2.03d Calculate conditional probability: from first principles

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CAIE S2 2024 June Q7
13 marks Standard +0.3
7 The independent random variables \(X\) and \(Y\) have the distributions \(\operatorname { Po } ( 1.9 )\) and \(\operatorname { Po } ( 2.2 )\) respectively.
  1. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( X + Y < 4 )\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7c078a14-98f9-4292-ae76-a2642238176f-10_74_1581_406_322} \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7c078a14-98f9-4292-ae76-a2642238176f-10_75_1581_497_322}
  2. Find the probability that \(X = 2\) given that \(X + Y < 4\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7c078a14-98f9-4292-ae76-a2642238176f-10_2715_35_144_2012}
  3. A sample of 60 randomly chosen pairs of values of \(X\) and \(Y\) is taken,and the value of \(X + Y\) is calculated for each pair.The sample mean of these 60 values is found. Find the probability that the sample mean of \(X + Y\) is less than 4.0 .
    If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s) must be clearly shown.
CAIE S1 2010 November Q3
5 marks Moderate -0.3
3 It was found that \(68 \%\) of the passengers on a train used a cell phone during their train journey. Of those using a cell phone, \(70 \%\) were under 30 years old, \(25 \%\) were between 30 and 65 years old and the rest were over 65 years old. Of those not using a cell phone, \(26 \%\) were under 30 years old and \(64 \%\) were over 65 years old.
  1. Draw a tree diagram to represent this information, giving all probabilities as decimals.
  2. Given that one of the passengers is 45 years old, find the probability of this passenger using a cell phone during the journey.
CAIE S1 2011 November Q7
9 marks Standard +0.8
7 Bag \(A\) contains 4 balls numbered 2, 4, 5, 8. Bag \(B\) contains 5 balls numbered 1, 3, 6, 8, 8. Bag \(C\) contains 7 balls numbered \(2,7,8,8,8,8,9\). One ball is selected at random from each bag.
  1. Find the probability that exactly two of the selected balls have the same number.
  2. Given that exactly two of the selected balls have the same number, find the probability that they are both numbered 2 .
  3. Event \(X\) is 'exactly two of the selected balls have the same number'. Event \(Y\) is 'the ball selected from bag \(A\) has number 2'. Showing your working, determine whether events \(X\) and \(Y\) are independent or not.
CAIE S1 2012 November Q6
9 marks Standard +0.3
6 Ana meets her friends once every day. For each day the probability that she is early is 0.05 and the probability that she is late is 0.75 . Otherwise she is on time.
  1. Find the probability that she is on time on fewer than 20 of the next 96 days.
  2. If she is early there is a probability of 0.7 that she will eat a banana. If she is late she does not eat a banana. If she is on time there is a probability of 0.4 that she will eat a banana. Given that for one particular meeting with friends she does not eat a banana, find the probability that she is on time.
OCR S1 2005 January Q6
7 marks Moderate -0.3
6 Louise and Marie play a series of tennis matches. It is given that, in any match, the probability that Louise wins the first two sets is \(\frac { 3 } { 8 }\).
  1. Find the probability that, in 5 randomly chosen matches, Louise wins the first two sets in exactly 2 of the matches. It is also given that Louise and Marie are equally likely to win the first set.
  2. Show that P (Louise wins the second set, given that she won the first set) \(= \frac { 3 } { 4 }\).
  3. The probability that Marie wins the first two sets is \(\frac { 1 } { 3 }\). Find P(Marie wins the second set, given that she won the first set).
OCR S1 2008 January Q4
4 marks Easy -1.2
4 A supermarket has a large stock of eggs. 40\% of the stock are from a firm called Eggzact. 12\% of the stock are brown eggs from Eggzact. An egg is chosen at random from the stock. Calculate the probability that
  1. this egg is brown, given that it is from Eggzact,
  2. this egg is from Eggzact and is not brown.
OCR S1 2006 June Q2
7 marks Moderate -0.8
2 A bag contains 5 black discs and 3 red discs. A disc is selected at random from the bag. If it is red it is replaced in the bag. If it is black, it is not replaced. A second disc is now selected at random from the bag. Find the probability that
  1. the second disc is black, given that the first disc was black,
  2. the second disc is black,
  3. the two discs are of different colours.
