Getting Started You will need

• a calculator
• two coins

Lucky 7
Tynessa has a 20-sided die
that shows the numbers 1
to 20. She also has two
spinners, a special 10-by-10
dartboard, and a standard
deck of 52 playing cards.
Tynessa’s favourite number
is 7. To get a 7, she could use
any of the following methods:
• Roll the die, and read the
number on the top face.
• Spin spinner A.
• Spin spinner B.
• Throw a dart at the 10-by-10 dartboard.
• Remove the 12 face cards from the deck, and draw any
card without looking. (Treat each ace as a 1.)

? Which method is most likely to give Tynessa a 7? spinner A

A. Copy the table. Use fractions to write the probability of getting a 7

using each method. Record the fractions in the “Fraction form” column.
Probability of getting a 7
Method Fraction form Decimal form Percent form
20-sided die
spinner A
spinner B
10-by-10 spinner B
dartboard
deck of cards
(no J, Q, or K)

B. Complete the table with the decimal form and percent form.
C. Which method gives Tynessa the greatest probability of getting a 7?
D. Which way of writing the probability (fraction, decimal, or percent
form) do you think is best for comparing the methods? Explain.
10-by-10 dartboard

NEL
410 Chapter 12
Do You Remember?
1. Kyle rolled two six-sided dice, with the 4. What are the possible outcomes when you
numbers 1 to 6, and added the values. This toss a coin?
bar graph shows his results.
5. A paper bag holds three marbles: one
green, one red, and one blue.
a) Suppose that you remove one marble at
random from the bag. What are the
possible outcomes?
b) Suppose that you put the marble from
part (a) back in the bag. Then you
remove a marble from the bag again.
What are the possible two-marble
outcomes?
c) Suppose that you put the marble back,
then remove a marble again. What are
a) Which total occurred most often? the possible three-marble outcomes?
b) Which total occurred least often?
6. Suppose that you remove three marbles as
c) Which totals occurred the same number
in question 5, but you don’t put the marble
of times?
back each time. Copy and complete the
d) Which total occurred six times? tree diagram to determine the number of
e) How often did the total 10 occur? possible outcomes.

2. Copy and complete the table. Write the

fractions in lowest terms.
Fraction Decimal Percent
a) 7



10 7. Toss two coins 20 times and record your
b) 10% results. Use your results to write these
c) 9 fractions.



100
d) 0.88 a) the fraction for the number of times out
of 20 that both coins show Heads
e) 55%
f) 34% b) the fraction for the number of times out
g) 3 of 20 that one coin shows Heads and



5 one coin shows Tails
h) 0.52

3. Tell how to use a calculator to express a

4
fraction as a decimal; for example,

= 0.8.
5

NEL
Probability 411
 You will need
• a spinner
12.1 Exploring Probability • a calculator

GOAL
Determine probability from an experiment.

Explore the Math

Last year, Omar played 20 baseball games. He was up to bat three times per
game. On average, he gets a hit once in these three times per game.

? What is the probability that Omar will

get two hits in one game?

A. Do an experiment with a spinner like this.

Each trial of three spins represents Omar’s
three at-bats per game. Copy the following table,
and record the results of each at-bat for 20 trials.
Trial number First at-bat Second at-bat Third at-bat
1
2
3

B. Copy the following table. One possible outcome for a trial is no hit, no
hit, hit. (You can write this as N-N-H.) Copy the following table. List all
the possible outcomes for your experiment in the “Outcome” column.
Experimental probability based on your data
event
Outcome Frequency Fraction Decimal Percent
a set of one or more
possible outcomes for a
probability experiment

favourable outcome
C. In your experiment, the event you were investigating was Omar the result that you are
getting two hits in a game. A favourable outcome is H-H-N. Circle investigating in a
the other favourable outcomes in your table. Record the frequency for probability experiment
each outcome from your experiment in the “Frequency” column.
D. Use your results to calculate the probability that Omar will get two experimental
hits in a game. Experimental probability is calculated using the probability
number of trials in which the investigated event was observed a measure of the
ratio






. Record the
total number of trials in experiment likelihood of an event,
experimental probability for each outcome as a fraction, a decimal, and based on data from an
a percent in your table. experiment

NEL
412 Chapter 12
E. Repeat the experiment. Record the results in a new table like the one
in step A. Then complete another table like the one in steps B to D
for the 20 trials in your second experiment.
F. Copy the following table. Record the possible outcomes and the
results for your first and second experiments in your table. Compare
the experimental probabilities from your two experiments.
Probability based on your data
First Second Probability based
Outcome experiment experiment Combined on class data

G. Combine your data from both experiments. Compare the

experimental probability from the combined results with the
experimental probabilities calculated in the individual experiments.
H. Combine your results with your classmates’ results. Complete
your table.

Reflecting
1. a) Will the probabilities from an experiment with 20 trials be
exactly the same if you repeat the experiment? Explain.
b) Will the probabilities from an experiment with 100 trials be
exactly the same if you repeat the experiment? Explain.

2. Suppose that you conducted an experiment with 1000 trials, and

then repeat it. How would the experimental probability from the
first experiment compare with the experimental probability from
the second?

3. Suppose that you are designing an experiment to determine the

probability of an event. How should you design your experiment
so that the experimental probabilities will be as close as possible
to each other every time the experiment is repeated?

NEL
Probability 413
 You will need
• a calculator
12.2 Calculating Probability
GOAL
Identify and state the theoretical probability of favourable outcomes.

Learn about the Math

Colin and Kaitlyn are buying tickets for the pizza lottery. The tickets are
numbered from 1 to 100. Colin buys all the tickets that are multiples of 10.
Kaitlyn buys all the tickets that are factors of 32.

