PROBABILITY

Exercises
1) List the elements of each of the following sample
spaces:
a) The set of integers between 1 and 50 divisible by 8;
b) The set 𝑆 = 𝑥 𝑥 2 +4𝑥 − 5 = 0 ;
c) The set of outcomes when a coin is tossed until a tail or
three heads appear;
d) The set 𝑆 = 𝑥 𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 ;
e) The set 𝑆 = 𝑥 2𝑥 − 4 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 < 1 .
 Exercises
2) Use the rule method to describe the sample space 𝑆
consisting of all points in the first quadrant inside a
circle of radius 3 with center at the origin.

3) Which of the following events are equal?

a) 𝐴= 1, 3 ;
b) 𝐵= 𝑥 𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑒 ;
c) 𝐶= 𝑥 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3 = 0 ;
d) 𝐷= 𝑥 𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑}.
 Exercises
4) An experiment involves tossing a pair of dice, one
green and one red, and recording the numbers that
come up. If 𝑥 equals the outcome on the green die
and 𝑦 the outcome on the red die, describe the
sample space 𝑆

a) By listing the elements 𝑥, 𝑦 ;

b) By using the rule method.
 Exercises
5) An experiment consists of tossing a die and then
flipping a coin once if the number on the die is
even. If the number on the die is odd, the coin is
flipped twice. Using the notation 4𝐻, for example,
to denote the outcome that the die comes up 4 and
then the coin comes up heads, and 3𝐻𝑇 to denote
the outcome that the die comes up 3 followed by a
head and then a tail on the coin, construct a tree
diagram to show the 18 elements of the sample
space 𝑆.
 Exercises
6) Two jurors are selected from 4 alternates to serve
at a murder trial. Using the notation 𝐴1 𝐴2 , for
example, to denote the simple event that alternates
1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3 are selected, list the 6 elements of the
sample space 𝑆.
 Exercises
7) Four students are selected at random from a
chemistry class and classified as male or female. List
the elements of the sample space 𝑆1 , using letter 𝑀
for male and 𝐹 for female. Define a second sample
space 𝑆2 where the elements represent the number
of females selected.
 Exercises
8) For the sample space of Exercise 4,
a) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴 that the
sum is greater than 8;
b) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐵 that a 2
occurs on either die;
c) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐶 that a
number greater than 4 comes up on the green die;
d) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴 ∩ 𝐶;
e) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵;
f) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶;
g) Construct a Venn diagram to illustrate the intersections
and unions of the events 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶.
 Exercises
9) For the example space of Exercise 5,

a) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴 that a

number less than 3 occurs on the die;
b) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐵 that two
tails occurs;
c) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴′;
d) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴′ ∩ 𝐵;
e) List the elements corresponding to the event 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵.
 Exercises
11) The resumés of two male applicants for a college
teaching position in chemistry are placed in the same
file as the resumés of two female applicants. Two
positions become available, and the first, at the rank
of assistant professor, is filled by selecting one of the
four applicants at random. The second position, at the
rank of instructor, is filled by selecting at random one
of the remaining three applicants. Using the notation
𝑀2 𝐹1 , for example, to denote the simple event that
the first position is filled by the second male applicant
and the second position is then filled by the first
female applicant,
 Exercises
a) List the elements of a sample space 𝑆;
b) List the elements of 𝑆 corresponding to event 𝐴 that the
position of assistant professor is filled by a male
applicant;
c) List the elements of 𝑆 corresponding to event 𝐵 that
exactly one of the two positions is filled by a male
applicant;
d) List the elements of 𝑆 corresponding to event 𝐶 that
neither position is filled by a male applicant;
e) List the elements of 𝑆 corresponding to the event 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵;
f) List the elements of 𝑆 corresponding to the event 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵;
g) Construct a Venn diagram to illustrate the intersections
and the unions of the events, 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶.
 Exercises
12) Exercise and diet are being studied as possible
substitutes for medication to lower blood pressure.
Three groups subjects will be used to study the effect of
exercise. Group 1 is sedentary, while group 2 walks and
group 3 swims for 1 hour a day. Half of each of the
three exercise groups will be on a salt-free diet. An
additional group of subjects will not exercise or restrict
their salt, but will take the standard medication. Use 𝑍
for sedentary, 𝑊 for walker, 𝑆 swimmer, 𝑌 for salt, 𝑁 for
no salt, 𝑀 for medication, and 𝐹 for medication free.

a) Show all of the elements of the sample space 𝑆.

b) Given that 𝐴 is the set of nonmedicated subjects and 𝐵 is the
set of walkers, list the elements of 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵.
c) List the elements of 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵.
 Exercises
13) Construct a Venn diagram to illustrate the possible
intersections and unions for the following events
relative to the sample space consisting of all
automobiles made in the United States.

