C)  P(B)  P(C)  P(A)P(B)P(C)
 P(C)  P(A)  P(B)  P(A  B) 
 P(C)P(A  B)
 Independent

MATCH THE COLUMN

24. Column-I Column-II
(A) Two different numbers are taken from the set (P) 4
{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}.The probability
that their sum and positive difference, are both
multiple of 4, is x 55 then x equals
(B) There are two red, two blue, two white and certain (Q) 6
number (greater than 0) of green socks in a drawer.
If two socks are taken at random from the (R) 8
drawer without replacement, the probability that they
are of the same colour is 1/5 then the number of green
socks are
(C) A drawer contains a mixture of red socks and blue (S) 10
socks, at most 17 in all. It so happens that when
two socks are selected randomly without replacement,
there is a probability of exactly 1 2 that both
are red or both are blue. The largest possible
number of red socks in the drawer that is consistent
with this data, is
Sol. (A)  a  b  4
If b  0 a  4,8


b=1 a  5,9 ( a  b  4k)


b = 2 a = 6, 10

   ba = 7, 11
× ×
b=4 a=8

   b=5 a=9
×

58
 b = 6 a = 10
 
n = 7 a = 11
×
11
Total ways  C2  2
Favourable = 6 × 2
12 6
 P  x6
1110 55
(B) 2R, 2B,
 2W, xG

1
P(Same Colour) 
5
2
C2  C 2  C 2  2 C2 1
2 2
 
x  6C2 5
 x(x  1)  (x  6)(x  5)
 5 3  
 2  2
2 2
 5(6  x  x)  x  11x  30
 4x 2  16x  0
x  0, 4

(C) (x)R, (y)B

x
C2  y C2 1
P 
x  y C2 2
x(x  1)  y(y  1) 1
 
(x  y)(x  y  1) 2
 2(x 2  x  y 2  y)  (x  y) 2  (x  y)
 2x 2  2x  2y 2  2y
 x 2  y 2  2xy  x  y
 x 2  y 2  x  y  2xy  0
 y 2  (2x  1)y  (x 2  x)  0
(2x  1)  8x  1
y
2
8x  1  7 perfect square
x  4, 6,8,10
  
 x  6 or10

25. Column-I Column-II

(A) In a knockout tournament 2 n equally skilled players; (P) 3
S1, S2, ............. S2n are participating. In each round
players are divided in pair at random and winner
from each pair moves in the next round. If S2 reaches

59
 the semifinal then the probability that S1 wins the
1
tournament is . The value of 'n' equals (Q) 4
20
(B) In a multiple choice question there are four
alternative answers of which one or more
than one is correct. A candidate will get marks
on the question only if he ticks all the correct
answers. The candidate ticks the answers at random. (R) 5
If the probabilit y of the candidate getting marks on
the question is to be greater than or equal to 1/3
the least number of chances he should be allowed is
(C) All the face cards from a pack of 52 playing cards are (S) 6
removed. From the remaining pack half of the cards
are randomly removed without looking at them and
then randomly drawn two cards simultaneously
from the remaining. If the probability that, two cards
p( 38C 20 )
drawn are both aces, is 40 , then the value of p is
C 20 · 20C 2
(D) An unbiased normal coin is tossed 'n' times. Let
E 1 : event that both Heads and Tails are present in 'n' tosses.
E 2 : event that the coin shows up Heads atmost once.
The value of 'n' for which E 1 and E 2 are independent, is

1
Sol. (A) P(S1 wins / S2 reaches semis) =
20
P(S1wins  S2Semis) 1
 
P(S2Semis) 20
 1  3C1  2n  2 
 
 2n  1
 4 n
 C1  2  1  20
 n 
 2 
3 1 1
  n 
4 2  1 20
 15  2n 2  1
2 n  16  n  4
Every arrangement gives one possible way of tournament happeniny
1
(B) P(Success) 
3
Let there be ‘n’ attempts

Total ways of attempting = 2 4  4  15


ABCD


60
 Leave or tick
1
1 – P(no success) 
3
2
 P(no success) 
3
14 13 12 15  n 2
   .....  
15 14 13 15  n  1 3

nth attempt
15 2
 
15 3
 45  3n  30
3n  15  n  5
(C) 12 face cards gone
40 Remaining, 20 removed
4
C 4 3 1
P(2 aces)  40 2  
C2 40  39 130
P  .38 C20 1
 40 20

C 20  C2 130

38
P
20 18 1
 
40 20 130

20 20 2 18
2P 1
 
40  39 130
 2P  12  P  6
(Remove 20 cards has no effect on overall probability)
(D) P(E1) = 1 – P(all H) – P(all T)
n n
1 1
 1     
2 2
n
1 1
 1  2    1  n 1
 2 2
P(E 2 )  P(0H)  P(1H)
n n n 1
1 1 1
    n C1    
2  2  2
n
 1  1 n
 (1  n C1 )     n
 2 2
P(E1  E 2 )  P(1H, n  1T)
1 n 1
n 1 1
 C1     
2 2

61
  key are independent
P(E1  E 2 )  P(E1 )P(E 2 )
n
n 1  1   n 1 
 C1    1  n 1   n 
 2   2  2 
n
C1 (2n  2) n  1
 
2n 2 2n
 n  (2 n )  (n  1)(2 n  2)
2n  2 n
 n

2 n 1
n 1
2 1 n
 n 1

2 n 1
1 1
 
2n 1 n  1
 2 n 1  n  1

n  3, 4,5, 6


62
 EXERCISE-I
Q.1 In a box , there are 8 alphabets cards with the letters : S, S, A, A, A, H, H, H.
Find the probability that the word ‘ASH’ will form if :
(i) the three cards are drawn one by one & placed on the table in the same order that
they are drawn.
(ii) the three cards are drawn simultaneously .
3 2 3 3
Sol. ' A ''S'H '    
8 7 6 56
2
C  3 C  3 C1 15 9
P(E)  1 8 1  
C3 56 28

Q.2 Numbers are selected at random , one at a time, from the two digit numbers 00, 01,
02, ..... , 99 with replacement. An event E occurs if & only if the product of the two
digits of a selected number is 18. If four numbers are selected, find the probability
that the event E occurs at least 3 times.
Sol. Out of no s 00, 01 _ _ _ _ _ _ 99
no. s the product of whose digit is 18 are 29, 36, 63, 92
4 1 24
 P(E)   , P(E) 
100 25 25
3 4
 1   24   1 
prob. of atleast 3 times = 4 C3      4 C4  
 25   25   25 
97

(25) 4

Q.3 To pass a test a child has to perform successfully in two consecutive tasks, one easy
and one hard task. The easy task he can perform successfully with probability 'e' and
the hard task he can perfrom successfully with probability 'h', where h < e. He is
allowed 3 attempts, either in the order (Easy, Hard, Easy) (option A) or in the order
(Hard, Easy, Hard) (option B) whatever may be the order, he must be successful twice
in a row. Assuming that his attempts are independent, in what order he choses to take
the tasks, in order to maximise his probability of passing the test.
Sol. Easy

P(Easy pass (EP)) = e P(Easy fail (EF)) = 1 – e

Hard

P(Hard pass (EP)) = h P(Hand fail (HF)) = 1 – h]

Option A order  E, H, E
for Passing  E P H P E P or E F H P E P or E P H P E P
 eh(1  e)  (1  e)he  ehe
 eh(1  e  4  e  e)  eh(2  e)
Option B order  H, E, H
for passing  H P E P H F or H F E P H P or H P E P H P
 he(1  h)  (1  h)eh  heh

1
  he(2  h)
e  h
for putting options B is better.

Q.4 There are 2 groups of subjects one of which consists of 5 science subjects & 3 engg.
subjects & other consists of 3 science & 5 engg. subjects . An unbiased die is cast . If
the number 3 or 5 turns up a subject is selected at random from first group, otherwise
the subject is selected from 2nd group . Find the probability that an engg. subject is
selected.
Sol. G–1 G–2
5 Science 3 Science
3 engg. 5 engg
2 1 4 2
P(G1 )  P(3 or 5)   , P(G)  P(1, 2, 4, 6)  
6 3 6 3
 E   E 
P(Engg.)  P(G1 )  P    P(G 2 )  P  
 G1   G2 
1 3 2 5
   
3 8 3 8
13

24

Q.5 A pair of fair dice is tossed. Find the probability that the maximum of the two
numbers is greater than 4.
Sol. Fav cases of maximum of 2 no. is greater than 4 are
(1, 5)(2,5)(3,5)(4,5)(1, 6)(2, 6)(3, 6)(4,6)(5, 6)  9 Pairs
9  2  18 (bcoz if (1, 5) then (5, 1) also possible) and (5,5) and (6,6) so total fav. = 20
20 5
P(E)  
36 9

Q.6 In a building programme the event that all the materials will be delivered at the
correct time is M, and the event that the building programme will be completed on
time is F . Given that P (M) = 0.8 and
P (M  F) = 0.65, find P (F/M) . If P (F) = 0.7, find the probability that the building
programme will be completed on time if all the materials are not delivered at the
correct time .
 F
Sol. P(M) = 0.8 P(M  F)  0.65 P   ?
M
 F  P(F  M) 0.65 13
P    
M P(M) 0.8 16
 F
P    Prob. that building program will be completed on time if all the materials
M
are not delivered at correct time
 F 1
P  
M 4

2
Q.7 In a given race, the odds in favour of four horses A, B, C & D are 1 : 3, 1 : 4, 1 : 5
and 1 : 6 respectively. Assuming that a dead heat is impossible, find the chance that
one of them wins the race.
1
Sol. Prob. of winning the horse A, P(A) 
4
1
Prob. of winning the horse B, P(B) 
5
1
Prob. of winning the horse C, P(C) 
6
1
Prob. of winning the horse D, P(D) 
7
P(E)  P(A)  P(B)  P(C)  P(D)
1 1 1 1 105  84  70  60
    
4 5 6 7 420
319

420

Q.8 A covered basket of flowers has some lilies and roses. In search of rose, Sweety and
Shweta alternately pick up a flower from the basket but puts it back if it is not a rose.
Sweety is 3 times more likely to be the first one to pick a rose. If sweety begin this
'rose hunt' and if there are 60 lilies in the basket, find the number of roses in the
basket.
Sol.

60 lilies
(n + 60) flowers
n rose
n 60
P(S)  , P(F) 
n  60 n  60
P(sweety) = 3 P(shweta)  (1)
P(S)
P(Sweety wins) = P (S + FFS + _ _ _ _) =
1  P(F)P(F)
P(Shweta wins) = P(FS + FFFS + _ _ _ _)
P(F)  P(S)

1  P(F)  P(F)
Put in equation (1)
P(S) 3(F)  P(S)

1  P(F)  P(F) 1  P(F)  P(F)
 60 
1  3  
 n  60 
n  120
Q.9 The probability that an archer hits the target when it is windy is 0.4; when it is not
windy, her probability of hitting the target is 0.7. On any shot, the probability of a
gust of wind is 0.3. Find the probability that

3
(a) She hit the target on first shot
(b) Hits the target exactly once in two shots
Sol. Prob. of windy P()  0.3
P()  0.7
(a) P(S)  P()  (0.4)  P()  (0.7)
 0.3  0.4  0.7  0.7
 0.12  0.49
 0.61
so to hit target P(S) = 0.61
P(F)  1  P(S)  0.39
(b) P(Event) = SF + FS = 0.61 × 0.39 + 0.39 × 0.61
= 0.4758
Q.10 There are 4 urns. The first urn contains 1 white & 1 black ball, the second urn
contains 2 white & 3 black balls, the third urn contains 3 white & 5 black balls & the
fourth urn contains 4 white & 7 black balls. The selection of each urn is not equally
i2  1
likely. The probability of selecting i th urn is (i = 1, 2, 3, 4). If we randomly
34
select one of the urns & draw a ball, then the probability of ball being white is p q
where p and q  N are in their lowest form. Find (p + q).
2 1
Sol. Prob of selecting 1st urn = P(w) in 1st urn 
34 2
5 2
Prob of selecting 2nd urn = P(w) in 2 nd urn =
34 5
10 3
Prob of selecting 3rd urn = P(w) in 3 rd urn =
34 8
17 4
Prob of selecting 4th urn = P(w) in 4th urn =
34 11
 2  1   5  2   10  3   17  4 
P(w)                
 34  2   34  5   34  8   34  11 
3 15 68
  
34 34  4 34  11
44  3  15 11  68  4 596
 
34  4 11 1496
p  q  2065 Ans.

Q.11 A room has three electric lamps . From a collection of 10 electric bulbs of which 6 are
good 3 are selected at random & put in the lamps. Find the probability that the room is
lighted.
Sol.
10 bulbs
 
6good 4defective
P(E) = 1 – (all three are defective)

4
 4
C3 4 1
 1 40
 1  1
C3 120 3
29

30

Q.12 A bomber wants to destroy a bridge. Two bombs are sufficient to destroy it.
If four bombs are dropped, what is the probability that it is destroyed, if the chance of
a bomb hitting the target is 0.4.
 2
Sol. E = Bridge is destroyed  0.4  
 5
P(E) = P(SS or SFS or FFSS)
2 2 2
      3   3
   2       3    
5 5 5 5  5 5
4 24 108 100  120  108
   
25 125 625 625
328

625
Q.13 The chance of one event happening is the square of the chance of a 2nd event, but odds
against the first are the cubes of the odds against the 2nd . Find the chances of each.
(assume that both events are neither sure nor impossible).
p2 P
Sol. P(E1 )  2 P(E 2 ) 
q q
2 2
q P
odds against first =
P2
qP
odds against second =
P
3 2 2
q P  q P
  
 P  P2
(q  p)2  p(q  P)
q 2  P 2  2Pq  Pq  P 2
P 1
q 2  3Pq  
q 3
1 1
P(E1 )  , P(E 2 ) 
9 3

Q.14 A box contains 5 radio tubes of which 2 are defective . The tubes are tested one after
the other until the 2 defective tubes are discovered . Find the probability that the
process stopped on the
(i) Second test; (ii) Third test. If the process stopped on the third test , find the
probability that the first tube is non defective.
5
Sol. 
DD GGG

5
 2 1 1
(1) P(second test) = P(DD) =  
5 4 10
(2) P(third test) = P(GDD or DGD or GGG)
3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1
        
5 4 3 5 4 3 5 4 3
3

10
2
2
P(1 st is good / stopped at 3rd ) = 10 
3 3
10

Q.15 Anand plays with Karpov 3 games of chess. The probability that he wins a game is
0.5, looses with probability 0.3 and ties with probability 0.2. If he plays 3 games then
find the probability that he wins atleast two games.
Sol. P(w) = 0.5, P(D) = 0.2, P(L) = 0.3
P(E) = 2 wins atleast out of 3
P(E)  WWW  (WWD)  3  (WWL)  3
3 2 2
 1  1 1 1  3 
       3    3
 2  2 5  2   10 
1 3 9 5  6  9 20 1
     
8 20 40 40 40 2

Q.16 An aircraft gun can take a maximum of four shots at an enemy’s plane moving away
from it. The probability of hitting the plane at first, second, third & fourth shots are
0.4, 0.3, 0.2 & 0.1 respectively. What is the probability that the gun hits the plane .
Sol. P(E) = H + MH + MMH + MMMH H – HIT, M – MISS
 0.4  (0.6)(0.3)  (0.6)(0.7)(0.2)  (0.6)(0.7)(0.8)(0.1)
 0.4  0.18  0.084  0.0336
 0.6976

