Topic 7: Probability

How likely something is to happen.

Many events can't be predicted with total certainty. The best we can say is how likely they are to happen, using the idea of probability.

Tossing a Coin

When a coin is tossed, there are two possible outcomes:

Heads (H)

...or...

Tails (T)

We say that the probability of the coin landing H is ½.

And the probability of the coin landing T is ½.

Throwing Dice

When a single die is thrown, there are six possible outcomes:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

The probability of any one of them is 1/6.

Probability

In general:

Probability of an event happening = Number of ways it can happen

                                                          Total number of outcomes

For example: the chances of rolling a "4" with a die

Number of ways it can happen:

1 (there is only 1 face with a "4" on it)

Total number of outcomes:

6 (there are 6 faces altogether)

So the probability = 1

                                 6

Probability Line

We can show probability on a Probability Line:

Probability is Just a Guide

Probability does not tell us exactly what will happen, it is just a guide.

For example: toss a coin 100 times, how many Heads will come up?

Probability says that heads have a ½ chance, so we can expect 50 Heads.

But when we actually try it we might get 48 heads, or 55 heads or anything really, but in most cases it will be a number near 50.