? What is the probability of each student winning

the lottery?

Probability is a number that shows how likely it is that an event will

happen. It can be expressed as a decimal from 0 (will never happen) to
1 (is certain to happen). Theoretical probability is calculated using theoretical probability
number of favourable outcomes for an event a measure of the
the ratio




.
total number of possible outcomes likelihood of an event,
based on calculations
Communication Tip

The probability of an event is often written as P(X), where X is a description of the

event; for example, if P(H) represents the probability of tossing a coin and getting
1
Heads, P(H) =

, or 0.5, or 50%.
2

NEL
414 Chapter 12
 Example 1: Calculating probability
Calculate the probability that Colin will win. Express the number in different ways.

Colin’s Solution

number of tickets Colin bought I bought the 10 tickets with

P(Colin winning) 




total number of tickets sold numbers that are multiples
10 of 10: #10, #20, #30, #40, #50,



100 #60, #70, #80, #90, and #100.
1


or 0.1 or 10%
10

Example 2: Calculating probability

Calculate the probability that Kaitlyn will win. Express the number in different ways.

Kaitlyn’s Solution

number of tickets Kaitlyn bought I bought the 6 tickets with

P(Kaitlyn winning) 




total number of tickets sold numbers that are factors of 32:
6 #1, #2, #4, #8, #16, and #32.


or 0.06 or 6%
100

Reflecting
1. Explain the difference between a possible outcome and a favourable outcome.
2. How does the probability of drawing ticket #24 compare with the
probability of drawing ticket #25?
3. Suppose that Colin had won the pizza lottery two weeks in a row. Does this
affect his probability of winning the next week? Explain.

Work with the Math

Example 3: Tossing three coins

Determine the probability of getting Tails twice and Heads once, in any order,
when tossing three coins. Express the number in fraction form.

Rana’s Solution

HHH, THH, HTH, HHT, TTH, THT, HTT, TTT I listed all the possible outcomes for tossing
three coins. There are eight possible outcomes.
3
P(two Tails and one Heads) 

I circled the three outcomes that show two
8
Tails and one Heads.

NEL
Probability 415
 Example 4: Drawing cards from a standard deck
Calculate the probability of drawing an ace from a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
Express the number in different ways.

Tynessa’s Solution

P(drawing an ace) There are 52 cards in a standard deck, and 4 of

4 these cards are aces.



52 I used a calculator to write the fraction as a decimal.
or about 0.08 or 8%
4 • 52 G

I rounded the result to two decimal places.

Checking Practising
4. Express each probability in different ways. 5. What is each probability?
a) P(yellow) a) P(4)
b) P(green)

b) P(♥)

c) P(one Heads and one Tails)

c) P(any 4 or any heart)

d) P(Q♠)

d) P(a vowel)

NEL
416 Chapter 12
 6. Suppose that you toss three pennies. 10. For the following
a) What is the probability of all three spinner, what is
pennies landing heads up: P(H, H, H)? each probability?
a) P(multiple of 3)
b) P(factor of 12)
c) P(prime number)
d) P(3, 5, or 8)
e) P(a number less than 12)

b) Suppose the three pennies land heads 11. Heidi’s group uses the spinner from
up and you toss a fourth penny. What is question 10. They spin it 600 times. How
the probability of it landing heads up? many times would you expect the arrow to
Explain. land on each number below? Explain your
thinking.
7. Tien chooses one ball without looking.
a) 7
What is each probability?
b) an even number
a) P(black)
c) a number less than 4
b) P(10)
d) a number greater than 12
c) P(an odd number)
d) P(an even number) 12. A regular die shows the numbers from 1 to 6.
e) P(solid red, yellow, or a) Calculate P(even number).
green) b) Calculate two other
f) P(a number less than 20) probabilities for the die.

8. A paper bag contains a $5 bill, a $10 bill,

a $20 bill, a $50 bill, and a $100 bill. The
Extending
probability of drawing the 13. Anthony draws a block
$100 bill from from this bag, checks its
1 colour, and puts it back.
the bag is

. He continues drawing
5
Explain why the one block at a time and
probability of drawing putting it back until he
the $1 coin from this draws the red block.
1
bag of coins is not

. a) What is the probability
5 that Anthony will draw the red block
9. Describe an event with each probability. for the first time on his second try?
1 1 1 b) Suppose that Anthony does not replace
a)

c)

e)


2 31 1 each block after he draws it. Will the
1 1 0 probability that he draws a red block on
b)

d)

f)


7 365 4 his second try change? Explain.

NEL
Probability 417
 12.3 Solve Problems Using
Organized Lists
GOAL
Use organized lists to determine all possible outcomes.

Learn about the Math

“Geoffrey, I have exactly five coins in my hand, worth

a total of 50¢. There are no pennies. If you guess what “Let me think about
the coins are, I’ll give them to you. If you guess wrong, it, Samantha.”
you give me 50¢.”

? What is the probability of Geoffrey guessing correctly

and winning?

Understand the Problem

The following information is given in the problem:
• Samantha has exactly five coins.
• The coins have a value of 50¢.
• They can be any combination of nickels, dimes, and quarters.
• There are no pennies.
• There may be more than one of some types of coins.
• There may be none of some types of coins.
Make a Plan
Geoffrey decides to write all the possible combinations in an
organized list. He will make a table and work systematically so that
he will not miss or repeat any combination.