Q.17 In a batch of 10 articles, 4 articles are defective. 6 articles are taken from the
batch for inspection. If more than 2 articles in this batch are defective , the whole
batch is rejected Find the probability that the batch will be rejected.
10
Sol.    6 articles
4def 6good
P(more than 2 defective) = P(3D or 4D)
4
C  6 C3  4 C4  6 C 2
 3 10
C6
19

42

6
Q.18 A game is played with a special fair cubic die which has one red side, two blue sides,
and three green sides. The result is the colour of the top side after the die has been
rolled. If the die is rolled repeatedly, the probability that the second blue result occurs
3p  2q
on or before the tenth roll, can be expressed in the form where p, q, r are
3r
positive integers, find the value of p2 + q2 + r2.
1 2
Sol. P(B)  , P(B) 
3 3
10 9
2  2 1
1  C0    10 C1    
10

3  3   3
10 9
2 10.2
1  10  10
3 3
10 10
3  6.2 39  211
10
 P = 9, q = 11, r = 9
3 39
P 2  q 2  r 2  283

Q.19 One hundred management students who read at least one of the three business
magazines are surveyed to study the readership pattern. It is found that 80 read
Business India, 50 read Business world and 30 read Business Today. Five students
read all the three magazines. A student was selected randomly. Find the probability
that he reads exactly two magazines.
Sol. A  (Business india) = 80
B  ( Business world) = 50
C  ( Business today) = 30
P(A  B  C)  5
n(only A) + n(A  B)  n(A  B)  n(A  B  C)  80
n(only A) + n(A  B)  n(A  C)  75
Similary n(only B) + n(A  B)  n(B  C)  45
n(only C) + n(A  C)  n(B  C)  25
Also n(only B) + n(only B) + n(only C) +
n(A  B)  n(B  C)  n(C  A)  n(A  B  C)  100 …..(1)
Substitute n(only A), n(only B), n(only C) in equation (1)
75  n(A  B)  n(A  C)  45  n(A  B)  n(B  C)
25  n(A  C)  n(B  C)  n(A  B)  n(B  C)  n(C  A)  5  100
n(A  B)  n(A  C)  n(B  C)  75  25  45  5  100
= 50
1
So P(E) 
2

Q.20 An author writes a good book with a probability of 1/2. If it is good it is published
with a probability of 2/3. If it is not, it is published with a probability of 1/4. Find the
probability that he will get atleast one book published if he writes two.

7
 1 2 1  1  11
         
2 3 2  4  24
Sol. P(Published) =    
good published not good published
11 13
P(Not published) = 1  
24 24
P (that atleast 1 book published) = 1 – P(No book published)
 13  13  407
 1     
 24  24  576

Q.21 3 students {A, B, C} tackle a puzzle together and offers a solution upon which
majority of the 3 agrees. Probability of A solving the puzzle correctly is p. Probability
of B solving the puzzle correctly is also p. C is a dumb student who randomly
supports the solution of either A or B. There is one more student D, whose probability
of solving the puzzle correctly is once again, p. Out of the 3 member team {A, B, C}
and one member team {D}, Which one is more likely to solve the puzzle correctly.
Sol. A B C prob
 A and B  P2
P(1  P)
× with A 
2
P(1  P)
×  with 
2
2
P P P P2
So P(solving puzzle) = P 2     P
2 2 2 2
So equally likely

Q.22 A uniform unbised die is constructed in the shape of a regular tetrahedron with faces
numbered 2, 2, 3 and 4 and the score is taken from the face on which the die lands. If
two such dice are thrown together, find the probability of scoring.
(i) exactly 6 on each of 3 successive throws.
(ii) more than 4 on at least one of the three successive throws.
Sol. Exactly 6  (2, 4) or (3, 3) or (4, 2)
2 1 1
P(2 and 4) =  
4 4 8
1 1 1
P(3, 3) =  
4 4 16
1
P(4 and z) =
8
1 1 1 5
so P(exactly 6) =   
8 16 8 16
3
 5  125
(1) Exactly 6 on 3 successive throws =    3
 16  16
1 1 1
(2) P(Exactly 4)   
2 2 4
1 – (exactly 4 on all 3 throws)

8
 3
 1  63
1   
 4  64
Q.23 Two cards are drawn from a well shuffled pack of 52 cards. Find the probability
that one of them is a red card & the other is a queen.
Sol. No. of red queen = 2
No. of red card = 26
Case (1) (Red card not queen) × (Red queen)
24
C1  2C1
Case (2) (Red queen) (Red queen)
2
C2
Case (3) (Red Card) × (Queen (not red))
26
C1  2 C1
24
C1  2 C1  2 C 2  26 C1  2 C1
P(E)  52
C2
48  1  52 101
 52 
C2 1326
Q.24 A cube with all six faces coloured is cut into 64 cubical blocks of the same size
which are thoroughly mixed. Find the probability that the 2 randomly chosen
blocks have 2 coloured faces each.
Sol. Exactly two faces coloured cubes = 24
Total small cubes = 64
24
C 24! 2! 62! 24  23 23
P  64 2    
C 2 2! 22! 64! 64  63 168

Q.25 Consider the following events for a family with children

A = {of both the genders} ; B = {at most one boy}
In which of the following (are/is) the events A and B are independent.
(a) if a family has 3 children (b) if a family has 2 children
Assume that the birth of a boy or a girl is equally likely mutually exclusive and
exhaustive.
Sol. (a) S  {BBB, BBG, BGB, GBB, GGB, GBG, BGG, GGG}
A = {BBG, BGB, GBB, GGB, GBG, BGG}
6 3
P(A)  
8 4
B = {GGB, GBG, BGG, GGG}
4 1
P(b)  
8 2
3
P(A  B) 
8
P(A  B)  P(A)P(B) so independent
(b) S  {BB, BG, GB, GG}
1
A  {BG, GB}  P(A) 
2

9
 3
B  {BG, GB, GG}  P(B) 
4
1
P(A  B) 
2
But here P(A  B)  P(A)  P(B)
A and B are not independent events.

Q.26 A player tosses an unbiased coin and is to score two points for every head turned up
and one point for every tail turned up. If Pn denotes the probability that his score is
exactly n points, prove that
1
Pn – Pn – 1 = (Pn – 2 – Pn – 1) n> 3
2
Also compute P1 and P2 and hence deduce the pr that he scores exactly 4.
1 1
Sol. Pn   Pn 1      Pn 2 
2  2
 
When we get head after (n – 2) points we get n point
when we get tail after (n – 1) points we get n point
1
Pn  (Pn 1  Pn  2 )
2
2Pn  Pn 1  Pn  2
2Pn  2Pn 1  Pn  2  Pn 1
1
Pn  Pn 1  (Pn 2  Pn 1 )
2
1
P(2)  P(2) = TT or H
2
 1  1  1 1 1 3
       
 2  2  2 4 2 4
n =3
1 11 3 5
P3   P2  P1      
2 22 4 8
Similarly
1 1  5 3  11
n = 4 P4   P3  P2      
2 2  8 4  16

Q.27 Each of the ‘n’ passengers sitting in a bus may get down from it at the next
stop with probability p . Moreover , at the next stop either no passenger or
exactly one passenger boards the bus . The probability of no passenger boarding
the bus at the next stop being po . Find the probability that when the bus
continues on its way after the stop , there will again be ‘n’ passengers in the
bus.
Sol. n passengers

10
 Cases – I
No passenger gets down at next stop + no passenger board the bus
P(I)  (1  P)n  P0
Cases – II
Only one passengers get down at next stop and 1 passenger board the bus
P(II) = P(II)  n C1 (P)(1  P)n 1 (1  P0 )
So P(E)  P(I)  P(II)
 (1  P)n 1 (P0 (1  P)  nP(1  P0 ))

Q.28 A jar contains 2n throughly mixed balls, n white and n black balls. n persons each of
whom draw 2 balls simultaneously from the bag without replacement.
(a) If the probability that each of the n person draw both balls of different colours is 8 35
, then find the value of n.
(b) If n = 4 then find the probability that each of the 4 persons draw balls of the same
colour.
(c) If n = 7 then the probability that each of the 7 persons draw balls of same colour, lies
in the interval.
Sol. black (n) balls white (n) balls
n
C1  n C1 n 1 C1  n 1C1 n  2 C1  n 2 C1 1
C1  1C1
(A)  2n
   ...... 
C2 2n  2C 2 2n  4 C2 2
C2
(n  n)  (n  1)(n  1)  (n  2)(n  2)  ......(1)(1)

(2n)(2n  1) (2n  2)(2n  3) (2n  4)(2n  5) (2)(1)
..... 
2 2 2 2
2 n
(n!) (2) 8
 
(2n)! 35
on solving we get n = 4
(B) If n = 4 Black balls white balls
(4) (4)
B,B,W,W arrangement
 4! 
 
 2!2! 
 4  3  2 1 4  3  2  1  4!
P(E)   
 8  7  6  5  4  3  2 1  2! 2!
1 24
 
70 4
3

35
(C) If n = 7 7 black balls 7 white balls
It is not possible to every one to get same colour of 2 balls
P(E)  0

Q.29 Two bad eggs are accidently mixed with ten good ones. Three eggs are drawn at
random without replacement, from this lot. Compute mean & S.D. for the number of
bad eggs drawn.
Sol. 2 bad eggs 10 good ones

11
 X P(X) X(P(x)) X 2 (P(x))
10
C3
0 12
0 0
C3
10
C3  2 C1 90 90
1 12 12 12
C3 C3 C3
10
C3  2 C2 20 40
2 12 12 12
C3 C3 C3
90  20 110  6 1
So mean =  X i P(x i )  12  
C3 12 1110 2
2
Var =  P(x)x  2
130 1 130  6 1
 12
  
C3 4 12 1110 4
13 1
   0.3409
22 4
S.D. var  0.3409  0.5838

Q.30 16 players take part in a tennis tournament. The order of the matches is chosen at
random. There is always a player better than another one, the better wins. Find
(a) The probability that all the 4 best players reach the semifinals.
(b) The probability that the sixth best reaches the semifinals.
16!
Sol. (a) n(S)  (four equal groups)
(4!)4 4!

Excluding the best 4, remaining 12 players can be divided into 4 equal groups on
12!
ways and one each from the best 4 can be distributed in4! ways hence
(3!) 4 4!

12!4! 12!
n(A)  
(3!)4! (3!)4

12! (4!) 4 4! 64
 P(A)   
(3!)4 16! 455

16!
(b) n(S) 
(4!) 4 4!

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 (5 best)

Now 16 P6 (6th best)

10 others

10 people can be divided in two groups of 3 and 7 in 10! ways

3!7!

12
Now each group of 7 along with best 5 i.e. 12 people can be divided into 3 equal
12!
groups of 4 person in ways and P6 lies with group of 3 people
(4!)3  3!

10! 12!

3!7! (4!)3  (3!) 24
Hence P(B)  
16! 91
3
(4!)  3!

13
Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MC SIR) Probabililty

EXERCISE-II
Q.1 The probabilities that three men hit a target are, respectively, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.4. Each
fires once at the target. (As usual, assume that the three events that each hits the target
are independent)
(a) Find the probability that they all : (i) hit the target ; (ii) miss the target
(b) Find the probability that the target is hit : (i) at least once, (ii) exactly once.
(c) If only one hits the target, what is the probability that it was the first man?
Sol. (a) (i) (0.3) (0.5) (0.4) = 0.060
(ii) (0.7) (0.5) (0.6) = 0.21
(b) (i) 1 – no one hits the target
= 1 – 0.21 = 0.79
(ii) (0.3) (0.5) (0.6) + (0.7) (0.5) (0.6) + (0.7) + (0.5) (0.4)
= 0.44
(0.3) (0.5) (0.6) 0.09 9
(c) P  
(0.44) 0.44 44
Q.2 Let A & B be two events defined on a sample space . Given P(A) = 0.4 ; P(B) = 0.80

and P  A / B  = 0.10. Then find ; (i) P  A  B  & P   A Ç B    A Ç B   .

 A  P  A  B  P (P  B)
Sol. P     0.1
B P (B) 0.2

(i) P  A  B   1  [0.4  0.22]

= 0.82

(ii) P  A  B   (A  B)   P  A  B  – P (A  B)

= 0.98 – 0.22 = 0.76

Q.3 Three shots are fired independently at a target in succession. The probabilities that the
target is hit in the first shot is 1/2 , in the second 2/3 and in the third shot is 3/4. In
case of exactly one hit , the probability of destroying the target is 1/3 and in the case
of exactly two hits, 7/11 and in the case of three hits is 1.0. Find the probability of
destroying the target in three shots.
Sol. (I) Eactly one hit
1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1
          
 2 3 4 2 3 4 2 3 4  3 12

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A B

(II) Exactly two hits

1 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 3 7 77 7
 2  3  4  2  3  4  2  3  4   11  24  11  24

(III) Three hits

1 2 3 6
    1 
2 3 4 24
6 7 1 15 5
Prob =    
24 24 12 24 8

Q.4 In a game of chance each player throws two unbiased dice and scores the difference
between the larger and smaller number which arise . Two players compete and one or
the other wins if and only if he scores atleast 4 more than his opponent . Find the
probability that neither player wins .
Sol. Let P(X) is the prob. of getting score X.
for x = 1 {(1, 2), (2, 1), (3 ,2), (2, 3), (4, 5), (5, 4), (5, 6), (6, 5), (8, 4), (4, 3)}
6
P(1) 
36
for X = 4, {(1, 5), (5, 1), (2, 6), (6, 2)}
4
P(4) =
36
for X = 5 {(1, 6) (6, 1)}
2
P(5) 
36
for X = 0, {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (4, 4), (5, 5), (6, 6)}

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MC SIR) Probabililty

6
P(0) 
36
Prob that either one of them wins
= [P(0), P(5) + [P(1), P(5)]] + [P(0), P(4)]
1 1 5 1 1 1 
       2
 6 18 18 18 6 9 
[3  5  6]  2 7
= 
18 18 81
7 74
Req. prob = 1 – 
81 81

Q.5 A certain drug , manufactured by a Company is tested chemically for its toxic
nature. Let the event "THE DRUG IS TOXIC" be denoted by H & the event "THE
CHEMICAL TEST REVEALS THAT THE DRUG IS TOXIC" be denoted by S. Let P(H) = a,
P  S / H  = P  S / H  = 1  a. Then show that the probability that the drug is not toxic

given that the chemical test reveals that it is toxic, is free from ‘a’.
S 5
Sol. P(H)  a, P    P    1  a
H H

P(S  H) P (S  H)
 1 a
a 1 a
P (S  H) 1  P(S  H)
  1 a
a 1 a
P(S) + a – 1 + (1 – a)2 = a(1 – a)
P(S) = 1 – (1 – a)2 – a2 = 1 – 1 –a2 + 2a – a2
P(S) = 2a – 2a2
 H  P(H  S) P(S)  P(H  S)
now P    
S P(S) P(S)
P (H  S)
 1
P(S)

a  a2 1 1
 1 2
 1 
2a  2a 2 2

Q.6 A plane is landing. If the weather is favourable, the pilot landing the plane can see the
runway. In this case the probability of a safe landing is p1. If there is a low cloud
ceiling, the pilot has to make a blind landing by instruments. The reliability (the

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probability of failure free functioning) of the instruments needed for a blind landing is
P. If the blind landing instruments function normally, the plane makes a safe landing
with the same probability p 1 as in the case of a visual landing. If the blind landing
instruments fail, then the pilot may make a safe landing with probability p2 < p1.
Compute the probability of a safe landing if it is known that in K percent of the cases
there is a low cloud ceiling. Also find the probability that the pilot used the blind
landing instrument, if the plane landed safely.
Sol. A : low clould ceiling
B : clear weather, S : safe landing
S S
P(S)  P(A) P    P(B) P  
A  B
 K   k 
Prob of safe landing =    P  P1  (1  P)P2   1   P1
 100   100 
k
 used blind instrument 
 PP1  (1  P)P2 
P  100
landed safely  k k
   PP1  (1  P)P2   1   P1
100  100 

Q.7 A train consists of n carriages , each of which may have a defect with probability
p. All the carriages are inspected , independently of one another , by two inspectors ;
the first detects defects (if any) with probability p 1 , & the second with probability
p2 . If none of the carriages is found to have a defect, the train departs . Find the
probability of the event ; "THE TRAIN DEPARTS WITH ATLEAST ONE DEFECTIVE

CARRIAGE ".