𝐹 ∶ 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟, 𝑆 ∶ 𝑆𝑢𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑓,

𝑃 ∶ 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔.
 Exercises
14) If 𝑆 = 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 𝐴 = 0,2,4,6,8 ,
𝐵 = 1,3,5,7,9 , 𝐶 = 2,3,4,5 , and 𝐷 = 1,6,7 ,
list the elements of the sets corresponding to the
following events:
a) 𝐴 ∪ 𝐶;
b) 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵;
c) 𝐶′;
d) 𝐶 ′ ∩ 𝐷 ∪ 𝐵;
e) 𝑆 ∩ 𝐶 ′;
f) 𝐴 ∩ 𝐶 ∩ 𝐷’.
 Exercises
15) Consider the sample space 𝑆 = {𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟, 𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚,
𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛, uranium, oxygen, 𝑧𝑖𝑛𝑐} and the events

𝐴 = 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟, 𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚, 𝑧𝑖𝑛𝑐 ,

𝐵 = 𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚, 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛, 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑢𝑚 ,
𝐶 = 𝑜𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 .
 Exercises
List the elements of the sets corresponding to the
following events:
a) 𝐴′;
b) 𝐴 ∪ 𝐶;
c) 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵′ ∪ 𝐶′;
d) 𝐵′ ∩ 𝐶′;
e) 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶′;
f) 𝐴′ ∪ 𝐵′ ∩ 𝐴′ ∩ 𝐶 .
 Exercises
16) If 𝑆 = 𝑥 0 < 𝑥 < 12 , 𝑀 =
𝑥 1 < 𝑥 < 9 , and 𝑁 = 𝑥 0 < 𝑥 < 5 , find

a) 𝑀 ∪ 𝑁;
b) 𝑀 ∩ 𝑁;
c) 𝑀′ ∩ 𝑁′.
 Exercises
17) Let 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 be events relative to the sample
space 𝑆. Using Venn diagram, shade the areas
representing the following events:

a) 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ′;
b) 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 ′;
c) 𝐴 ∩ 𝐶 ∪ 𝐵.
 Exercises
18) Which of the following pairs of events are mutually
exclusive?

a) A golfer scoring the lowest 18-hole round in a 72-hole

tournament and losing the tournament.
b) A poker player getting a flush (all cards in the same suit)
and 3 of a kind on the same 5-card hand.
c) A mother giving birth to a baby girl and a set of twin
daughters on the same day.
d) A chess player losing the last game and winning the
match.
 Exercises
19) Suppose that a family is leaving on a summer vacation
in their camper and that 𝑀 is the event that they will
experience mechanical problems, 𝑇 is the event that
they will receive a ticket for committing a traffic
violation, and 𝑉 is the event that they will arrive at a
campsite with no vacancies. Referring to the Venn
diagram a Figure 5, state in words the events
represented by the following regions.
a) Region 5;
b) Region 3;
c) Region 1 and 2 together;
d) Region 4 and 7 together;
e) Region 3, 6, 7 and 8 together.
 Exercises
20) Referring to Exercise 19 and the Venn diagram of
Figure 5, list the numbers of the regions that
represent the following events:

a) The family will experience no mechanical problems and

will not receive a ticket for a traffic violation but will
arrive at a campsite with no vacancies.
b) The family will experience both mechanical problems and
trouble in locating a campsite with a vacancy but will not
receive a ticket for a traffic violation.
c) The family will either have mechanical trouble or arrive at
a campsite with no vacancies but will not receive a ticket
for a traffic violation.
d) The family will not arrive at a campsite with no vacancies.