NEL
422 Chapter 12
 Carry Out the Plan
I have one chance out
of two of winning. My
Quarters Dimes Nickels Total value Summary of possible combinations probability of guessing
5 0 0 $1.25 with five quarters, one combination correctly is
1
. I’ll take
2
4 1 0 $1.10 with four quarters, two combinations Samantha’s challenge.
4 0 1 $1.05
3 2 0 $0.95 with three quarters, three
3 1 1 $0.90 combinations
3 0 2 $0.85
2 3 0 $0.80 with two quarters, four combinations
2 2 1 $0.75
2 1 2 $0.70
2 0 3 $0.65
1 4 0 $0.65 with one quarter, five combinations
1 3 1 $0.60
1 2 2 $0.55
1 1 3 $0.50 *
1 0 4 $0.45
0 5 0 $0.50 * with no quarters, six combinations
0 4 1 $0.45
0 3 2 $0.40
0 2 3 $0.35
0 1 4 $0.30
0 0 5 $0.25

* Only two combinations add up to 50¢. Either Samantha has one

quarter, one dime, and three nickels, or she has five dimes.

Look Back
Geoffrey sees a pattern in the numbers, so he is sure that he listed
all the possible combinations.

Reflecting
1. Describe the number patterns in Geoffrey’s list.

2. What other strategies could Geoffrey have used to determine all the
possible combinations?

3. How did an organized list help Geoffrey determine the probability of

guessing correctly?

4. Do you think Samantha’s challenge is fair? Explain your answer.

NEL
Probability 423
 Work with the Math

Example: Making an organized list to determine all possible outcomes

Tynessa cannot remember the

combination for her bicycle lock.
She knows that the numbers are 1,
2, or 3 and they add up to 7. What
are the possible combinations?
What is the probability that the first
of the possible combinations that
Tynessa tries will open the lock?

Tynessa’s Solution

Understand the Problem

The numbers in the correct combination add up to 7.
I need to find all the possible combinations with a sum of 7.

Make a Plan
I’ll make an organized list of all the possible combinations, starting
with a first number of 1, then of 2, and then of 3.

Carry Out the Plan

First 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
number
Second 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3
number
Third 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
number
Sum 3 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 7 4 5 6 5 6 7 6 7 8 5 6 7 6 7 8 7 8 9

Six of these combinations have a sum of 7. The probability that the first of these
combinations I try will open the lock is
1
.
6
Look Back
I see patterns in my list, so I’m sure that I’ve found all the combinations. The first
number, which is 1, appears nine times. Then the number 2 appears nine times.
Then the number 3 appears nine times.

NEL
424 Chapter 12
 10. Samantha threw three darts and hit the
Checking dartboard each time.
5. Suppose that you have two coins in your a) Use an organized list to show all the
pocket. The coins can be pennies, nickels, possible scores Samantha might have.
dimes, or quarters.
b) What is the likelihood that her score
a) How many different combinations are will be less than 30?
possible?
b) How many of these combinations add
up to less than 20¢?
c) What is the probability that the two
coins in your pocket add up to less than
20¢?

6. Meagan has three dogs: Fido, Spot, and

Rover. The sum of the dogs’ ages is 15. 11. Matthew has three brothers: Alex, Mark,
Rover is the oldest, and Spot is the and Luke. The sum of their three ages is
youngest. List all the different 12. List all the different combinations of
combinations of ages the dogs could be. ages that Matthew’s brothers could be.

12. In chess, each player starts with eight

Practising pawns, two knights, two bishops, two
7. In a baseball tournament, teams get 5 points rooks, one queen, and one king. A pawn is
for a win, 3 points for a tie, and 1 point for worth 1 point. A knight and a bishop are
a loss. Nathan’s team has 29 points. each worth 3 points. A rook is worth 5
a) Use an organized list to show how many points. Suppose that the pieces you capture
different combinations of wins, ties, and in a game are worth 10 points. List all the
losses Nathan’s team could have. combinations of pieces you could have.
b) What is the probability that Nathan’s 13. The coins in Yan’s pocket are worth 27¢.
team had more losses than ties? Yan could have any combination of
pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters.
8. Tien has six coins in her pocket. She has at
least one quarter, one dime, one nickel, and a) How many different combinations of
one penny. Use an organized list to show coins are possible?
how many different ways Tien might have b) Suppose that Yan has one nickel. What
more than 60¢. is the probability that you could guess
the combination of coins he has in his
9. The digits in the number 743 have two pocket?
properties:
• Their sum is 14. 14. Make up a problem that can be solved by
using an organized list. Include a complete
• They are in decreasing order.
solution.
List all the other three-digit numbers that
have the same two properties.

NEL
Probability 425
 12.4 Using Tree Diagrams
to Calculate Probability
GOAL
Use tree diagrams to determine all possible outcomes.

Learn about the Math

Mei has three sisters
and no brothers.

? What are the

chances that a
family with four
children will have
all girls?

Example 1: Using a tree diagram to analyze outcomes

Determine the probability that a family with four children will have all girls.

Rana’s Solution

I listed all the possibilities in a tree

diagram. Each child will be either a
boy or a girl.

There are 16 possible outcomes. In only

one of the outcomes are all the children
girls.
P(4 girls) 
1

16

NEL
426 Chapter 12
 Example 2: Using a tree diagram to analyze outcomes
Determine the probability that a family with four children will have
two girls and two boys.

Omar’s Solution

I used Rana’s tree diagram. There are 16 possible outcomes.

In six of these outcomes, there are two girls and two boys.
P(2 girls and 2 boys) 
6
or
3

16 8

Reflecting
1. a) How does a tree diagram help you list all the possible outcomes?
b) How does a tree diagram help you calculate the probability of an event?
c) Explain why a tree diagram is an organized list.