SOL. Prob. that a carrieages is found to be perfect by inspectors but it is defective = P(1- p1)
(1 – p2)
1 – P (1 – p1) (1 – p2) is the prob that it is not defective found perfect by inspectors
required prob = 1 – all carriages are not defective and found perfect by in sectors
= 1 – [1 – 1(1 –p 1) (1 – p2)]n

Q.8 A is a set containing n distinct elements. A non-zero subset P of A is chosen at

random. The set A is reconstructed by replacing the elements of P. A non-zero
subset Q of A is again chosen at random. Find the probability that P & Q have
no common elements.

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Sol. no. of non empty subsets of A = 2n – 1

P
P Q

3n is the total no. of pair of subsets (P, )

such that P  = 
 is P = then 2n is the no. of ways
is  = then 2 n is the no. of ways
fav. cases = 3 n – (2n + 2n) + 1
3n  2  2n  1
Prob =
(2n  1) 2
Q.9 During a power blackout, 100 persons are arrested on suspect of looting. Each is
given a polygraph test. From past experience it is known that the polygraph is 90%
reliable when administered to a guilty person and 98% reliable when given to some
one who is innocent. Suppose that of the 100 persons taken into custody, only 12 were
actually involved in any wrong doing. If the probability that a given suspect is
innocent given that the photograph says he is guilty is a b where a and b are
relatively prime, find the value of (a + b).
Sol. A : person is innocent
B : Photograph shows guilty
 A  P (A  B)
P  
B P(B)
88 2

100 100 88  2
= 
12 90 88 2 12  90  88  2
  
100 100 100 100
22

157
Q.10 n people are asked a question successively in a random order & exactly 2 of the
n people know the answer :
(a) If n > 5, find the probability that the first four of those asked do not know the
answer.

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(b) Show that the probability that the rth person asked is the first person to know the
 2(n – r) 
answer is :   , if 1 < r < n .
 n (n – 1) 
Sol. (n – 2) donot know that answer
n 2
C 4 (n  2) (n  3) (n  4) (n  5)
(a) prob.  n

C4 n (n  1) (n  2) (n  3)
(n  4) (n  5)

n (n  1)
(b) rth person is the first to know the answer then first (r –1) persons are from
those (n – 2) wo don to know the answer
n2
Cr 1 2
n

C r 1 n  (r  1)
(n  2)! (r  1)!(n  r  1)! 2
  
(r  1)!(n  r  1)! n! (n  r  1)
(n  r  1) (n  r) 2 2 (n  r)
  
n(n  1) (n  r  1) n(n  1)

Q.11 A box contains three coins two of them are fair and one two  headed. A coin is
selected at random and tossed. If the head appears the coin is tossed again, if a tail
appears, then another coin is selected from the remaining coins and tossed.
(i) Find the probability that head appears twice.
(ii) If the same coin is tossed twice, find the probability that it is two headed coin.
(iii) Find the probability that tail appears twice.
Sol. A : fair coin selected, B : biased coin selected
 HH   HH 
(i) Prob = P(A) P    P(B)P  
 A   B 
2 1 1  1
      1
3 2 2 3
(ii) Same coin is tossed twice if it is a heat.
2 1 1
P(H) =  
3 2 3

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1
 HH  3 1
P  2 1 1 
 H    2
3 2 3
2 1 1 1  1
(iii) Prob =   
3  2 2 2  12
Q.12 The ratio of the number of trucks along a highway, on which a petrol pump is located,
to the number of cars running along the same highway is 3 : 2. It is known that an
average of one truck in thirty trucks and two cars in fifty cars stop at the petrol pump
to be filled up with the fuel. If a vehicle stops at the petrol pump to be filled up with
the fuel, find the probability that it is a car.
Sol. A : Vehicle stops at Pumb
B : it is a car
2 2

 B  P (B  A) 5 50
P   
A P(A) 3 1 2 2
  
5 30 5 50
4
250 4
  Ans.
1 4 9

50 250

Q.13 A batch of fifty radio sets was purchased from three different companies A, B and C.
Eighteen of them were manufactured by A, twenty of them by B and the rest were
manufactured by C.
The companies A and C produce excellent quality radio sets with probability equal to
0.9 ; B produces the same with the probability equal to 0.6.
What is the probability of the event that the excellent quality radio set chosen at
random is manufactured by the company B?
Sol. E : excellent Male to
20 6

 B  P (B  E) 50 10
P   
E P(E) 18 9 20 6 12 9
    
50 10 50 10 50 10
120 4
 
390 13

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Q.14 Integers a, b, c and d not necessarily distinct, are chosen independently and at random
from the setS = {0, 1, 2, 3, ...... 2006, 2007}. If the probability that | ad – bc | is even,
p
is where p and q are relatively prime the find the value of (p + q).
q

Sol. (ad – bc) is even

(I) an even, bc even
(1 – both a, d odd) × (1 – both b, c odd)
 1 1  1 1  9
  1    1    
 2 2   2 2  16
(II) ad odd, bc odd
1 1 1 1 1
   
2 2 2 2 16
10 5
Ref. Prob. =  Ans.
16 8
Q.15 A doctor is called to see a sick child. The doctor knows (prior to the visit) that 90% of
the sick children in that neighbourhood are sick with the flu, denoted by F, while 10%
are sick with the measles, denoted by M.
A well known symptom of measles is a rash, denoted by R. The probability of having
a rash for a child sick with the measles is 0.95. However, occasionally children with
the flu also develop a rash, with conditional probability 0.08.
Upon examination the child, the doctor finds a rash. What is the probability that the
child has the measles?
If the probability can be expressed in the form of p q where p, q  N and are in their
lowest form,find (p + q)

 M  PM  R
Sol. P  
R P (R)
1 95

 10 100
1 95 9 8
  
10 100 10 100
95 95
 
95  72 167

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MC SIR) Probabililty

Q.16 Two cards are randomly drawn from a well shuffled pack of 52 playing cards, without
replacement. Let x be the first number and y be the second number.
Suppose that Ace is denoted by the number 1; Jack is denoted by the number 11 ;
Queen is denoted by the number 12 ; King is denoted by the number 13.
Find the probability that x and y satisfy log3(x + y) – log3x – log3 y + 1 = 0.

Sol. Log3(x + 4) – log3(xy) + 1 = 0

xy
log 3    1
 xy 
xy 1
  3x + 3y = xy
xy 3

x y
4
4 12 C1  4 C1  4 C 2 22
Pr ob  52

12 4 C2 51 26
6 6

11
5
663
Q.17(a) Two numbers x & y are chosen at random from the set {1,2,3,4,....3n}. Find the
probability that x²  y² is divisible by 3 .
(b) If two whole numbers x and y are randomly selected from the set of natural numbers,
then find the probability that x3 + y3 is divisible by 8.

Sol. x, y can be of the form 3k + r

whre r {0, 1, 2}
(3k1 + r1)2 – (3k2 + r2)2
 + (r12 + r22) is div. by 3.
3n(n  1)
n  n2
C 2  3  n C1 n C1 2
Prob = 3n

C2 (3n) (3n  1)
2

(3n 2  3n  2n 2 ) (5n  3)n

 
3n(3n  1) (3n) (3n  1)

5n  3

3(3n  1)
(b) 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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(0, 0), (0, 2), (0, 4), (0, 6), (1, 7), (2, 0), (2, 2), (2 , 4), (2, 6),
(3, 5), (4, 0), (4, 2), (4, 4), (4, 6), (5, 3), (6, 0), (6, 2)
(6, 4), (6, 6), (7, 1)
20 5
Prob =  Ans
64 16

a2
Q.18 A hunter’s chance of shooting an animal at a distance r is (r > a) . He fires
r2
when r = 2a & if he misses he reloads & fires when r = 3a, 4a, ..... If he misses at a
distance ‘na’, the animal escapes. Find the odds against the hunter.
Sol. Prob of hitting =

a2  a 2  a2  a2  a2  a 2   a2   a2  a2
  1     1    1     ......   1   ......  1  2 2  2 2
4a 2  4a 2  9a 2  4a 2   9a 2   16a 2   4a 2   (n  1) a  n a

1  11  1 1  1  1   1  1
P  1    1    ......  1   1   ...... 1  2 2
4  4  9  9  16  4  9   (n  1)  n
n
 1  1  1  1
P    1  2 1  2  ..... 1 
n2  2   3   (n  1) 2  n 2
n
1 1 1 1
 2n(n  1)  2  n  1  n 
n2

1  1  n 1
 1   
2  n  2n
odds agains n + 1 : n – 1

Q.19 A hotel packed breakfast for each of the three guests. Each breakfast should have
consisted of three types of rolls, one each of nut, cheese and fruit rolls. The preparer
wrapped each of the nine rolls and once wrapped, the rolls were indistinguishable
from one another. She then randomly put three rolls in a bag for each of the guests. If
the probability that each guest got one roll of each type is m n where m and n are
relatively prime integers, find the value of (m + n).
Sol. There are nine rolls three each of each type
a!
total no. of ways to distribute there into three guests =  3!
3!3!3!

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fav. cases when each guests gets one rolls of each type 3! × 3! × 3!

(3!)3 (3!)6
prob = 
a! 9!
(3!)3
9

70

Q.20 A coin is tossed (m + n) times (m>n). Show that the probability of at least m
n+2
consecutive heads is
2m+1
1
Sol. (I) HH....H......

   m
2
M
1 1
........l  . m
I H H .... H 
 2 2
m n 1
1 1
I H H......H......  .
   2 2m
M


1 1
IHH H .

  
 2 2m
n 1 m
1 n  1  2n
Prob =  
2m 2  2 m  2.2m

Q.21 There are two lots of identical articles with different amount of standard and defective
articles. There are N articles in the first lot, n of which are defective and M articles in
the second lot, m of which are defective. K articles are selected from the first lot and
L articles from the second and a new lot results. Find the probability that an article
selected at random from the new lot is defective.
N M
Sol.
(n) (m)

(K  L)

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 K  n  L  m
Prob =     
KL N KL M
KnM  LmN

(K  L) MN

Q.22 m red socks and n blue socks (m > n) in a cupboard are well mixed up, where m + n 
101. If two socks are taken out at random, the chance that they have the same colour
is 1/2. Find the largest value of m.
n
C2  n C2 1
Sol. m n

C2 2

m (m  1)  n (n  1) 1

(m  n) (m  n  1) 2

2[m2 + n2 – m – n] = (m + n) [m + n – 1]
2m2 + 2n2 – 2m –2n = m2 + n2 + 2mn – m – n
m2 + n2 = m – n – 2mn = 0
(m – n)2 = m + n

|m–n|= mn
given m + n  | 0 |

 m  n  max  10
m – n = 10
m + n = 100
m = 55, n = 45
Q.23 With respect to a particular question on a multiple choice test (having 4 alternatives
with only 1 correct) a student knows the answer and therefore can eliminate 3 of the 4
choices from consideration with probability 2/3, can eliminate 2 of the 4 choices from
consideration with probability 1/6, can eliminate 1 choice from consideration with
probability 1/9, and can eliminate none with probability 1/18. If the student knows the
answer, he answers correctly, otherwise he guesses from among the choices not
eliminated.
If the answer given by the student was found correct, then the probability that he
a
knew the answer is where a and b are relatively prime. Find the value of (a + b).
b
Sol. A : Knew the Answer

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MC SIR) Probabililty

B : can eliminate 2 choices

C : Can eliminate 1 choices
D : Can eliminate 1 choice
 A  P(A  correct)
P 
 correct  P (correct)

2
1
 3
2 1 1 1 1 1 1
1      
3 6 2 9 3 18 4
2 1  2  216
   
3 2 1  1  1 3[144  18  8  3]
 
 3 12 27 72 
2  72 144
 
173 173
Q.24 A match between two players A and B is won by the player who first wins two games.
A's chance of winning, drawing or losing any particular games are 1/2, 1/6 or 1/3
respectively. If the probability of A's winning the match can be expressed in the form
p/q, find (p + q).

Sol. Let the match is won by A nth game to

WDD––D

WLDD––––D

1  1 (n  1) 1 1 1 
  n  2   6 –3  (n  1) (n  2) 
2 2 6 2 36 

n 1 1  1 1 
n 3    n  2
6 4 6 3 

(n  1) 1  2n  4  (2n  3) (n  1)
 
6n 3  4  6  6 n 2  4

1  (2n  3) (n  1)
Let S   6n  2
4 n2

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11 3  2 5  6 7  4
4S    2  3  ....
60 61 6 6

1 1 3 2 5 3
4   S  1  2  3  ....
6 6 6 6

1 5 9 13
4   S  1   2  3  ....
 6 6 6 6

 5  1 5 9
4   S   2  3  ....
 36  6 6 6

1 1  4 4 4
20(S)     1   2  3  ....
 6 36  6 6 6

4
100  6  1 4  9
 36  S  1  1 5 5
1
6

36  9 81
S 
100  5 125

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

EXERCISE – III

1.
(a) If the integers m and n are chosen at random from 1 to 100, then the probability that a
number of the form 7m + 7 n is divisible by 5 equals
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4 7 8 49
m n
Sol. Unit place of 7 and 7 can be 7, 9, 3 or L
with equal chances in the given interval.
Probability
1 1  1
   4  b
4 4 4

(b) The probability that a student passes in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry are m, p
and c respectively. Of these subjects, the student has a 75% chance of passing in at least
one, a 50% chance of passing in at least two, and a 40% chance of passing in exactly
two, which of the following relations are true?
19 27 1 1
(A) p + m + c = (B) p + m + c = (C) pmc = (D) pmc =
20 20 10 4
3
Sol. P  M  P  C  
4
1
P  M  P   P  P  C   P  M  C   2P  M  P  C  
2
2
P  M  P   P  P  C   P  M  C   3P  M  C  P  
5
1 2 1
P  M  P  C   
2 5 10
7
P  M  C  P  P  C  P  P  M 
10
3
Now, P  M  P  C  
4
7 1 3
MPC  
10 10 4
3 3 27
M C   
4 5 20

(c) Eight players P1, P2, P3,..... P8 play a knock-out tournament. It is known that whenever
the players P i and Pj player P1 will win if i < j. Assuming that the players are paired at
random in each round, what is the probability that the player P4 reaches the final.
[JEE' 99, 2+3+10 (out of 200)]

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Sol. Let us divide the number of players into two sets. The winner of these two sets will
play in the finals.
P1 always reaches the final
For P4 to reach in final his set cannot contain P1 , P2 on P3 .
Set 1: P1 ,P2 ,P3 Set 2: P4 ……
The remaining player can be distributed among these sets.
Fourth player of set 1 can be selected in 4 ways.
4 4
Probability  
8! 35
4! 4! 2!