OCR S1 2007 June Q4
8 marks Moderate -0.8
4 A bag contains 6 white discs and 4 blue discs. Discs are removed at random, one at a time, without replacement.
  1. Find the probability that
    1. the second disc is blue, given that the first disc was blue,
    2. the second disc is blue,
    3. the third disc is blue, given that the first disc was blue.
    4. The random variable \(X\) is the number of discs which are removed up to and including the first blue disc. State whether the variable X has a geometric distribution. Explain your answer briefly.
OCR MEI S1 2005 January Q6
8 marks Easy -1.2
6 An amateur weather forecaster describes each day as either sunny, cloudy or wet. He keeps a record each day of his forecast and of the actual weather. His results for one particular year are given in the table.
Weather Forecast\multirow{2}{*}{Total}
\cline { 3 - 6 } \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{}SunnyCloudyWet
\multirow{3}{*}{
Actual
Weather
}
Sunny5512774
\cline { 2 - 6 }Cloudy1712829174
\cline { 2 - 6 }Wet33381117
Total75173117365
A day is selected at random from that year.
  1. Show that the probability that the forecast is correct is \(\frac { 264 } { 365 }\). Find the probability that
  2. the forecast is correct, given that the forecast is sunny,
  3. the forecast is correct, given that the weather is wet,
  4. the weather is cloudy, given that the forecast is correct.
OCR MEI S1 2006 June Q2
8 marks Moderate -0.8
2 Isobel plays football for a local team. Sometimes her parents attend matches to watch her play.
  • \(A\) is the event that Isobel's parents watch a match.
  • \(B\) is the event that Isobel scores in a match.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( B \mid A ) = \frac { 3 } { 7 }\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( A ) = \frac { 7 } { 10 }\).
  1. Calculate \(\mathrm { P } ( A \cap B )\). The probability that Isobel does not score and her parents do not attend is 0.1 .
  2. Draw a Venn diagram showing the events \(A\) and \(B\), and mark in the probability corresponding to each of the regions of your diagram.
  3. Are events \(A\) and \(B\) independent? Give a reason for your answer.
  4. By comparing \(\mathrm { P } ( B \mid A )\) with \(\mathrm { P } ( B )\), explain why Isobel should ask her parents not to attend.
OCR MEI S1 2006 June Q6
18 marks Moderate -0.3
6 It has been estimated that \(90 \%\) of paintings offered for sale at a particular auction house are genuine, and that the other \(10 \%\) are fakes. The auction house has a test to determine whether or not a given painting is genuine. If this test gives a positive result, it suggests that the painting is genuine. A negative result suggests that the painting is a fake. If a painting is genuine, the probability that the test result is positive is 0.95 .
If a painting is a fake, the probability that the test result is positive is 0.2 .
  1. Copy and complete the probability tree diagram below, to illustrate the information above.
    [diagram]
    Calculate the probabilities of the following events.
  2. The test gives a positive result.
  3. The test gives a correct result.
  4. The painting is genuine, given a positive result.
  5. The painting is a fake, given a negative result. A second test is more accurate, but very expensive. The auction house has a policy of only using this second test on those paintings with a negative result on the original test.
  6. Using your answers to parts (iv) and (v), explain why the auction house has this policy. The probability that the second test gives a correct result is 0.96 whether the painting is genuine or a fake.
  7. Three paintings are independently offered for sale at the auction house. Calculate the probability that all three paintings are genuine, are judged to be fakes in the first test, but are judged to be genuine in the second test.
OCR MEI S1 2007 June Q7
18 marks Standard +0.3
7 A screening test for a particular disease is applied to everyone in a large population. The test classifies people into three groups: 'positive', 'doubtful' and 'negative'. Of the population, \(3 \%\) is classified as positive, \(6 \%\) as doubtful and the rest negative. In fact, of the people who test positive, only \(95 \%\) have the disease. Of the people who test doubtful, \(10 \%\) have the disease. Of the people who test negative, \(1 \%\) actually have the disease. People who do not have the disease are described as 'clear'.