2. a) How many outcomes are possible for a family of five children? How
does this compare with the outcomes for a family of four children?
b) How many outcomes are possible for a family of six children?
Explain what you did.

3. How can you use the number of branches of a tree diagram to calculate the
total number of branches in the diagram? Explain why this makes sense.

Work with the Math

Example 3: Determining the probability of travelling to the end of a maze

A small robot is put at the entrance to this maze. The robot stops
when it comes to a dead end. At each “gate” in the maze, the robot
randomly turns left or right. What is the probability of the robot
reaching the exit?
Solution

Put a letter at each gate and draw a tree The tree diagram shows that seven routes are
diagram to try each possibility. possible. Only one of these routes leads to the exit.
1
P(reaching the exit) 


7

NEL
Probability 427
 Example 4: Using a tree diagram to determine all the possible outcomes
The Belleville Bills and the Arnprior Allstars are in a playoff series. The first team
to win two games will win the series. The two teams have an equal probability of
winning any game. What is the probability of the series lasting three games?

Solution

Draw a tree diagram to represent the possible results of the series.

The tree diagram shows that there are six possible outcomes.
• Team A wins games 1 and 2, so game 3 • Team A wins games 2 and 3.
is not played. • Team B wins games 1 and 3.
• Team A wins games 1 and 3. • Team B wins games 1 and 2, so game 3
• Team B wins games 2 and 3. is not played.
In four of these outcomes, the series lasts three games.
P(series lasts 3 games) 
4
or 2



6 3

5. Draw a tree diagram to show all the possible

Checking outcomes of tossing a coin three times.
4. Ioanna sells irises and lilies in bunches of
four. If she randomly selects the flowers, Practising
determine the probability that a bunch will
have one iris and three lilies. 6. Use a tree diagram to determine the
probability of tossing a total of 7 using
two regular dice.

7. Braydon wants a triple-scoop ice cream

cone. In his freezer, he has strawberry,
maple walnut, and blueberry ripple ice
cream.
a) Use a tree diagram to determine how
many possible combinations Braydon
can choose.
b) What is the probability that at least one
scoop will be strawberry?

NEL
428 Chapter 12
 8. Omar has three 11. a) Rosa has three blouses, three skirts,
T-shirts: one red, one and three jackets. How many different
green, and one yellow. outfits can she put together?
He has two pairs of b) Asha has three blouses, two skirts, and
shorts: one red and four jackets. Can she put together more
one black. Use a tree or fewer outfits than Rosa? Explain.
diagram to answer
the following 12. George is the third of five children. He has
questions. two older sisters (S) and two younger
brothers (B). This arrangement can be
written as SSBBB.
a) Use a tree diagram to determine the
probability of a family with five
children beginning with two sisters.
b) Is the probability of a family of five
beginning with two sisters the same as
the probability of a family of five
ending with two sisters? Explain.
a) How many different outfits can Omar c) What is the probability of the sixth
put together? child being a boy?
b) What is the probability of Omar’s 13. Leonard places a small robot at the
outfits including a red T-shirt or entrance to this maze. Each choice of
red shorts? direction is random. The robot stops when
it comes to a dead end. What is the
9. Takumi tosses these coins, one after the other. probability of the robot reaching the exit?

a) In how many different ways can they

land?
b) What is the probability of at least three Extending
coins landing on Heads?
14. Marian wants to buy a double scoop of ice
10. The combination for a lock uses three of cream. The ice cream shop has 23 flavours,
the digits 1, 2, 3, and 4. which can be served in a regular cone, a
a) How many three-digit combinations can sugar cone, or a dish. How many different
the lock have? Explain your answer. combinations can Marian order?
b) How many three-digit combinations
can the lock have, if the same digit
cannot be used more than once?

NEL
Probability 429
 You will need
• two six-sided dice
12.5 Applying Probabilities • a calculator

GOAL
Calculate and compare probabilities.

Learn about the Math

Tynessa and Kaitlyn are creating a new game about tossing two dice.
Tynessa says, “Let’s make it simple. All you have to do is roll the dice
and look at the numbers.”
Kaitlyn says, “Four results
are possible.
• Alike: The numbers are
not the same, but both
numbers are either even
or odd.
• Consecutive: The second
die is either one greater or
one less than the first die.
• Matching: The numbers
are the same.
• Different: The numbers
are not alike,
consecutive, or
matching.”

Tynessa says, “Our rules should say that the player who gets the least
likely result wins.”

? Which result is least likely?

A. Use a tree diagram or an organized list to determine all the possible
outcomes.
B. Calculate the probability of each result.
C. List the results in order from most probable to least probable.
D. Write the rules that determine a winner, based on your list in step C.

NEL
430 Chapter 12
E. Try Tynessa and Kaitlyn’s game. Roll the dice at least 20 times.
Record your results in a table like this one.
Result Tally
alike
consecutive
matching
different

F. How do your experimental probabilities compare with the theoretical

probabilities you calculated in step B?

Reflecting
1. The probability of each result can be written as a fraction, a decimal,
or a percent. Which form makes comparing the probabilities easiest?
Explain.

2. You could base the rules of the game on either the theoretical
probabilities or the experimental probabilities. Which would you
use? Why?

Work with the Math

Example: Calculating batting averages

A player’s batting average is the
Player Number of hits Number of times at bat
probability that the player will get
a hit, based on previous data. It is Heather 25 75
calculated using the ratio Indu 32 100
number of hits



and is expressed Meagan 18 50
number of times at bat
as a number to three decimal places.
(Zero is not recorded in the ones place of a batting average.)
Use the data in the table to calculate each player’s probability of getting a hit.
List the batting averages from least to greatest.