2. Four cards are drawn from a pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability of drawing
exactly one pair. [JEE' 99]
52
Sol. Total cases  C 4
Favourable cases  13 C1  4 C 2  12 C 2  4 C1  4 C1
13  6  66  16
Probability  52
 0.304
C4

3. A coin has probability ' p ' of showing head when tossed. It is tossed 'n' times. Let p n
denote the probability that no two (or more) consecutive heads occur. Prove that,
p1 = 1 , p2 = 1  p2 & p n = (1  p) p n  1 + p (1  p) p n  2 , for all n  3.
[JEE' 2000 (Mains), 5]
Sol. p1  1 (obviously)
p2  1 - both head
 1  p2
1st 2nd 3rd …… (n2)th (n2)th nth

no two consecutive heads T H

H T

no two consecutive heads

 p n  2 1  p  p   p n 1 1  p   p n

4. A and B are two independent events. The probability that both occur simultaneously is
1/6 and the probability that neither occurs is 1/3. Find the probabilities of occurance of
the events A and B separately. [REE ' 2000 (Mains),
3]
1 1
Sol. P  A  B  , 1  P  A  B 
3 3

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2
P  A   P  B  P  A  B 
3
5 1
P  A   P  B  , P  A   P  B 
6 6
Solving simultaneously,
1 1 1 1
P  A  , P  B  , or P  A  , P  B 
2 3 3 2

5. Two cards are drawn at random from a pack of playing cards. Find the probability that
one card is a heart and the other is an ace. [REE ' 2001 (Mains),
3]
Sol. Total cases  52 C 2
Fav. Cases   Ace heart, Ace    non ace heart, ace 
 3 C1  12 C1 4 C1  51
51 1
Probability  52

C 2 26

6.
(a) An urn contains 'm' white and 'n' black balls. A ball is drawn at random and is put back
into the urn along with K additional balls of the same colour as that of the ball drawn. A
ball is again drawn at random. What is the probability that the ball drawn now is white.
 m  mk  n  m
Sol. P  w      
 m  n  m  n  k  m  n  m  n  k
m  m  k   mn m
 
 m  n  m  n  k  mn

(b) An unbiased die, with faces numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 is thrown n times and the list of n
numbers showing up is noted. What is the probability that among the numbers 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, only three numbers appear in the list? [JEE ' 2001 (Mains), 5 +
5]
Sol. Total cases  6n
Fav. Cases  6 C3 3n  3  2n  3
6
C3 3n  3  2 n  3
Probability 
6n

7. A box contains N coins, m of which are fair and the rest are biased. The probability of
getting a head when a fair coin is tossed is 1/2, while it is 2/3 when a biased coin is
tossed. A coin is drawn from the box at random and is tossed twice. The first time it
shows head and the second time it shows tail. What is the probability that the coin
drawn is fair?

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[JEE ' 2002 (mains)]

 A  P  A  B
Sol. P   
B P  B
m 1 1 m
 
 N 2 2  4N
m 1 1  N  m 2 1 m 2N  m
    
N 2 2 N 3 3 4N 9N
m   36  9m
    
 4   9m  8N  8m  m  8N

8.
(a) A person takes three tests in succession. The probability of his passing the first test is p,
that of his passing each successive test is p or p/2 according as he passes or fails in the
preceding one. He gets selected provided he passes at least two tests. Determine the
probability that the person is selected.
Sol. Cases of selection
ABC  ABC  ABC  ABC
p p
p3  1  p    p  p 1  p   pp 1  p 
2 2
 1 p 1 p 
p 2 p    1  p
 2 2 
p2 2  p

(b) In a combat, A targets B, and both B and C target A. The probabilities of A, B, C

hitting their targets are 2/3, 1/2 and 1/3 respectively. They shoot simultaneously and A
is hit. Find the probability that B hits his target whereas C does not.
[JEE' 2003, Mains-2 + 2 out of 60]
1 1 1 2 1 1
Sol. Probability that A is hit      
2 3 2 3 2 3
Probability that B hit but C does not
1 2

2 3 2 1
  
1 1 1 2 1 1 4 2
    
2 3 2 3 2 3
9.
(a) Three distinct numbers are selected from first 100 natural numbers. The probability that
all the three numbers are divisible by 2 and 3 is
4 4 4
(A) (B) (C) (D)
25 35 55
4
1155

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Sol. Total cases  100 C 3

Selected numbers should be from 6,12,  , 96
Fav. Cases  16 C3
16
C3 16  15  14
Probability  
100
C3 100  99  98
45 4
 
25  33  7 1155
(b) If A and B are independent events, prove that P (A  B) · P (A'  B')  P (C), where C
is an event defined that exactly one of A or B occurs.
Sol. A and B are independent so P  A  B   P  A  P  B 

 
P  A  B  P A  B  1  P  A  B 
P C   P A  B  P  A  B  P A  B  P  A  P B
as P  A   P  A  B  and P  B   P  A  B 
2
P  A  P  B   P  A  B
2
P  A  P  B     P  A  B  
2
P  A  B  P  A  P  B   P  A  B  P  A  B
P  A  B   P  A  B   P  A  B   P  A  B  
P  C   P  A  B  P  A   B  Hence, proved.

(c) A bag contains 12 red balls and 6 white balls. Six balls are drawn one by one without
replacement of which atleast 4 balls are white. Find the probability that in the next two
draws exactly one white ball is drawn (leave the answer in terms of nCr).
[JEE 2004, 3 + 2 + 4]
Sol. A: atleast 4w in first six draws
B: one w in next two draws
 B  P  A  B
P  
A P  A
12
C 2 6 C 4  12 C1 6 C5  12 C 0 6 C6
P A  18
C6
12
C 2 6 C 4 10 C1 2 C1 12 C1 6 C5 11 C1 1 C1 12 C 0 6 C6
P A  B  18
  18 0
C6 12 C 2 18
C6 12 C 2 C6
12
B C 2 6 C 4 10 C1 2 C1  12 C1 6 C5 11 C1 1 C1
P   12
A C 2  12 C 2 6 C 4  12 C1 6 C5  12 C0 6 C6 

10.

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

(a) A six faced fair dice is thrown until 1 comes, then the probability that 1 comes in even
number of trials is [JEE 2005 (Scr)]
(A) 5/11 (B) 5/6 (C) 6/11 (D) 1/6
3
5 1 5 1
Sol. P        
6 6 6 6
5
36 5
 
25 11
1
36
(b) A person goes to office either by car, scooter, bus or train probability of which being
1 3 2 1
, , and respectively. Probability that he reaches office late, if he takes car,
7 7 7 7
2 1 4 1
scooter, bus or train is , , and respectively. Given that he reached office in
9 9 9 9
time, then what is the probability that he travelled by a car. [JEE 2005
(Mains), 2]
Sol. A: Reached in time
B: Travelled by car
 B  P  A  B
P  
A PA
1 7 3 8 2 5 1 8
P A        
7 9 7 9 7 9 7 9
1 7
P  A  B  
7 9
1 7

B 7 9
P  
 A  17  38  25  18
7 9 7 9 7 9 7 9
7 1
 
49 7

Comprehension (3 questions)
There are n urns each containing n + 1 balls such that the ith urn contains i white balls
and (n + 1 – i) red balls. Let u i be the event of selecting ith turn, i = 1, 2, 3, ......, n and
w denotes the event of getting a white ball.
11.
(a) If P(ui)  i where i = 1, 2, 3,....., n then Lim P(w) is equal to
n 
(A) 1 (B) 2/3 (C) 3/4 (D) ¼
Sol. P  u i   i
P  u i   Ki

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

P  u 1   P  u 2    P  u n   1
2
K 1  2    n   1  K 
n  n  1
  w    w   w 
P  w   P  u1   P     P  u 2   P       P  u n   P   
  u1     u2     un 
 1   2   3   n 
 K   2K    3K      nK   
 n 1   n 1  n 1  n 1
K n  2n  1 K
 12  2 2    n 2  
n 1 6
n  2n  1 2  2n  1
  
6 n  n  1 3  n  1
2
lim P  w  
n  3

(b) If P(ui) = c, where c is a constant then P(u n/w) is equal to

2 1 n 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
n 1 n 1 n 1 2
 u  P un  w 
Sol. P  n  
w P w 
n
c
n 1 2
 
1  2    n  n  1
c 
 n 1

1
(c) If n is even and E denotes the event of choosing even numbered urn ( P(u i )  ), then
n
the value of P  w E  , is [JEE 2006, 5 marks
each]
n2 n2 n 1
(A) (B) (C) (B)
2n  1 2  n  1 n 1 n 1
 w  P w  E
Sol. P   
E P E
1 2 4 n  nn 
        1
n  n 1 n 1 n  1 4 22  n2
  
1 n
 n  n  1 2 2  n  1
n 2

12.

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

(a) One Indian and four American men and their wives are to be seated randomly around a
circular table. Then the conditional probability that the Indian man is seated adjacent to
his wife given that each American man is seated adjacent to his wife is
(A) 1/2 (B) 1/3 (C) 2/5 (D) 1/5
Sol. A: Indian sitting adjacent to his wife
B: Each American sitting with his wife
5
 A  P  A  B  4!  2! 2
P    4

B P  B 5!  2! 5

(b) 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
(A) P(Ec) + P(Fc) (B) P(Ec) – P(Fc) (C) P(Ec) – P(F) (D) P(E) – P(Fc)
Sol. Let E   F  A
P  A   P  E  F 

 A  P A  G
Now, P    

P  E  F   G 
G P G  P G 
P G   P E  G   P  F  G   P E  F  G 

P G 
P  G   P  E  P G   P  F P  G   0

P G 
 1  P  E   P  F   P  E    P  F  or P  F   P  E 

(c) Let H1 , H2, ....... , Hn be mutually exclusive and exhaustive events with P(Hi) > 0, i =
1, 2, ...., n. Let E be any other event with 0 < P(E) < 1.
Statement-1: P(Hi / E) > P(E / Hi) · P(Hi) for i = 1, 2, ....., n.
n
Statement-2:  P(Hi ) = 1
i 1
(A) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true; statement-2 is a correct explanation for
statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true; statement-2 is NOT a correct explanation
for statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false.
(D) Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is true. [JEE 2007, 3+3+3]
 H  P  Hi  E 
Sol. P  i  
 E  P E 

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

 E 
P   P  Hi 
H  H
P i    i 
 E  P E 

H  E
P  i   P   P  Hi 
E  Hi 
But if P  H i  E   0 for some i then
 E  H 
P   P i   0
 Hi   E 
So, statement 1 is not always true H i are exhaustive and mutually exclusive
n
So,  PH   1
i 1
i

13.
(a) 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
(A) 2, 4 or 8 (B) 3, 6, or 9 (C) 4 or 8 (D) 5 or 10
Sol. n  A   4 , n B  n , let P  A  B   m
P  A  B  P  A  P B
m 4 n 2n 5m
  m , n
10 10 10 5 2
m = 2, n = 5
m = 4, n = 10

(b) Consider the system of equations

ax + by = 0, cx + dy = 0, where a, b, c, d  {0, 1}.
3
STATEMENT-1: The probability that the system of equations has a unique solution is .
8
and
STATEMENT-2: The probability that the system of equations has a solution is 1.
(A) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True ; statement-2 is a correct explanation for
statement-1
(B) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True ; statement-2 is NOT a correct
explanation for statement-1
(C) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is False
(D) Statement-1 is False, Statement-2 is True [JEE 2008, 3+3]
a b
Sol. For unique solution: 0
c d

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

ad  bc
a, b, c, d  0,1
ad = 0, bc = 1  Possible values of a, b, c, d
(0, 1, 1, 0), (0, 1, 1, 1), (1, 1, 1, 0)
Similarly, three cases for ad = 1, bc = 0
6 3
Probability  
16 8

Comprehension (3 questions)
14. A fair die is tossed repeatedly until a six is obtained. Let X denote the number of tosses
required. The probability that X = 3 equals [JEE 2009,
4+4+4]
25 25 5 125
(A) (B) (C) (D)
216 36 36 216
 5  5  1  5
Sol.       
 6   6   6  216
15. The probability that X  3 equals
125 25 5 25
(A) (B) (C) (D)
216 36 36 216
2 3
5 1 5 1
Sol.           
6 6 6 6
25
25
 216 
5 36
1
6

16. The conditional probability that X  6 given X > 3 equals

125 25 5 25
(A) (B) (C) (D)
216 216 36 36
5 6
 5 1 5 1
     
 A  P  A  B  6  6  6  6
Sol. P     3 4
B P  B  5 1 5 1
      
 6 6 6 6
5
5 1 1 
  
6 6 1  5 / 6  25
  3  
 5  1  1  36
  
 6  6 1  5 / 6 

17. Let  be a complex cube roots of unity with  1. A fair die is thrown three times. If
r1, r2 and r3 are the numbers obtained on the die, then the probability that

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

r1  r2  r3  0 is

[JEE 2010]
1 1 2 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
18 9 9 36
Sol. r1  r2  r3  0
 r1 , r2 , r3  can be (1, 2, 3), (2, 3, 4), (3, 4, 5), (4, 5, 6), (1, 3, 5), (2, 4, 6), (1, 5, 6), (1, 2, 6)
3
1 8 2
Probability  8  3!     
 6  36 9

4 1
18. A signal which can be green or red with probability and respectively, is received
5 5
by station A and then transmitted to station B. The probability of each station receiving
the signal correctly is 3/4. If the signal received at station B is green, then the
probability that the original signal was green is
[JEE 2010]
3 6 20 9
(A) (B) (C) (D)
5 7 23 20

Sol. A: Signal received at B is green

B: Original signal was green
 B  P  B  B
P  
A P A
4 3 3 4 1 1
    
 5 4 4 5 4 4
4 3 3 4 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 1
          
5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 4
40 20
 
46 23

Paragraph for Question 19 to 20

Let U1 and U2 be two units such that U1 contains 3 white and 2 red balls, and U2
contains only 1 white ball. A fair coin is tossed. If head appears then 1 ball is drawn at
random form 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 .
[JEE 2011]
19. The probability of the drawn ball from U2 being white is
13 23 19
(A) (B) (C) (D)
30 30 30
11
30

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Sol.
1 3 1 2 1 1  3C 3
C 2C 2 2C 1
P  w    1       5 2 1  51 1   5 2  
2 5 2 5 2 2  C2 C2 3 C2 3 
3 1 1  22  3 1 11 23
        