Colin’s Solution
25 32 18
For Heather, P(hit) 

For Indu, P(hit) 

For Meagan, P(hit) 


75 100 50
1 or 0.320 or 0.360



3
or about 0.333
The batting averages from least to greatest are Indu .320, Heather .333,
and Meagan .360.

NEL
Probability 431
 7. a) What is the probability of winning each
Checking amount each time you fish: $10, $5,
3. Which player has the greatest probability $0.10?
of getting a hit?
• Raj’s batting average is .575.
• Bella gets a hit three out of every five
times at bat.
• Connie has a 58% chance of getting a hit.
2
• For Derek, P(hit) 

.
3

Practising
4. Which player has the least probability of
getting a hit?
• Jasleen has a batting average of .360.
• Claudia gets two hits for every five times
at bat.
b) What is the total value of the 100 fish?
• Maxine has a 40% chance of getting a hit.
1 c) All 100 fish are caught. How much
• The likelihood of Ernie getting a hit is

. profit did the operator of the fish pond
4
make?
5. For which of these spinners is black as d) What is the probability that you would
equally likely to occur as at least one other win more than you pay?
colour? Explain.
a) c) 8. To play the birthday wheel, you pay $1.
Then you spin the wheel. If your birthday
month comes up, you win $10. What is the
probability that you will win on one spin?

b) d)

6. Explain which event is more likely:

• rolling two dice and getting a total of 11
or
• tossing a coin and getting three Heads in
a row

NEL
432 Chapter 12
 9. Suppose that you
want to get either four
Extending
consecutive cards 11. In a lottery, one four-digit number is chosen
from the same suit or at random. The digit 0 is not used. Suppose
three cards with the that you buy a ticket.
same value. Your a) What are your chances of winning?
hand is shown here.
b) What are your chances of losing?
You draw a card from
the remaining 42 cards 12. In basketball, each shot at the basket will
in the standard deck. Which either go in or not go in. Explain why the
probability is greater? Why? 1
probability of getting a basket is not

,
• drawing 5♥, or 2
• drawing 8♥ or 8♠ even though only two outcomes are
possible.
10. Bag A has 3 black marbles and 5 white
marbles. Bag B has 8 black marbles and 10 13. Mei and Janice are playing a game with
white marbles. Bag C has 17 black marbles three dice. The nets of the dice are shown
and 20 white marbles. below. Which two dice should Mei choose
to be most likely to roll the highest score?
a) Which bag gives the greatest
probability of drawing a black marble?
b) Which bag gives the greatest
probability of drawing a white marble?
c) If all the marbles are placed in one bag,
what is the probability of drawing a
white marble?

EXPRESSING A FRACTION
AS A PERCENT
When the denominator of a fraction  25
is a factor of 100, you can use mental 3 75
math to change it to a percent.



or 75%
4 100
 25
1. Express each fraction as a percent.
1 1 1 7 3
a)

c)

e)

g)

i)


4 5 20 25 50
2 3 17 16 27
b)

d)

f)

h)

j)


4 5 20 25 50

NEL
Probability 433
 Mid-Chapter Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is probability?
A: Probability is a number between 0 and 1 that tells the likelihood
of something happening.
You can express probability as a fraction, a decimal, or a percent.
For example, when a coin is tossed, the theoretical probability of
1
Tails is one-half. It is written P(T) 

or 0.5 or 50%.
2
Q: What is the difference between a possible outcome, a favourable
outcome, and an event?
A: • A possible outcome is any single result that can happen.
• An event is a set of one or more possible outcomes that can
happen.
• A favourable outcome is the outcome in which you are
interested.
For example, the possible outcomes of rolling a die numbered from
1 to 6 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. An event might be rolling an odd
number. For this event, 1, 3, and 5 are the favourable outcomes.

Q: What is the difference between experimental probability and

theoretical probability?
A: • The experimental probability of an event is a measure of the
likelihood of the event, based on data from an experiment.
It is calculated using the ratio
number of trials in which the investigated event was observed







.
total number of trials in experiment
For example, suppose Ralph draws a card from a standard deck
30 times. If he draws a king 4 times, then the experimental
4 2
probability of drawing a king is

or

, which is about
30 15
0.13 or 13%.
• The theoretical probability of an event is a measure of the
likelihood of an event, calculated using the ratio
number of favourable outcomes for an event





. For example, the
number of possible outcomes
theoretical probability of drawing a king from a deck of 52 cards
number of kings in deck 4 1
is




or

, which is about 0.08 or 8%.
number of cards in deck 52 13

NEL
418 Chapter 12
 Practice Questions
(12.1) 1. Raj is conducting an experiment by 5. Zach made dice using these solids. He
spinning this spinner marked each face with a different number.
three times for each Does each solid have an equal probability
trial. List all the for every outcome? Explain. (12.2)
possible a) c)
outcomes
for a trial.
b) d)

(12.1) 2. When Andrea tossed a coin 10 times, she 6. Calculate the probability of each event.
got four Heads. Write the fraction, decimal, Use the notation P( ) =. (12.2)

and percent for the experimental a) Joe tosses two coins and gets two Heads.
probability of tossing Tails. b) Rana draws one card from a standard
deck of 52 cards. She draws a heart.
(12.2) 3. Heather rolled a regular six-sided die 16
times. Her experimental probabilities for c) Elizabeth rolls a 10-sided die with the
three events are given below: numbers 1 to 10. The face shows an
odd number.
9
A. even:


16 7. Kyle and Winnie reported the following
8
B. less than 4:

results for their experiments. Whose results
16
1 are most likely to happen again? Why? (12.2)
C. 6:


16 a) Each tossed a coin eight times. Kyle
a) Which result matches the theoretical tossed four Heads and four Tails.
probability? Winnie tossed eight Heads and zero
b) Which result is close to the theoretical Tails.
probability? b) Each drew two cards from a standard
c) Which result is not at all close to the deck. Kyle drew two hearts. Winnie
theoretical probability? drew a heart and a club.
c) Each rolled a regular six-sided die 12
(12.2) 4. Determine the probability of landing on times. Kyle rolled a 6 two times.
each colour. Winnie rolled a 6 four times.
a) blue
b) red
c) yellow
d) green

NEL
Probability 419
Chapter Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can you use an Number Number Number
organized list to calculate Combination for 10 of wins of ties of losses
probability? 55 2 0 0
A: An organized list shows 5  2  2 1 1 2 1
all the possible outcomes. 52111 1 1 3
This makes the favourable 5  1  1  1  11 1 0 5
outcomes easier to see. 22222 0 5 0
For example, in a school 222211 0 4 2
checkers tournament, a 2221111 0 3 4
win is worth 5 points, a tie 22111111 0 2 6
is worth 2 points, and a 211111111 0 1 8
loss is worth 1 point. 1111111111 0 0 10
Helene has 10 points.
What is the probability that she had more wins than ties?
The table shows that there are ten ways to earn 10 points. Only
one way has more wins than ties.
1
P(more wins than ties) 

or 10%
10

Q: How do you use a tree diagram to calculate probability?

A: Suppose that your school is in a volleyball tournament and every
team has an equal chance of winning. The winner must win two
out of three games. What is the probability that your school will
win in the first two games?
The tree diagram shows that six outcomes are possible and
equally likely. In one of these outcomes, your
school wins the first two games.
1
P(win first 2 games) 


6
Note: Theoretical probability is not very reliable
in sports because there are many factors that
affect who wins. Some of these factors are
• the latest performance records of the teams
• the confidence of each team over its opponents
• the combinations of the different players
• the number of supporters of each team at the game

NEL
Probability 435
 Practice Questions
(12.2) 1. Travis tossed three coins 16 times. Here are 5. For her meal, Heidi can choose
the experimental probabilities for three • a hamburger or a hot dog
outcomes:
• juice, water, or lemonade
2
A. H, T, H:

Use a tree diagram to show all the possible
16
3 combinations for Heidi’s meal. (12.4)
B. H, H, H:


16 6. Alan has two jackets (tan and blue), three
11
C. two H’s and one T in any order:

caps (red, white, and blue), and three pairs
16 of running shoes (white, blue, and black).
a) Which outcome matches the theoretical He always wears a jacket, a cap, and
probability exactly? running shoes. (12.4)
b) Which outcome is close to the a) Use a tree diagram to show how many
theoretical probability? different combinations Alan can wear.
c) Which outcome is not at all close to the b) In how many combinations will Alan
theoretical probability? be wearing something blue?
(12.2) 2. Ali draws one card at random from a c) In how many combinations will Alan
standard deck of playing cards. What is be wearing two things of the same
each probability? colour?
a) P(black card) b) P(6) 7. Franz rolls a single die, numbered 1 to 6,
two times. Use a tree diagram to determine
(12.3) 3. On Saturdays, Elliott practises the piano,
the probability of rolling two consecutive
walks his dog, does his homework, and
numbers in increasing order. (12.4)
cleans his room. Use an organized list to
show all the possible orders in which 8. Determine the probability of a mother’s
Elliott can do these tasks. first three children all being boys. (12.4)

(12.3) 4. Only Dave, Tony, Colin, and Joel are 9. Which player has the best batting
competing in the 400 m hurdles. They all average? (12.5)
have an equal chance of winning. • Chanelle’s batting average is .380.
a) Use an organized • Tim hit the ball 12 times in his last 30
list to show all the times at bat.
outcomes for the 1
first three hurdlers • Francine’s probability of getting a hit is

.
3
crossing the finish
• Ted hits the ball 35% of the time.
line.
b) What is the 10. In a school football league, the Panthers
probability that Joel won 6 of their last 10 games. The Hawks
will finish in the top won 8 of their last 14 games. The Pythons
three? won 7 of their last 12 games. Which team
has the greatest theoretical probability of
winning the championship? (12.5)

NEL
436 Chapter 12
 Chapter Self-Test
1. Katya writes each letter in the word 5. Suki has $2 coins, $1 coins, and quarters in
“PROBABILITY” on a different card and her wallet. She owes her brother $2.50. Use
turns over the cards. Then she mixes the an organized list to show all the possible
cards and draws one card at random. What combinations of coins that she could use to
is each theoretical probability? get exactly $2.50.
a) P(B)
6. Alice is going to the drugstore, the dry
b) P(a vowel) cleaners, and the bakery.
c) P(B or I) a) Use a tree diagram to show how many
d) P(K) possible orders she could go to all three
stores.
2. What is the difference between theoretical
b) Alice chooses her route randomly.
probability and experimental probability?
What is the probability that she will go
Give an example.
to the bakery first?
3. a) What is the probability of guessing
7. Jim has the following spinner, two regular
someone’s birth month?
dice, and three coins. Which outcome is
b) Express the probability as a number most probable?
rounded to two decimal places.
A. landing on red with
4. In Bingo, the numbers 1 to 75 can be the spinner
drawn. Each Bingo card has 24 numbers B. rolling a 9
and one free space. Suppose that you have with the dice
this Bingo card. C. tossing two
Heads and
one Tails
with the coins

8. A spinner has four colours: red, blue,

yellow, and green. The probability of
landing on red is 25%. The probability of
landing on blue is 12%. The probability of
landing on yellow is 50%.
a) What is the probability of landing on
a) How many outcomes are possible? green?
b) How many outcomes are favourable? b) If you spin the spinner 75 times, how
c) What is the probability that the number many times can you expect to land on
called is on your Bingo card? blue?