10 10 2  30  10 10 30 30

20. Given that the drawn ball from U2 is white, the probability that head appeared on the
coin is
17 11 15 12
(A) (B) (C) (D)
23 23 23 23
1 3 1 2 1
 1   
H 2 5 2 5 2  8  30  12
Sol. P   
w 23 20 23 23
30

21. Let E and F be two independent events. The probability that exactly one of them occurs
11 2
and the probability of none of them occurring is . If P(T) denotes the
25 25
probability of occurrence of the event T, then
[JEE 2011]
4 3 1 2
(A) P(E) = , P(F) = (B) P(E) = , P(F) =
5 5 5 5
2 1 3 4
(C) P(E) = , P(F) = (D) P(E) = , P(F) =
5 5 5 5
11
Sol. P  E   P  F  2P  E  F  …… (1)
25
2
1  P  E  F 
25
23
P  E   P  F   P  E  F  …… (2)
25
12
 2  1  P  E  F  
25
12
P  E   P  F  …… (1)
25
35 7
P  E   P  F   …… (2)
25 5
Solving (1) & (2),

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4 3 3 4
P  E  , P  F  or P  E   , P  F 
5 5 5 5

22. A ship is fitted with three engines E 1, E2 and E3. The engines function independently
1 1 1
of each other with respective probabilities , and . For the ship to be operational
2 4 4
at least two of its engines must function. Let X denote the event that the ship is
operational and let X1 , X2 and X3 denote respectively the events that the engines E 1,
E2 and E3 are functioning. Which of the following is(are) true?
[JEE 2011]
3 7
(A) P  x1c X   (B) P (Exactly two engines of the ship are functioning |X) =
16 8
5 7
(C) P[X|X2] = (D) P[X|X1] =
16 16
 X  P  Xi  X 
Sol. (A) P  i  
X P X
1 1 1
 
2 4 4 1
 
1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 8
          
2 4 4 2 4 4 2 4 4 2 4 4
1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 1
       
7
(B) P  2 4 4 2 4 4 2 4 4 
P X 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 3
     
 X  P  X  X 2  4  2 4 2 4 2 4  5
(C) P    
 X2  P  X2  1 8
4
1 1 1 3 1 1 3
     
 X  P  X  X1  2  4 4 4 4 4 4  7
(D) P     
 X1  P  X1  1 16
2

23. 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 D1,
D2 and D3 is
[JEE 2012]
91 108 125 127
(A) (B) (C) (D)
216 216 216 216
Sol. D1 D2 D3 D 4

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

5 5 5 216  125 91
1    
6 6 6 216 216

24. Let X and Y be two events such that P(X|Y) = , P(Y|X) = and P(X Y) = . Which of
the following is(are) correct? [JEE 2012]
2
(A) P(X  Y) = (B) X and Y are independent
3
1
(C) x and Y are not independent (D) P(XC Y) =
3
P X  Y 1 P  X  Y 1 1
Sol.  ,  , P X  Y 
P Y 2 P X 3 6
1 1
P X  , P  Y 
2 3
1 1 1 2
P  X  Y    
2 3 6 3
1
P  X P  Y    P  X  Y  X, Y are independent
6
1 1 1
P  X  Y   P  Y   P  X  Y    
3 6 6

25. A multiple choice examination has 5 questions. Each question has three alternative
answers of which exactly one is correct. The probability that a student will get 4 or
more correct answers just by guessing is: [IIT JEE
Main 2013]
10 17 13 11
(A) 5 (B) 5 (C) 5 (D) 5
3 3 3 3
Sol. 4 correct + 5 correct
4 5
5 1  2 1
C 4      5 C5  
 3  3   3
10  1 11
 
243 243

26. Four persons independently solve a certain problem correctly with probabilities
1 3 1 1
, , , . Then the probability that the problem is solved correctly by at least one of
2 4 4 8
them is: [JEE 2013]
235 21 3 253
(A) (B) (C) (D)
256 256 256 256
Sol. 1 – no one solves
1 1 3 7 256  21
1- 
2448 256

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

235

256

Comprehension (Q. 27 to Q. 28)

A box B1 contains 1 white ball, 3 red balls and 2 black balls. Another box B2 contains
2 white balls, 3 red ball and 4 black balls. A third box B3 contains 3 white balls, 4 red
balls and 5 black balls. [JEE 2013]
27. 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 65 55
(A) (B) (C) (D)
181 181 181 181
Sol. A: 1w, 1R ball is drawn
 B  P  A  B2 
P 2  
A P  A
1  2 C1 3 C1 
3  9 C 2 

1  1 C1 3 C1 2 C1 3 C1 3 C1 4 C1 
 9  12
3  6 C 2 C2 C 2 
6  1 

36  3 / 15  6 / 36  12 / 66 

1 1  55
 
6 1 / 5  1/ 6  2 / 11  181

28. 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 color is
82 90 558 566
(A) (B) (C) (D)
648 648 648 648
Sol. All white + all red + all black
1 2 3 3 3 4 2 4 5
       
6 9 12 6 9 12 6 9 12
82

648

29. Of the three independent events E 1, E2 and E3, the probability that only E1 occurs is ,
only E2 occurs is  and only E3 occurs is . If the probability p that none of events E1 ,
E2 or E3 occurs satisfy the equations ( – 2)p = and ( – 3)p = 2. All the given
probabilities are assumed to lie in the interval (0, 1).
Probability of occurrence of E1
Then  [JEE 2013]
Probability of occurrence of E 3

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Sol. Let P  E 1   x , P  E 2   y , P  E3   z
Given, 1  x 1  y 1  z   p
x 1  y 1  z   
,
1  x  y 1  z   , 1  x 1  y  z  
1 x p 
 x
x  p
 
Similarly, y  , z
 p p
p  p
1
x  
  …… (1)
z p   1 p
 
Given,    2  p   ,   3  p  2
 2
    3  2  4
  2   3
5

  4
Now,    2  p  
 10   5 
  p   
   4     4 
   4   10   5
  p 
   4    4
   6   p  5
p 6p p 6p
  5   5 put in equation (1)
x  x 
6p
1 5 
x  6

z p
1


1 1 1
30. Let A and B be two events such that P(A  B)  , P(A  B) = and P(A)  ,
6 4 4
where A stands for the complement of the event A. Then the events A and B are
(A) Independent and equally likely (B) Mutually exclusive and independent
(C) Equally likely but not independent (D) Independent but not equally likely
[JEE Main 2014]
5 1 3
Sol. P  A  B  , P  A  B  , P  A 
6 4 4

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

5 3 1
  P  B 
6 4 4
1
P  B 
3
1
P  A  P  B   P  A  B , independent
4
P  A   P  B  , not equally likely.

31. 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
1 1 2 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2 3 3 4
[IIT JEE Adv. 2014]
5
Sol. Total number of ways girls can occupy seats  C 2
Fav. Cases G1 G 2 __ __ __
G 1 __ G 2 __ __
G 1 __ __ G 2 __ 5 cases
__ G1 G 2 __ __
__ G 1 __ G 2 __
5 1
Probability  
10 2

Comprehension (Q. 32 to Q 33)

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 the number on the card drawn from
the ith box, i = 1, 2, 3. [IIT JEE Adv.
2014]
32. The probability that x1 + x2 + x3 is odd, is
29 53 57 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
105 105 105 2
E E O, E O E, O E E, O O O
Sol. 1 2 4 1 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 4
           
3 5 7 3 5 7 3 5 7 3 5 7
8  9  12  24 53
 
105 105

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

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

9 10 11 7
(A) (B) (C) (D)
105 105 105 105
Sol. 2x 2  x1  x 3
 x1  x 3  should be even, either both odd, or both even
 2 4  1  1 3  1 11
Probability           
 3 7  5  3 7  5 105

34. If 12 identical balls are to be placed in 3 identical boxes, then the probability that one of
the boxes contains exactly 3 balls is: [IIT JEE Main
2015]
11 11 10 12
1 55  2  2 1
(A) 22   (B)   (C) 55   (D) 220  
 3 3 3 3  3
Sol. Total cases  312
Fav. Cases  12 C 3 29
12 11
C3 29 12 11 10 29 55  2 
Probability    12   
312 6 3 3 3

35. 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 [IIT JEE Adv.
2015]
Sol. 1 – no head – 1 head  0.96
1 1 96
1  n  n C1 n 
2 2 100
1 1 n
 n  2 n   n  1 25
25 2
Minimum value of n is 8.

Paragraph for Question No. 36 to 37

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. [IIT JEE
Adv. 2015]
36. One of the two boxes, box I and box II, was selected at random and a ball was drawn
randomly out of this box. The ball was found to be red. If the probability that this red
balls was drawn from box II is 1/3, then the 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

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

n3
 n3  n 4
Sol. P   
R n1 n3

n1  n 2 n 3  n 4
Options A, B satisfies this.

37. A ball is drawn at random from box I and transferred to box II. If the probability of
drawing a red ball from box I, after this transfer, is 1/3, then the correct option(s) with
the possible values of n1 and n2 is/are
(A) n1 = 4 and n2 = 6 (B) n1 = 2 and n2 = 3
(C) n1 = 10 and n2 = 20 (D) n1 = 3 and n2 = 6
n1 n1  1 n2 n1
Sol. Probability    
n1  n 2 n1  n 2  1 n1  n 2 n1  n 2  1
Options C, D satisfies this.

38. Let two fair six-faced dice A and B be thrown simultaneously. If E1 is the event that
die A shows up four, E2 is the event that die B shows up two and E3 is the event that
the sum of numbers on both dice is odd, then which of the following statements is NOT
true?
(A) E1 and E2 are independent (B) E2 and E3 are independent
(C) E1 and E3 are independent (D) E1 , E2 and E3 are independent
[IIT JEE Main 2016]
1 1 1
Sol. P  E1   , P  E2   , P  E3  
2 6 2
1 1 1
P  E1  E 2      P  E1  P  E 2 
6 6 36
E1 and E 2 are independent
3 1
P  E 2  E3     P  E 2  P  E3 
36 12
E 2 and E 3 are independent
3 1
P  E1  E3     P  E1  P  E3 
36 12
E1 and E 3 are independent
P  E1  E 2  E 3   0
D is not correct.

39. A computer producing factory has only two plants T 1 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

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P(computer turns out to be defective given that it is produced in plant T1)

= 10 P(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
36 47 78 75
(A) (B) (C) (D)
73 79 93 83
D D 1 4
Sol. P    10P   , P  T1   , P  T2  
 T1   T2  5 5
7 D D
 P  T1  P    P  T2  P  
100  T1   T2 
7 1 D 4 D
 10  P    P  
100 5  T2  5  T2 
7 14  D  D 1 P  D  T2  1
 P   P    
100 5  T2   T2  40 P  T2  40
4 1 1
P  D  T2    
5 40 50
 
 T  P T2  D P  T2   P  T2  D 
Now, P  2   
D P D   P D  
4 1

80  2 78
 5 50  
93 93 93
100

Paragraph for 40 to 41
Football teams T 1 and T2 have to play two games against each other. It is assumed that
the outcomes of the two games are independent. The probabilities of T1 winning,
1 1 1
drawing and losing a game against T2 are , and , respectively. Each team gets 3
2 6 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.
[IIT JEE Advance 2016]
40. P(X > Y) is
1 5 1 7
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4 12 2 12
Sol. X > Y if T1 with both,
1st match P1 , 2nd match draw
1st draw, 2nd T1

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

1 1 1 1 1 1 5
Probability       
2 2 2 6 6 2 12

41. P(X = Y) is
11 1 13 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
36 3 36 2
st nd
Sol. X = Y if 1 T1 , 2 T2
1st T2 , 2 nd T1
Both draw
1 1 1 1 1 1 13
Probability       
2 3 3 2 6 6 36

42. For three events A, B and C, P (Exactly one of A or B occurs)

1
= P (Exactly one of B or C occurs) = P (Exactly one of C or A occurs) =
4
1
and P (All the three events occur simultaneously) = .
16
Then the probability that at least one of the events occurs, is: [JEE Mains 2017]
7 7 7 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
32 16 64 16
Sol. P  A   P  B   2P  A  B   P  B   P  C   2P  B  C 
1
 P  C   P  A   2P  A  C  
4
1
P  A  B  C 
16
3
2P  A   2P  B   2P  C   2P  A  B   2P  B  C   2P  A  C  
4
3
P  A   P  B  P  C   P  A  B   P  B  C   P  A  C  
8
3 1 7
P A  B  C   
8 16 16

43. If two different numbers are taken from the set {0, 1, 2, 3, ......., 10}; then the
probability that their sum as well as absolute difference are both multiple of 4, is:
[JEE Mains 2017]

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

6 12 14
(A) (B) (C) (D)
55 55 45
7
55
Sol. Total cases  11 C 2
Fav. Cases: (0, 4), (0, 8), (4, 8), (2, 6), (2, 10), (6, 10)
6 6
Probability  11 
C 2 55

1 1 2
44. 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]
4 1 2 1
(A) P(Y) = (B) P(X'|Y) = (C) P(X  Y) = (D) P(X  Y) =
15 2 5 5
1 X 1 Y 2
Sol. P  X   , P   , P  
3 Y
  2 X 5
P X  Y 1 P X  Y 2
 , 
P Y 2 PX 5
4 2
P  Y  , P X  Y 
15 15
4 1 2 7
P X  Y    
15 3 15 15
4 2
 X  P  X   Y  15  15 1
P    
Y P  Y 4 2
15

45. 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]
5 6 1 36
(A) (B) (C) (D)
11 11 2 35
Sol. x  y  z  10
Total Cases  10 31 C31  12 C 2  66
Fav. Cases Z is even Z  0, 2, 4, 6,8,10
x + y = 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 0
Fav. 11 + 9 + 7 + 5 + 3 + 1 = 36
36 6
Probability  
66 11
46. A bag contains 4 red and 6 black balls. A ball is drawn at random from the bag, its
colour is observed and this ball along with two additional balls of the same colour are

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

returned to the bag. If now a ball is drawn at random from the bag, then the probability
that this drawn ball is red, is: [JEE Mains 2018]
3 3 2 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4 10 5 5
Sol. 4R, 6R
4 6 6 4
Probability    
10 12 10 12
48 2
 
120 5

Paragraph "A" for Q.47 & Q.48

There are five students S1, S2 , S4 and S5 in a music class and for them there are five
sets 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.
(There are two questions based on Paragraph "A". the question given below is one of
them) [JEE Adv. 2018]
47. 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 1 7 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
40 8 40 5
Sol. Total cases = 5! = 120
Now, S1 sits at R1 but no other student at his seat so, de-arrangement of 4  D4
 1 2 1 1
 4! 1       9
 1! 2! 3! 4!
9 3
Probability  
120 40

48. For i = 1, 2, 3, 4, let Ti denote the event that the students Si and Si+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 1 7 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
15 10 60 5
S1 _ _ _ _ 

Sol. S3 S5 S2 S4  2cases
S4 S2 S5 S3 

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

S2 _ _ _ _ 

S4 S1 S3 S5 
 3cases
S1 S5 S3 
S5 S3 S1 S4 
S3 _ _ _ _ 

S1 S4 S2 S5 

S1 S5 S2 S4  4 cases
S5 S1 S4 S2 

S5 S2 S4 S1 
S4 _ _ _ _ same number of cases as S2 _ _ _ _
S5 _ _ _ _ same number of cases as S1 _ _ _ _
14 7
Probability  
120 60
EXERCISE – III

49. Two cards are drawn successively with replacement from a well shuffled deck of 52
cards. Let X denote the random variable of number of aces obtained in the two drawn
cards. Then P( X = 1) + P ( X = 2) equals: [Jee main 2019 (09-01-2019-shift-1)]
(A) 49 (B) 52 (C) 24 (D) 25
169 169 169 169
X 0 1 2
Sol.
P P0 P1 P2
2
 1  12 1 25
P1  P2  2 C1    2 C2   
 13  13  13  169

50. An urn contains 5 red and 2 green balls. A ball is drawn at random from the urn. If the
drawn ball is green, then a red ball is added to the urn and if the drawn ball is red,
then a green ball is added to the urn; the original ball is not returned to the urn. Now a
second ball is drawn at random from it. The probability that the second ball is red, is:
[Jee main 2019 (09-01-2019-shift-2)]
(A) 26/49 (B) 32/49 (C) 27/49 (D) 21/49
5 4 2 6 32
Sol. P  R      
7 7 7 7 49

51. An unbiased coin is tossed. If the outcome is a head then a pair of unbiased dice is
rolled and the sum of the numbers obtained on them is noted. If the toss of the
coin results in tail then a card from a well shuffled pack of nine cards numbered
1,2,3,......., 9 is randomly picked and the number on the card is noted. The
probability that the noted number is either 7 or 8 is:

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

[Jee main 2019 (10-01-2019-shift-1)]

13 15 19 19
(A) (B) (C) (D)
36 72 72 36
Sol. 1 – neither 7 nor 8
 1 25 1 7  53 19
1       1 
 2 36 2 9  72 72

1
52. If the probability of hitting a target by a shooter, in any shot, is, then the minimum
3
number of independent shots at the target required by him so that the probability of
5
hitting the target at least once is greater than , is:
6
[Jee main 2019 (10-01-2019-shift-2)]
(A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 4
5
Sol. 1 – no hit 
6
n
2 5
1   
3 6
n
1 2
 
6 3
3n  2n  6
Minimum value of n is 5.