NEL
434 Chapter 12
 9. 19 250 mL 5. B
10. a) prism B b) prism B 6. a) e.g., 20 m by 10 m by 2 m and 4 m by 25 m
by 4 m
11.3 Solve Problems by Guessing and b) e.g., 4 m by 25 m by 4 m
Testing, pp. 396–397 7. No. e.g., The dimensions of three different
5. a) e.g., 30 cm by 10 cm by 5 cm and 20 cm by prisms with a volume of 24 m3 are 24 m by
25 cm by 3 cm 1 m by 1 m, 6 m by 2 m by 2 m, and 3 m by
b) e.g., 1000 cm2 and 1270 cm2 4 m by 2 m.
c) e.g., My first set of dimensions would be Surface area of first is 98 m2, surface area of
better because its surface area is less. second is 56 m2, and surface area of last is 52 m2.
6. a) e.g., 40 cm by 25 cm by 3 cm and 50 cm by 8. a) 100 m3 b) 150 m3 c) 100 m3
10 cm by 6 cm d) 200 m3 e) 100 m3
b) e.g., 2390 cm2 and 1720 cm2 9. a)
Area of Height Volume Surface
c) e.g., My second set of dimensions would be base (cm2) (cm) (cm3) Area (cm2)
better because its surface area is less.
4 2 8 24
7. a) e.g., length 100 cm, width 75 cm;
4 4 16 40
length 90 cm, width 85 cm
b) e.g., 100 cm by 75 cm
4 8 32 72
8. a) e.g., length 25 cm, width 20 cm;
4 16 64 136
length 30 cm, width 15 cm b) It doubles.
b) e.g., 25 cm by 20 cm c) The difference increases by a factor of 2.
9. length 2 m, width 1 m
11. a) 4 cm b) 3 cm

11.4 Relating the Dimensions of a Rectangular Chapter 12, p. 409

Prism to Its Volume, pp. 399–400
Getting Started, p. 411
4. a) e.g., 1. a) 7 b) 12 c) 4 and 5, 6 and 8
d) 9 e) 10
2. a) 0.7, 70% b) }1}, 0.1
10
c) 0.09, 9%
b) 400 m3 c) 600 m3 d) 400 m3
d) }22}, 88% 11
f) }17}, 0.34
10. a) 420 cm3 b) no c) no 25
e) }},
20
0.55
50
13
g) 0.6, 60% }}, 52%
Chapter Self-Test, p. 405 h)
25
1. a) 354.3 cm2 b) 1350 cm2 c) 553 cm2 3. Enter the numerator; press • ; enter the
2. a) 140 cm3 b) 3780 cm3 denominator; press G .
3. A 4. Heads or Tails
4. a) 5 cm b) 5 m 5. a) G, R, B
5. a) no b) 31 500 cm3 b) G-G, G-R, G-B, R-G, R-R,R-B, B-G, B-R, B-B
c) 7050 cm2 of fabric c) G-G-G, G-G-R, G-G-B, G-R-G, G-R-R,
6. 862 cm2 7. 4 times G-R-B, G-B-G, G-B-R, G-B-B, R-G-G,
R-G-R, R-G-B, R-R-G, R-R-R, R-R-B, R-B-G,
Chapter Review, pp. 406–407 R-B-R, R-B-B, B-G-G, B-G-R, B-G-B, B-R-G,
1. a) 166 cm2 b) 664 cm2 B-R-R, B-R-B, B-B-G, B-B-R, B-B-B
2. a) 726 m 2 b) 5.42 cm2 c) 1080 cm2 6. 6 possible outcomes
3. a) 343 cm 3 b) 384 cm3 c) 360 cm3 7. e.g., a) }25}0 b) }10}
4. surface area 291.7 cm2, volume 225.25 cm3 20

NEL
Answers 499
 12.2 Calculating Probability, pp. 416–417 7. b) if order matters, P 5 }12}97 ; if it does not, P 5 }35}
4. a) }14} or 0.25 or 25% b) }1} or 0.25 or 25%
4
10. a) 64 combinations b) 24 combinations