53. Two integers are selected at random from the set {1,2,....,11}.Given that the sum of
selected numbers is even, the conditional probability that both the numbers are even
is : [Jee main 2019 (11-01-2019-shift-1)]

3 7 2 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
5 10 5 2
Ans. C
Sol. either both even or both odd
5
C2 10 10 2
required probability = 5 = = =
C2  6 C2 10  15 25 5

54. A bag contains 30 white balls and 10 red balls. 16 balls are drawn one by one
randomly from the bag with replacement. If X be the number of white balls drawn,
 mean of X 
then   is equal to: [Jee main 2019 (11-01-2019-shift-2)]
 standard deviation of X 
4 3
(A) 4 (B) 4 3 (C) 3 2 (D)
3

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Sol. 30W, 10R

X 0 1 2 14 15 16
P P0 P1 P2 P14 P15 P16
0 16 1 16
 3 1  3 1
P0  16 C0     , P1  16 C1     , ……
4 4
     4  4
This is a binomial probability distribution
3
Mean  nP  16   12
4
3 1
Variance  npq  16    3
4 4
Mean 12
 4 3
S.D. 3

55. Let S = {1, 2, ......., 20}. A subset B of S is said to be "nice", if the sum of the elements of
B is 203. Then the probability that a randomly chosen subset of S is "nice" is :
[ Jee main 2019 (11-01-2019-shift-2)]
4 6 5 7
(A) 20 (B) 20 (C) 20 (D) 20
2 2 2 2
Ans. C
Sol. S = {1,2, .... 20}
sum of all elements (s) of 'S' = 210
& for "nice". sum of element(s) must be 203
Favourable cases = 7, (1, 6), (2,5), (3,4), (1,2,4)
5
 p=
2 20

56. In a random experiment, a fair die is rolled until two fours are obtained in succession.
The probability that the experiment will end in the fifth throw of the die is equal to:
[Jee main 2019 (12-01-2019-shift-1)]
200 150 225 175
(A) 5 (B) 5 (C) 5 (D) 5
6 6 6 6
__ _ 4 4
3 2 2 3
4   1 5  1   5  175
Sol. Probability        2       5
    6 6  6 6 6
 4 

57. In a game, a man wins Rs. 100 if he gets 5 or 6 on a throw of a fair die and loses Rs.
50 for getting any other number on the die. If he decides to throw the die either till he
gets a five or a six or to a maximum of three throws, then his expected gain/loss
(in rupees) is: [Jee main 2019 (12-01-2019-shift-2)]

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

400 400 400

(A) loss (B) 0 (C) gain (D) loss
9 3 3
Sol. A man throw five or six
Expectation

        
3
 P  A  100  P A P  A    50   P A P A P  A   0  P A   150  
1 2 1 2 2 2
 100    50     150  0
3 3 3 3 3 3

58. In a class of 60 students, 40 opted for NCC, 30 opted for NSS and 20 opted for both
NCC and NSS. If one of these students is selected at random, then the probability that
the student selected has opted neither for NCC nor for NSS is:
[Jee main 2019 (12-01-2019-shift-2)]
2 1 1 5
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 6 3 6
Sol. n  C   10, n  S   30, n  C  S   20
n  C  S   40  30  20  50
10 students opted neither NCC nor NSS
10 1
Probability  
60 6

59 Let A and B be two non-null events such that A  B. Then, which of the following
statements is always correct?
(A) P(A|B) = 1 (B) P(A|B) = P(B) – P(A)
(C) P(A|B)  P(A) (D) P(A|B)  P(A)
Sol. A  B  A  B  A, A  B  B
 A  P  A  B P  A 
P     P  A
B P B P B

60. The minimum number of times on has to toss a fair coin so that the probability of
observing at least one head is at least 90% is: [Jee main 2019 (08-04-2019-shift-2)]
(A) 4 (B) 3 (C) 5 (D) 2
Ans. (A)
Sol. Probability of observing at least one head out of n tosses
n
1
= 1–    0.9
 2
n
1
    0.1
2

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

n4
 minimum number of tosses = 4

61. Four persons can hit a target correctly with probabilities 1 , 1 , 1 and 1 respectively. If
2 3 4 8
all hit at the target independently, then the probability that the target would be hit, is
[Jee main 2019 (09-04-2019-shift-1)]
25 1 25 7
(A) (B) (C) (D)
192 192 32 32
Sol. Probability = 1 – no body hit
1 2 3 7
 1   
2 3 4 8
150 25
 
192 32

62. Assume that each born child is equally likely to be a boy or a girl. If two families
have two children each, then the conditional probability that all children are girls
given that at least two are girls is : [Jee main 2019 (10-04-2019-shift-1)]

1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
11 17 10 12
Sol. A: All children are girls
B: Atleast two are girls
 A  P  A  B
P  
B P  B
4
1
  1
 2 
4 4
1 1 11
1  4 C 0    4 C1  
2  2

63. Minimum number of times a fair coin must be tossed so that the probability of getting
at least one head is more than 99% is : [Jee main 2019 (10-04-2019-shift-2)]
(A) 8 (B) 6 (C) 7 (D) 5
Sol. C
n
1 99
1-   
2
  100
n
99 1
1- >  
100 2
1 1
= > n
100 2
= 2n >100
Min. n = 7

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

64. If there of the six vertices of a regular hexagon are chosen at random, then the probability
that the triangle formed with these chosen vertices is equilateral is :
[Jee main 2019 (12-04-2019-shift-1)]
1 3 1 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
5 10 10 20
Sol. C

2
= 1/10
6
C3

4
65. For an initial screening of an admission test, a candidate is given fifty problems
5
to solve. If the probability that the candidate can solve any problem is , then the
probability that he is unable to solve less than
two problems is : [Jee main 2019 (12-04-2019-shift-2)]
48 49 48 49
316  4  201  1  164  1  54  4 
(A) (B) (C) (D)
25  5  5  5  25  5  5  5 
Ans. D
Sol.
(50 Solve + 0 unsolve) + (49 Solve + 1unsolve)
50 49
4 4 1
= 50C50   + 50
C49   .
5 5 5
50 49
4 4 1
=    50.   .
5 5  5
50 49
4 4
=    10.  
5 5
49
4  4 
=   10   
5  5 
49
54  4 
=  
5 5

66. Let |X| denote the number of elements in 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 (advanced) 2019]
Sol. A, B are independent let P(A) = a, P(B) = b
P  A  B   C then,
a b c
  ab  6c
6 6 6
(a, b, c) can (3, 2, 1), (4, 3, 2), (6, 1, 1), (6, 3, 3), (6, 4, 4), (6, 5, 5), (6, 2, 2)
Number of ordered pairs =
6
C1 5 C 2 3 C1  6 C 2 4 C2 2 C1  6 C1 5 C5  6 C3 3 C3  6 C4 2 C 2  6 C5 1 C1  6 C 2 4 C 4

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

 180  180  6  20  15  6  15  422

67. There are three bags B1, B2 and B3. The bag B1 contains 5 red and 5 green balls, B2
contains 3 red and 5 green balls, and B3 contains 5 red and 3 green balls, Bags B1, B2
3 3 4
and B3 have probabilities , and respectively of being chosen. A bag is
10 10 10
selected at random and a ball is chosen at random from the bag. Then which of the
following option(s) is/are correct ? [JEE (advanced) 2019]
(A) Probability that the selected bag is B3 and the chosen ball is green equals 3/10
(B) Probability that the chosen ball is green equals 39/80
(C) Probability that the chosen ball is green, given that the selected bag is B3 , equals
3/8
(D) Probability that the selected bag is B3, given that the chosen balls is green, equals
5/13
Sol. B1 : 5R 5G , B2 : 3R 5G , B3 : 5R 3G
G 4 3 3
(A) P  B3   P     
 B3  10 8 20
3 5 3 5 4 3 39
(B) P  G        
10 10 10 8 10 8 80
4 3
 G  P  G  B3  10  8 3
(C) P     
 B3  P  B3  4 8
10
4 3
B  P  3  10  8 12 4
B  G
(D) P  3     
G P G  39 39 13
80

68. 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 [JEE (advanced) 2019]
E1 = {A  S : detA = 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__.
Sol. E 2 sum 7 when there are 7 1’s and 2 0’s
Number of such matrices  9 C 2  36

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Out of all such matrices, E1 will be those when both zeroes lie in the same row or in
the same column.
1 1 1
Like 0 1 1
0 1 1
 E  P  E1  E 2  n  E1  E 2 
P 1   
 E2  P  E2  n  E2 
2  3 C2  3 C2 1
 
36 2

69. An unbiased coin is tossed 5 times, suppose that a variable X is assigned the value k
when k consecutive heads are obtained for k = 3, 4, 5, otherwise X takes the value –1.
Then the expected value of X, is: [Jee main 2020 (07-01-2020-shift-1)]
(A) 1/8 (B) 3/16 (C) – 1/8 (D) – 3/16
5
1 1
Sol. P  5 consecutive heads     
 2  32
5
P  4 consecutive heads  1 1
 2  
 HHHHT, THHHH   2  16
4 5 4
P  3 consecutive heads  1 1 1 5
       
 HHHT_ , IHHHT, _ THHH   2   2   2  32
1 1 5 24
Expected value   5   4   3   1 
32 16 32 32
5  8  15  24 4 1
  
32 32 8

70. In a workshop, there are five machines and the probability of any one of them to be
1
out of service on a day is . If the probability that at most two machines will be out
4
3
3
of service on the same day is   k, then k is equal to:
4
[Jee main 2020 (07-01-2020-shift-2)]
17 17 17
(A) (B) 4 (C) (D)
2 4 8

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Sol. Probability = 2 machines out of service or 1 machine or 0 machines out of services

2 3 4 5
1 3  1  3  3
 C 2      5 C1      5 C0  
5

4 4  4  4  4

3
 3 10 15 9 
   
 4 16 16 16 
3
 3   17 
   
 4  8 

1 1
71. Let A and B be two independent events such that P(A)  and P(B)  . Then,
3 6
which of the following is TRUE? [Jee main 2020 (08-01-2020-shift-1)]
1 1
(A) P(A / (A  B))  (B) P(A / B') 
4 3
2 1
(C) P(A / B)  (D) P(A '/ B') 
3 3
A 1
Sol. A and B are independent so, P    P  A  
B 3
 A  2 A 1
P    P  A  , P    P  A  
 B  3  B  3

72. Let A and B be two events such that the probability that exactly one of them occurs is
2/5 and the probability that A or B occurs is 1/2, then the probability of both of them
occur together is: [Jee main 2020 (08-01-2020-shift-2)]
(A) 0.10 (B) 0.20 (C) 0.01 (D) 0.02
2
Sol. P  A   P  B   2P  A  B   …… (1)
5
1
P  A   P  B   P  A  B  …… (2)
2
1 2 1
 2   1  P  A  B    
2 5 10

73. In a box, there are 20 cards, out of which 10 are labelled as A and the remaining 10
are labelled as B. Cards are drawn at random, one after the other and with
replacement, till a second A-card is obtained. The probability that the second A-card
appears before the third B-card is: [Jee main 2020 (09-01-2020-shift-1)]
15 9 13 11
(A) (B) (C) (D)
16 16 16 16

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Sol. AA + ABA + BAA + ABBA + BBAA + BABA

1 1 1 1 1 1 11
     
4 8 8 16 16 16 16

74. If 10 different balls are to be placed in 4 distinct boxes at random, then the probability
that two of these boxes contain exactly 2 and 3 balls is :
[Jee main 2020 (09-01-2020-shift-2)]

965 945 945 965

(A) 10
(B) 10 (C) (D)
2 2 211 211
10
Sol. Total cases  4
Fav. cases   2,3, x1, x 2 
4 10
C2  2 C 5 5 C 2 25
4
C 2 10 C5 5 C2  2  25 6 10  9  8  7  6 10  26
Probability  
220 12 0  220
945
 10
2

75. A random variable X has the following probability distribution :

X : 1 2 3 4 5
P(X) : K 2 2K K 2K 5K2
Then P(X > 2) is equal to:
[Jee main 2020 (09-01-2020-shift-2)]

7 23 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
12 36 36 6
2 2
Sol. K  2K  K  2K  5K  1
6K2  5K  1  0
 K  1 6K  1  0
1
K
6
P  X  2   1  P 1  P  2 
1 2 23
 1  
36 6 36

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76. Box I contains 30 cards numbered 1 to 30 and Box II contains 20 cards numbered 31
to 50. A box is selected at random and a card is drawn from it. The number on the
card is found to be a non-prime number. The probability that the card was drawn from
Box I is:
4 8 2 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
17 17 5 3
[Jee main 2020 (02-09-2020-shift-1)]
1 20 2

 I  PI  A 2 30
Sol. P      3
A PA 1  20  1  15  2 3

   
2  30  2  20  3 4
2 12 8
  
3 17 17

77. Let EC denote the complement of an event E. Let E1, E2 and E3 be any pairwise
independent events with P(E1) > 0 and P(E1  E 2  E3 )  0 . Then P  E C2  E 3C / E1  is
equal to: [Jee main 2020 (02-09-2020-shift-2)]
(A) P  E C
3   P  E  (B) P  E   P  E 
C
2 3
C
2 (C) P  E C3   P  E 2  (D) P  E C2   P  E 3 
1
Sol. E 2
1
 E31   E  E 
1 3

  E  E 3 1  P   E1  E 3   E1 
P 2 
 E  P  E1 
 1 
P  E1   P  E1  E 2   P  E1  E 3   P  E1  E 2  E 3 

P  E1 
P  E1   P  E1  P  E 2   P  E1  P  E 3 

P  E1 
 1  P  E 2   P  E 3   P  E 21   P  E 2  or P  E 31   P  E 2 

78. A die is thrown two times and the sum of the scores appearing on the die is observed
to be a multiple of 4. Then the conditional probability that the score 4 has appeared
atleast once is: [Jee main 2020 (03-09-2020-shift-1)]
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 4 8 9

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Sol. 4, 8, 12
(1, 3), (2, 2), (3, 1), (2, 6), (3, 5), (4, 4), (5, 3), (6, 2), (6, 6)
1
Probability 
9

79. The probability that a randomly chosen 5-digit number is made from exactly two
digits is: [Jee main 2020 (03-09-2020-shift-2)]
134 121 135 150
(A) 4 (B) 4 (C) 4 (D) 4
10 10 10 10
Sol. Total numbers  9 104
Fav. numbers  9 C 2  25  2   9 C1  24  1
 36  30  9  15
36  30  9 15 135
Probability   4
9 104 10

1
80. The probability of a man hitting a target is . The least number of shots required, so
10
1
that the probability of his hitting the target at least once is greater than , is ______.
4
[Jee main 2020 (04-09-2020-shift-1)]
1
Sol. 1 – no hit 
4
n n
 9 1 3  9
1       
 10  4 4  10 
3 10n  4  9n
n=3

81. In a game two players A and B take turns in throwing a pair of fair dice starting with
player A and total of scores on the two dice, in each throw is noted. A wins the game
if he throws total a of 6 before B throws a total of 7 and B wins the game if he throws
a total of 7 before A throws a total of six. The game stops as soon as either of the
players wins. The probability of A winning the game is:
[Jee main 2020 (04-09-2020-shift-2)]
5 31 30 5
(A) (B) (C) (D)
31 61 61 6
Sol. p: probability of total 6, q: probability of total 7

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

5 1
p , q
36 6
5 31 5 5 31 5 31 5 5
P A         
36 36 6 36 36 6 36 6 36
5  1  5 216 30
   
36 1  155 / 216  36 61 61


82. Four fair dice are thrown independently 27 times. Then the expected number of times,
at least two dice show up a three or a five, is ______.
[Jee main 2020 (05-09-2020-shift-1)]
Sol. Probability that in a single throw of dice atleast
4 3
2 2 1
two dice show 3 or 5  1     4 C1  
3 3 3
16 32 33 11
 1   
81 81 81 27
11
Expectation  27   11
27

83. In a bombing attack, there is 50% chance that a bomb will hit the target. At least two
independent hits are required to destroy the target completely. Then the minimum
number of bombs, that must be dropped to ensure that there is at least 99% chance of
completely destroying the target, is ________ [Jee main 2020 (05-09-2020-shift-1)]
Sol. Let n bombs are dropped then probability of target destroyed
2 n2 3 n 3
1 1 1 1
n
C2      n C3      
2 2 2 2
n n
1 1 C1 n C0
    n  n
2 2 2 2
1 n 1
 n n
100 2 2
2n   n  1100
n = 11

84. Out of 11 consecutive natural numbers if three numbers are selected at random
(without repetition), then the probability that they are in A.P. with positive common
difference, is: [Jee main 2020 (06-09-2020-shift-1)]
10 5 15 5
(A) (B) (C) (D)
99 33 101 101

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

Sol. Total  11 C3
5 even 6 odd or 6 even 5 odd
6
C2  5 C2 25 5
Probability  11
 6 
C3 1110  9 33

85. The probabilities of three events A, B and C are given by P(A) = 0.6, P(B) = 0.4 and
P(C) = 0.5. If P  A  B   0.8 , P  A  C   0.3 , P  A  B  C   0.2 , P  B  C   
and P  A  B  C    , where 0.85    0.95 , then  lies in the interval:
[Jee main 2020 (06-09-2020-shift-2)]
(A) [0.36, 0.40] (B) [0.25, 0.35] (C) [0.35, 0.36] (D) [0.20, 0.25]

Sol. P  A  B   P  A   P  B   P  A  B   0.2
P  A  B  C   P  A   P  B  P  C    P  A  B  P  B  C   P  C  A   P  A  B  C  
  0.6  0.4  0.5   0.2    0.3  0.2
  1.2 
0.85  1.2   0.95
   0.25, 0.35

86. Let C1 and C2 be two biased coins such that the probabilities of getting head in a
single toss are 2/3 and 1/3, respectively. Suppose  is the number of heads that appear
when C1 is tossed twice, independently, and suppose  is the number of heads that
appear when C2 is tossed twice, independently. Then the probability that the roots of
the quadratic polynomial x2–x + are real and equal, is [JEE-ADVANCED 2020]
40 20 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
81 81 2 4
2
Sol. x  n    0
Roots are real and equal is D = 0
2  4
 ,     0, 0  ,  2,1
1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 20
87.Probability            2 
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 81

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

87. 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-ADVANCED 2020]
Sol. Let n missiles are to be fired
3 n 3 4 n4
3 1  3  1
n
Probability of destroying  C3     n
 C4      
4 4  4  4
n n 1 2 n2
1  3  1   3  1
 1  n C0    n C1      n C2    
4  4  4   4  4
 n  n  1 
1  3n  9   19
 1  2 
n
 4  20
 
4n 9n  n  1
 1  3n 
20 2
 9n  n  1 
4n  20 1  3n  
 2 
n=6

88. 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 14 p is [JEE-ADVANCED 2020]
Sol. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 (Prime numbers or perfect square)
A: Perfect square appeared
B: Perfect square is odd
P  A  B
P
P A
4
4
 36 
7 7
36
14P = 8

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

89. An ordinary dice is rolled for a certain number of times. If the probability of getting
an odd number 2 times is equal to the probability of getting an even number 3 times,
then the probability of getting an odd number for odd number of times is :
[Jee main 2021 (24-02-2021-shift-1)]
1 5 3 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
32 16 16 2
Ans. (D)
n n
n  1  1
Sol. C2    n C3    n C2  n C3
 2  2

n=5
Probability of getting an odd number for odd
number of times is
5 5 5
5  1  1  1 1 1
C1    5 C3    5 C5    5 (5  10  1) 
 2  2  2 2 2

90. Let Bi (i = 1, 2, 3) be three independent events in a sample space. The probability that
only B1 occur is , only B2 occurs is  and only B3 occurs is . Let p be the
probability that none of the events Bi occurs and these 4 probabilities satisfy the
equations ( – 2) p =  and ( – 3)p = 2 (All the probabilities are assumed to lie
P(B1 )
in the interval (0,1)). Then is equal to______.
P(B3 )
[Jee main 2021 (24-02-2021-shift-1)]
Ans. (6)
Sol. Let P(B1) = p 1, P(B2) = p2, P(B3) = p3

given that p 1(1 – p 2)(1 – p 3) =  .....(i)

p2(1 – p1)(1 – p3) =  .....(ii)

p3(1 – p1)(1 – p2) =  .....(iii)

and (1 – p 1)(1 – p 2)(1 – p 3) = p .....(iv)

p1  p2  p 
  ,  & 3 
1– p1 p 1– p2 p 1– p 3 p

p 3p
  
  2p p – 2

 p – 2 = 3 + 6p

 p – 6p = 5

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

p1 6p3 5p1 p 3
 – 
1 – p1 1 – p 3 1 – p1  1 – p3 

 p1 – 6p3 = 0

p1
 6
p3

91. The probability that two randomly selected subsets of the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} have
exactly two elements in their intersection, is :
[Jee main 2021 (24-02-2021-shift-2)]
65 65 135 35
(A) (B) (C) (D)
27 28 29 27
Ans. (C)
5
Sol. Total subsets = 2 = 32
5
C2  33 10  27 135
Probability    9
32  32 210 2

1
92. When a missile is fired from a ship, the probability that it is intercepted is and the
3
3
probability that the missile hits the target, given that it is not intercepted, is . If three
4
missiles are fired independently from the ship, then the probability that all three hit
the target, is : [Jee main 2021 (25-02-2021-shift-1)]
1 3 1 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
27 4 8 8
Ans. (C)
3
2 3 1
Sol. Required probability     
 3 4 8

93. The coefficients a, b and c of the quadratic equation, ax2 + bx + c = 0 are obtained by
throwing a dice three times. The probability that this equation has equal roots is :
[Jee main 2021 (25-02-2021-shift-1)]
1 5 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
72 216 36 54
Ans. (B2)
2
Sol. ax + bx + c = 0
For equal roots D = 0
2
 b = 4ac

Case I : ac = 1

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(a, b, c) = (1, 2, 1)
Case II : ac = 4
(a, b, c) = (1, 4, 4) or (4, 4, 1) or (2, 4, 2)
Case III : ac = 9
(a, b, c) = (3, 6, 3)
5
Required probability 
216

94. In a group of 400 people, 160 are smokers and non-vegetarian; 100 are smokers and
vegetarian and the remaining 140 are non-smokers and vegetarian. Their chances of
getting a particular chest disorder are 35%, 20% and 10% respectively. A person is
chosen from the group at random and is found to be suffering from the chest disorder.
The probability that the selected person is a smoker and non-vegetarian is :
[Jee main 2021 (25-02-2021-shift-2)]
7 14 28 8
(A) (B) (C) (D)
45 45 45 45
Ans. (C)
Sol. Consider following events
A : Person chosen is a smoker and non vegetarian.
B : Person chosen is a smoker and vegetarian.
C : Person chosen is a non-smoker and vegetarian.
E : Person chosen has a chest disorder
Given
160 100 140
P  A  P B   P  C 
400 400 400

 E 35  E 20  E  10
P   P  P 
 A  100  B  100  C  100

To find

 E
P AP  
 A  A
P  
 E  E  E  E
P  A  P    P  B  P    P  C   P  
 A  B  C

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160 35

 400 100
160 35 100 20 140 10
    
400 100 400 100 400 100

28
 option (3)
45

95. Let A be a set of all 4-digit natural numbers whose exactly one digit is 7. Then the
probability that a randomly chosen element of A leaves remainder 2 when divided by
5 is : [Jee main 2021 (25-02-2021-shift-2)]
2 122 97 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
9 297 297 5

Ans. (C)
Sol. n(s) = n(when 7 appears on thousands place) + n(7 does not appear on thousands
place)
=9×9×9+8×9×9×3
= 33 × 9 × 9
n(E) = n(last digit 7 & 7 appears once) + n(last digit 2 when 7 appears once)
= 8 × 9 × 9 + (9 × 9 + 8 × 9 × 2)
8  9  9  9  25 97
 P  E  
33  9  9 297

96. A fair coin is tossed a fixed number of times. If the probability of getting 7 heads is
equal to probability of getting 9 heads, then the probability of getting 2 heads is :
[Jee main 2021 (26-02-2021-shift-1)]
15 15 15 15
(A) (B) (C) (D)
213 212 28 214
Ans. (A)
Sol. Let the coin be tossed n-times
1
P(H)  P(T) 
2
n7 7 n
 1  1 C7
P(7 heads)  n C 7    2   n
 2 2
n9 9 n
 1  1 C9
P(9 heads)  n C 9    2   n
 2 2
P(7 heads) = P(9 heads)

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability
n n
C7 = C9 n = 16
14 2
 1  1 15  8
P(2 heads)  16 C 2     
 2  2 216
15
P(2 heads) 
213

97. A seven digit number is formed using digits 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5. The probability, that
number so formed is divisible by 2, is : [Jee main 2021 (26-02-2021-shift-2)]
6 1 3 4
(A) (B) (C) (D)
7 7 7 7
Ans. (C)
Sol. Digits = 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5
7!
Total 7 digit numbers 
2!2!3!

Number of 7 digit number divisible by 2  last digit = 4

6!
Now 7 digit numbers which are divisible by 2 
2!2!2!

6!
2!2!2! 3
Re quired probability  
7! 7
3!2!2!

98. A pack of cards has one card missing. Two cards are drawn randomly and are found
to be spades. The probability that the missing card is not a spade, is :
[Jee main 2021 (16-03-2021-shift-1)]
3 52 39 22
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4 867 50 425
Ans. (C)

39 13C 2

52 51 C 2
Sol. Required Probability 
13 12 C2 39 13 C2
  .
52 51 C 2 52 51 C2

39

11  39

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39

50

99. Let A denote the event that a 6-digit integer formed by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 without
repetitions, be divisible by 3. Then probability of event A is equal to :
[Jee main 2021 (16-03-2021-shift-2)]
9 4 3 11
(A) (B) (C) (D)
56 9 7 27
Ans. (B)
Sol. Total cases :
6·6·5·4·3·2
n(s) = 6 · 6!
Favourable cases :
Number divisible by 3 
Sum of digits must be divisible by 3
Case-I
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Number of ways = 6!
Case-II
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Number of ways = 5·5!
Case-III
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Number of ways = 5·5!

n(favourable) = 6! + 2·5·5!
6! 2  5  5! 4
P 
6  6! 9

100. Two dices are rolled. If both dices have six faces numbered 1,2,3,5,7 and 11, then the
probability that the sum of the numbers on the top faces is less than or equal to 8 is :
[Jee main 2021 (17-03-2021-shift-1)]
4 17 5 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
9 36 12 2
Ans. (B)
Sol. n(E) = 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 2 +1 = 17

17
So, P(E) 
36

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101. Let there be three independent events E1, E2 and E3. The probability that only E1
occurs is , only E2 occurs is  and only E3 occurs is . Let ‘p’ denote the probability
of none of events occurs that satisfies the equations ( – 2) p =  and ( – 3)p =
2. All the given probabilities are assumed to lie in the interval (0, 1).
[Jee main 2021 (17-03-2021-shift-1)]
Probability of occurrence of E1
Then is equal to _____.
Probability of occurrence of E 3
Ans. (6)
Sol. Let P(E1) = P1 ; P(E2) = P2 ; P(E3) = P3

P(E1  E 2  E 3 )    P1 (1  P2 )(1  P3 ) ......(1)

P(E1  E 2  E 3 )    (1  P1 ) P2 (1  P3 ) ......(2)

P(E1  E 2  E 3 )    (1  P1 )(1  P2 ) P3 ......(3)

P(E1  E 2  E 3 )  P  (1  P1 )(1  P2 )(1  P3 ) ......(4)

Given that, ( – 2) P = 

2
 (P1 (1 – P2) (1 – P3) – 2 (1 – P1) P2 (1 – P3) )P = P1P2 (1 – P1) (1 – P2) (1 – P3)

  (P1 (1 – P2) – 2(1 – P1) P2) = P1P2

  (P1 – P1P2 – 2P2 + 2P1P2) = P1P2

  P1 = 2P2 ......(1)

and similarly, ( – 3)P = 2

P2 = 3P3 ......(2)