c) 1
}} or 0.5 or 50% d) 1
}} or about 0.02 or 2%
13. }6}
1
14. 1587 combinations
2 52
5. a) 1
}}
13
b) }}1}
4
c) }4}
13
d) }4}
11
12.5 Applying Probabilities, pp. 432–433
13. a) 3
}} b) yes 3. Derek 7. b) $69 c) $31 d) }1}
10
16
10. a) Bag C b) Bag A c) }63} 35
Mid-Chapter Review, p. 419
1. Y-Y-Y, Y-Y-N, Y-Y-M, Y-N-Y, Y-N-N, Y-N-M, 11. a) } 1
}
6561
b) }6560
}
6561
Y-M-Y, Y-M-N, Y-M-M, N-Y-Y, N-Y-N, N-Y-M, 12. The probability of getting a basket would be }12}
N-N-Y, N-N-N, N-N-M,N-M-Y, N-M-N, N-M-M, only if both possible outcomes, getting a basket
M-Y-Y, M-Y-N, M-Y-M, M-N-Y, M-N-N, and not getting a basket, were equally likely. The
M-N-M, M-M-Y, M-M-N, M-M-M likelihood of getting a basket varies depending
2. }16}0 or 0.6 or 60% on factors such as how far away the shooter is
3. a) B b) A c) C
13.
away from the basket and the skill of the shooter.
A and C
4. a) }2}1 1
b) }}}
4
c) }1}
6
d) }1}
12
5. a) yes b) no c) no d) yes
Chapter Self-Test, p. 434
6. a) }}4}
1 1
b) }}} c) }1} 1. a) }12}1 b) }4}
11
c) }4}
11
d) 0
4 2
7. a) Kyle’s b) Winnie’s c) Kyle’s 2. Theoretical probability gives the expected
likelihood of an event. Experimental probability
12.3 Solve Problems Using Organized Lists, is the likelihood that an event will occur based
p. 425 on the number of times the event occurred during
5. a) 16 combinations if order matters; an experiment. For example, the theoretical
10 combinations if order does not matter probability of a coin landing on Heads is }1},
2
b) 8 combinations if order matters; whereas if a coin is tossed 50 times and it
5 combinations if order does not matter lands on Heads 30 times, then the experimental
probability of landing on Heads would be
c) P(with order) 5 }1}, P(without order) 5 }1} 30 3
2 2 }} 5 }}, which is close to the theoretical
6. Spot’s age, Fido’s age, Rover’s age: 1, 2, 12; 50 5
probability, but not equal to it.
1, 3, 11; 1, 4, 10; 1, 5, 9; 1, 6, 8; 2, 3, 10; 2, 4, 9;
2, 5, 8; 2, 6, 7; 3, 4, 8; 3, 5, 7; 4, 5, 6
3. a) }11}2 b) 0.08

7. a) 37 combinations b) }27} 4. a) 75 outcomes b) 24 c) }8}

25
37
10. b) }6}4 13. a) 13 combinations
63
b) }1}
5. $2 coins $1 coins Quarters
3
0 0 10
12.4 Using Tree Diagrams to Calculate 0 1 6
Probability, pp. 428–429 0 2 2
1 0 2
4. }}14}
5. H-H-H, H-H-T, H-T-H, H-T-T, T-H-H, T-H-T, 6. a) 6 ways 1
b) }}
3
7. C
T-T-H, T-T-T 8. a) 13% b) 9 times

500 Answers NEL

Chapter Review, p. 436 6. a) 18 b) 14 c) 8
1. a) A b) B c) C 7. }35}6 8. 1
}}
8
2. a) }2}
1 1
b) }}
13 9. Tim 10. Panthers
3. first task, second task, third task, fourth task:
Cumulative Review:
piano, walk dog, homework, clean room; piano,
walk dog, clean room, homework; piano,
homework, walk dog, clean room; piano,
homework, clean room, walk dog; piano, clean
Chapters 10–12, pp. 438–439
room, walk dog, homework; piano, clean room, 1. C 2. B 3. A
homework, walk dog; walk dog, piano, 4. D 5. D 6. B
homework, clean room; walk dog, piano, clean 7. B 8. A 9. C
room, homework; walk dog, homework, piano,

Review of Essential Skills

clean room; walk dog, homework, clean room,
piano; walk dog, clean room, piano, homework;
walk dog, clean room, homework, piano;
homework, walk dog, piano, clean room;
from Grade 6, p. 440
homework, walk dog, clean room, piano; Chapter 1: Factors and Exponents, pp. 440–441
homework, piano, walk dog, clean room; 1. Millions: 1, Hundred thousands: 4,
homework, piano, clean room, walk dog; Ten thousands: 3, Thousands: 6, Hundreds: 9,
homework, clean room, walk dog, piano; Tens: 2, Ones: 7
homework, clean room, piano, walk dog; clean 2. a) 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28 b) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32
room, walk dog, homework, piano; clean room, c) 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 28, 56 d) 1, 29
walk dog, piano, homework; clean room, e) 1, 3, 13, 39 f) 1, 3, 17, 51
homework, walk dog, piano; clean room, 3. b), c), f)
homework, piano, walk dog; clean room, piano, 4. a) 1 b) 1, 27 c) 3
walk dog, homework; clean room, piano, d) yes, 3 and 9 e) 1, 3, 9, 27
homework, walk dog 5. Number Prime or
4. a) 1st hurdler, 2nd hurdler, 3rd hurdler: Dave, Tony, Number Factors of factors composite
Colin; Dave, Tony, Joel; Dave, Colin, Tony; 1 1 1 neither
Dave, Colin, Joel; Dave, Joel, Tony; Dave, 2 1, 2 2 prime
Joel, Colin; Tony, Dave, Colin; Tony, Dave, 3 1, 3 2 prime
Joel; Tony, Colin, Dave; Tony, Colin, Joel; 4 1, 2, 4 3 composite
Tony, Joel, Dave; Tony, Joel, Colin; Colin, 5 1, 5 2 prime
6 1, 2, 3, 6 4 composite
Dave, Tony; Colin, Dave, Joel; Colin, Tony, 7 1, 7 2 prime
Dave; Colin, Tony, Joel; Colin, Joel, Dave; 8 1, 2, 4, 8 4 composite
Colin, Joel, Tony; Joel, Dave, Tony; Joel, 9 1, 3, 9 3 composite
Dave, Colin; Joel, Tony, Dave; Joel, Tony, 10 1, 2, 5, 10 4 composite
Colin; Joel, Colin, Dave; Joel, Colin, Tony 11 1, 11 2 prime
b) }3}
12 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 6 composite
4 13 1, 13 2 prime
5. 14 1, 2, 7, 14 4 composite
15 1, 3, 5, 15 4 composite
16 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 5 composite
17 1, 17 2 prime
18 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18 6 composite
19 1, 19 2 prime
20 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20 6 composite

NEL
Answers 501