P1
So, P1  6P3  6
P3

102. Let a computer program generate only the digits 0 and 1 to form a string of binary
1
numbers with probability of occurrence of 0 at even places be and probability of
2
1
occurrence of 0 at the odd place be . Then the probability that ‘10’ is followed by
3
‘01’ is equal to : [Jee main 2021 (17-03-2021-shift-2)]
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
18 3 6 9
Ans. (D)
Sol. 1 0 0 1

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

odd place even place odd place even place

or 1 0 0 1
even place odd place even place odd place
 1 1 1 2   2 1 1 1 1
          
 2 3 2 3   2 2 3 2 9

103. Let in a Binomial distribution, consisting of 5 independent trials, probabilities of

exactly 1 and 2 successes be 0.4096 and 0.2048 respectively. Then the probability of
getting exactly 3 successes is equal to : [Jee main 2021 (18-03-2021-shift-2)]
32 80 40 128
(A) (B) (C) (D)
625 243 243 625
Ans. (A)
5 4
Sol. P(X = 1) = C1.p.q = 0.4096
5 2 3
P(X = 1) = C2.p .q = 0.2048

q
 2
2p

 q = 4p and p + q = 1
1 4
p and q 
5 5
3 2
 1  4  10  16 32
Now, P(X  3)  5C3 .   .    
 5  5  125  125 625

104. Words with or without meaning are to be formed using all the letters of the word
EXAMINATION. The probability that the letter M appears at the fourth position in
any such word is : [Jee main 2021 (20-07-2021-shift-1)]
1 1 2 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
11 66 11 9
Ans. (A)
Sol. EXAMINATION
11!
E 1 n(S) 
2!2!2!
10!
X 1 n(E) 
2!2!2!

n(E) 1
A 2 P(E)  
n(S) 11

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

M 1

O 1

T 1

N 2

I 2

105. The probability of selecting integers a  [ 5,30] , such that x 2  2(a  4)x  5a  64  0

for all is : [Jee main 2021 (20-07-2021-shift-1)]

7 2 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
36 9 6 4
106. Let A, B and C be three events such that the probability that exactly one of A and B
occurs is (1 – k), the probability that exactly one of B and C occurs is (1 – 2k), the
probability that exactly one of C and A occurs is (1 – k) and the probability of all A, B
and C occur simultaneously is k2, where 0 < k < 1. Then the probability that at least
one of A, B and C occur is : [Jee main 2021 (20-07-2021-shift-2)]
1 1
(A) greater than (B) exactly equal to
2 2
1 1 1 1
(C) greater than but less than (D) greater than but less than
4 2 8 4

107. Four dice are thrown simultaneously and the numbers shown on these dice are
recorded in 2×2 matrices. The probability that such formed matrices have all different
entries and are non-singular, is : [Jee main 2021 (22-07-2021-shift-2)]
22 23 45 43
(A) (B) (C) (D)
81 81 162 162

108. Let 9 distinct balls distributed among 4 boxes, B1,B2,B3 and B4. If the probability that
9
3
B3 contains exactly 3 balls is k   then k lies in the set :
4
[Jee main 2021 (25-07-2021-shift-1)]
(A) {x R:| x – 1|< 1} (B) {x R:| x – 2|  1}
(C) {x R:| x – 3|< 1} (D) {x R:| x – 5|  1}
Ans. (C)
Sol. The numbers of ways of distributing 9 distinct balls in 4 boxes B1, B2, B3,and B4 is = 4 9

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability
6
When box B3, contains exactly 3 balls then number of ways = 9 C3   3
9
36 28  3 
Probability = 9 C3    
49 9 4

28 1
Hence k  3
9 9

Clearly 2  k  4  k  x  R : x  3  1

109. Let X be a random variable such that the probability function of a distribution is given
1 1
by P(x = 0) = , P(X = j) = j (j = 1, 2, 3, ……….”). Then the mean of the
2 3
distribution and P(X is positive and even) respectively are :
[Jee main 2021 (25-07-2021-shift-2)]
3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1
(A) and (B) and (C) and (D) and
4 8 4 9 8 8 4 16
Ans. (A)
Sol.
xi 0 1 2 3 4 5 ……….
pi 1 1 1 1 1 1 ……….
2 3
2 3 3 3 34 35
Mean of distribution =  pi x i
1 2 3 4
M=     ........ ….(1)
3 32 33 34
M 1 2 3
    ........ ….(2)
3 32 33 34
(1) – (2)
2M 1 1 1 1
  2  3  4  ......
3 3 3 3 3
1
2M 3 1 3
  M
3 2 2 4
3
1 1 1
P(x is positive and even) = 2  4  6  .......
3 3 3
1
=
8

110. A fair coin is tossed n-times such that the probability of getting at least one head is at
least 0.9. Then the minimum value of n is ………… .

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

[Jee main 2021 (25-07-2021-shift-2)]

Ans. (4)
n n
1 1
Sol. 1 –    0.9  0.1     n  4
2 2

111. The probability that a randomly selected 2-digit number belongs to the set
{n  N : (2n – 2) is a multiple of 3} is equal to : [Jee main 2021 (27-07-2021-shift-1)]
1 2 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 3 6 2
Ans. (D)
Sol. Total number of cases = 90C1 = 90
Now 2 n – 2 = (3 – 1)n – 2
= nC0 3n – nC1 3n–1 + ........ + (–1)n–1 nCn–1 3 + (–1)n nCn – 2
= 3(3 n–1 – n·3 n–2 + ….. + (–1)n–1·n) + (–1)n – 2
So (2 n – 2) is multiple of 3 only when n is odd
45 1
So number of favorable cases = 45, Hence required probability = 
90 2

112. A student in an examination consisting of 8 true-false type question. The student guesses
the answer with equal probability. The smallest value of n, so that the probability of
1
guessing at least ‘n’ correct answers is less than , is :
2
[Jee main 2021 (27-07-2021-shift-2)]
(A) 6 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5
Ans. (D)
1
Sol. If guessing the correct answer is called success then probability of success is p =
2
1
And q = (failure)
2
1
Now probability of at least n success <
2
8 r r –8
8 1 1 1

rn
Cr     
2 2 2
 Cn + Cn + 1 + ……+ 8C8 < 27
8 8

 8C5 + 8C6 + 8C7 + 8C8 < 27

Hence least value of n = 5.

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

113. Let A and B be independent events such that P(A) = p, P(B) = 2p, The largest value of
5
p, for which P (exactly one of A, B occurs)  is :
9
[Jee main 2021 (26-08-2021-shift-1)]
5 1 4 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
12 3 9 9
Ans. (A)
5
Sol. Probability (exactly one of A and B) 
9
5
P  A   P  B   2P  A  P  B  
9
5
p  2p  4p 2 
9
36p2  27p  5  0
 12p  5 3p  1  0
1 5
p or
3 12

114. A fair die is tossed until six is obtained on it. Let X be the number required tosses,
then the conditional probability P  x  5 | x  2  is :
[Jee main 2021 (26-08-2021-shift-2)]
5 125 25 11
(A) (B) (C) (D)
6 216 36 36
Ans. (C)
 x  5  P  x  5  x  2
Sol. P  
x 2 P  x  2
P  x  5  P  x  6   P  x  7   

P  x  3  P  x  4   P  x  5   
4 5
5 1 5 1
     
6 6 6 6
  2 3
5 1 5 1
      
6 6 6 6

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability
4
5 1
  
6 6
5
1 2

 6   5   25
2  
 5  1  6  36
 
6 6
5
1
6

115. Two fair dices are thrown. The numbers on them are taken as  and , and a system
of linear equations
xyz 0
xyz 0
x  3y   z  1
is constructed. If p is the probability that the system has a unique solution and q is the
probability that the system has no solution, then :
[Jee main 2021 (26-08-2021-shift-2)]
1 5 5 1
(A) p  and q  (B) p  and q 
6 36 6 36
1 1 5 5
(C) p  and q  (D) p  and q 
6 36 6 36
Ans. (D)
1 1 1
Sol. 1 2 3    5
 
1 3  

 1 1 5
1   2 3    10  3    44
 3  1

1 1 5 
 2  1 3    5      13
1  1

1 1 5
 3  1 2    2  6
1 3 1
For unique solution
  5 ,   1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6
5 5
 p  1 
6 6

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

For no solution
  5,   3
1 5 5
q   
6 6 36

1
116. When a certain biased die is rolled, a particular face occurs with probability x
6
1
and its opposite face occurs with probability  x . All other faces occur with
6
1 1
probability . Note that opposite faces sum to 7 in any die. If 0  x  , and the
6 6
13
probability of obtaining total sum = 7, when such a die is rolled twice, is , then the
96
value of x is: [Jee main 2021 (27-08-2021-shift-1)]
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
16 8 9 12
Ans. (B)
Sol. Probability of obtaining total sum 7 = Probability of getting opposite faces.
Probability of getting opposite faces
 1  1  1 1 1 1
 2   x    x      
 6  6  6 6 6 6
 1  1  1 1 1 1  13
 2   x    x        (given)
 6  6  6 6 6 6  96
1
x
8

117. Each of the persons A and B independently tosses three fair coins. The probability that
both of them get the same numbers of heads is :
[Jee main 2021 (27-08-2021-shift-2)]
5 1 5
(A) (B) (C) (D) 1
8 8 16
Ans. (C)
Sol. {HHH, TTT, HHT, HTH, THH, HTT, THT, TTH}
P  PA  0H  PB  0H   PB 1H  PB 1H   PA  2H  PB  2H   PA  3H  PB  3H 
1 1 3 3 3 3 1 1
P       
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
5
P
16

118. The probability distribution of random variable X is given by :

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

[Jee main 2021 (27-08-2021-shift-2)]

x 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) k 2k 2k 3k k
Let p  P 1  x  4 | x  3 . If 5p  K , then is equal to ______.
Ans. (30)
Sol. P  x   1
 k  2k  2k  3k  k  1
1
k
9
p  x  2
p  P 1  x  4 | x  3 
p  x  3
2k
9k 2
p 
k 2k 3

9k 9k
5p  k
2 1
5        30
3 9

119. An electric instrument consists of two units. Each unit must function independently for
the instrument to operate. The probability that the first unit functions is 0.9 and that
of the second unit is 0.8. The instrument is switched on and it fails to operate. If
the probability that only the first unit failed and second unit is functioning is p. then
98 p is equal to ______. [Jee main 2021 (31-08-2021-shift-1)]
Ans. (28)
Sol. E1  First unit is working
E 2  Second unit is working
P  E1   0.9 P  E 2   0.8
P  E1   0.1 P  E 2   0.2
0.8  0.1 8
P 
0.1  0.2  0.9  0.2  0.1 0.8 28
8
So, 98P  98   28
28

120. Let S = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Then the probability that a randomly chosen onto function g
from S to S satisfies g(3) = 2g(1) is [Jee main 2021 (31-08-2021-shift-2)]
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
15 10 5 30
Ans. (B)

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

1 1
2 2
3 3
Sol. total onto functions = 6!
4 4
5 5
6 6
9  3  2g 1
2 1
onto functions for which g  3  2g 1   4! 4! 4!
4 2
6 3
3  4! 1
 
30  4! 10

121. Two square are chosen at random on a chessboard (see figure). The probability that
they have a side in common is : [Jee main 2021 (01-09-2021-shift-2)]

1 2 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
18 7 7 9
Ans. (A)
64
Sol. Total ways C2  32  63
Favourable ways = a rectangle is chosen of size 2 1 or 1 2  2  7  8 
2 78 1
Probability  
32  63 18
122. 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 E 2 = 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.

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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 Advanced 2021 (Paper 1)]
1 3 1 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
5 5 2 5
Ans. (A)
P (S1  (E1  E 3 )) P(B1, 2 )
Sol. P 
P (E1  E3 ) P(B)
P(B) = P(B1,2) + P(B1,3) + P(B2,3)
 
If 1,2 If 1,3 If 2,3
chosen chosen chosen
at start at start at start
1 1 3C1 1
P(B1,2 )   4
 5
3 C C
2 2
1 is definitely 1,2chosen
chosen from F2 fromG 2

1 1  2C1 1
P(B1,3 )   4
 5
3 C C
2 2
1 is definitely 1,2chosen
chosen from F2 fromG 2

1  3 C2  1 1 1 3C1 1 
P(B2,3 )    4
 4
 4
5 
3  C C2 C C2 
2 2
 1from
is is not chosen If 1 is chosen 
 F2 fromG 2 
P(B1,2 ) 1

P(B) 5
Question Stem for Question Nos. 123 and 124
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 Advanced 2021 (Paper 1)]

625
123. The value of p1 is __________
4
Ans. (76.25)
Sol. p1 = probability that maximum of chosen numbers is at least 81
p1 = 1 – probability that maximum of chosen number is at most 80
80  80  80 64
p1  1 – 1
100 100 100 125
61
p1 
125

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Maths IIT-JEE ‘Best Approach’ (MCSIR) Probability

625p1 625 61 305

    76.25
4 4 125 4
625p1
the value of is 76.25
4

124. The value of is __________. 2 125 p 4

Ans. (24.50)
Sol. p2 = probability that minimum of chosen numbers is at most 40
= 1 – probability that minimum of chosen numbers is at least 41
3
 600 
 1  
 100 
27 98
 1 
125 125
125 125 98
  p2    24.50
4 4 125
125. Let E,F and G be three events having probabilities
1 1 1 1
P(E)  , P(F)  and P(G)  , and let 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 Advanced 2021 (Paper 1)]
1 1
(A) P (E  F  G C )  (B) P (E C  F  G) 
40 15
13 5
(C) P (E  F  G)  (D) P (E C  FC  G C ) 
24 12
Ans. (A,B,C)
1 1 1 1
Sol. P(E)  ; P(F)  ; P(G)  ; P(E  F  G) 
8 6 4 10

(C) P(E  F  G)  P(E)  P(F)  P(G) – P(E  F) – P(F  G) – P(G  E)  P(E  F  G)

1 1 1 1
   –  P(E  F) 
8 6 4 10
346 1 13 1
    P(E  F)     P(E  F)
24 10 24 10
13
 P(E  F  G)  [(C) is Correct]
24
13
(D) P(E C  FC  G C )  1  P(E  F  G) 1 
24
11
 P(E C  FC  G C )  [(D) is Incorrect]
24
1
(A) P(E)   P(E  F  G C )  P(E  F  G)
8
1 1 1 1
  P(E  F  G C )     P(E  F  G C )
8 10 8 10

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1
  P(E  F  G C ) [(A) is correct]
40
1
(B) P(F)   P(E C  F  G)  P(E  F  G)
6
1 1
   P(E C  F  G)
6 10
4
  P(EC  F  G)
60
1
  P(E C  F  G) [(B) is Correct]
15

126. A number is chosen at random from the set {1, 2, 3, ... , 2000}. Let p be the probability
that the chosen number is a multiple of 3 or a multiple of 7. Then the value of 500p
is ___. [Jee Advance 2021(Paper 2)]
Ans. (214)
Sol. A = set of numbers divisible by 3
A = {3, 6, 9, 12, ............. 1998}
 n (A) = 666
B = set of numbers divisible by 7
B = {7, 14, 21, .....1995}
n(B) = 285
A B = {21, 42,.......1995}
n(A B) = 606 + 285 - 95 = 856
856
required probability = P
2000
856
so, 500 P   500  214
2000

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