  1. Copy and complete the tree diagram to show this information. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{5e4f3310-b96e-43db-9b6d-61da3270db06-5_830_1157_845_536}
  2. Find the probability that a randomly selected person tests negative and is clear.
  3. Find the probability that a randomly selected person has the disease.
  4. Find the probability that a randomly selected person tests negative given that the person has the disease.
  5. Comment briefly on what your answer to part (iv) indicates about the effectiveness of the screening test. Once the test has been carried out, those people who test doubtful are given a detailed medical examination. If a person has the disease the examination will correctly identify this in \(98 \%\) of cases. If a person is clear, the examination will always correctly identify this.
  6. A person is selected at random. Find the probability that this person either tests negative originally or tests doubtful and is then cleared in the detailed medical examination.
OCR MEI S1 2008 June Q2
8 marks Moderate -0.8
2 In the 2001 census, people living in Wales were asked whether or not they could speak Welsh. A resident of Wales is selected at random.
  • \(W\) is the event that this person speaks Welsh.
  • \(C\) is the event that this person is a child.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( W ) = 0.20 , \mathrm { P } ( C ) = 0.17\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( W \cap C ) = 0.06\).
  1. Determine whether the events \(W\) and \(C\) are independent.
  2. Draw a Venn diagram, showing the events \(W\) and \(C\), and fill in the probability corresponding to each region of your diagram.
  3. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( W \mid C )\).
  4. Given that \(\mathrm { P } \left( W \mid C ^ { \prime } \right) = 0.169\), use this information and your answer to part (iii) to comment very briefly on how the ability to speak Welsh differs between children and adults.
OCR MEI S1 Q3
8 marks Standard +0.8
3 Candidates applying for jobs in a large company take an aptitude test, as a result of which they are either accepted, rejected or retested, with probabilities \(0.2,0.5\) and 0.3 respectively. When a candidate is retested for the first time, the three possible outcomes and their probabilities remain the same as for the original test. When a candidate is retested for the second time there are just two possible outcomes, accepted or rejected, with probabilities 0.4 and 0.6 respectively.
  1. Draw a probability tree diagram to illustrate the outcomes.
  2. Find the probability that a randomly selected candidate is accepted.
  3. Find the probability that a randomly selected candidate is retested at least once, given that this candidate is accepted.
OCR MEI S1 Q4
6 marks Moderate -0.8
4 Each weekday, Marta travels to school by bus. Sometimes she arrives late.
  • \(L\) is the event that Marta arrives late.
  • \(R\) is the event that it is raining.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( L ) = 0.15 , \mathrm { P } ( R ) = 0.22\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( L \mid R ) = 0.45\).
  1. Use this information to show that the events \(L\) and \(R\) are not independent.
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( L \cap R )\).
  3. Draw a Venn diagram showing the events \(L\) and \(R\), and fill in the probability corresponding to each of the four regions of your diagram.
OCR MEI S1 Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.3
5 Each weekday Alan drives to work. On his journey, he goes over a level crossing. Sometimes he has to wait at the level crossing for a train to pass.
  • \(W\) is the event that Alan has to wait at the level crossing.
  • \(L\) is the event that Alan is late for work.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( L \mid W ) = 0.4 , \mathrm { P } ( W ) = 0.07\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( L \cup W ) = 0.08\).
  1. Calculate \(\mathrm { P } ( L \cap W )\).
  2. Draw a Venn diagram, showing the events \(L\) and \(W\). Fill in the probability corresponding to each of the four regions of your diagram.
  3. Determine whether the events \(L\) and \(W\) are independent, explaining your method clearly.
OCR MEI S1 Q3
18 marks Moderate -0.3
3 One train leaves a station each hour. The train is either on time or late. If the train is on time, the probability that the next train is on time is 0.95 . If the train is late, the probability that the next train is on time is 0.6 . On a particular day, the 0900 train is on time.
  1. Illustrate the possible outcomes for the 1000,1100 and 1200 trains on a probability tree diagram.
  2. Find the probability that
    (A) all three of these trains are on time,
    (B) just one of these three trains is on time,
    (C) the 1200 train is on time.
  3. Given that the 1200 train is on time, find the probability that the 1000 train is also on time.
OCR MEI S1 Q4
8 marks Moderate -0.8
4 In a survey, a large number of young people are asked about their exercise habits. One of these people is selected at random.
  • \(G\) is the event that this person goes to the gym.
  • \(R\) is the event that this person goes running.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( G ) = 0.24 , \mathrm { P } ( R ) = 0.13\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( G \cap R ) = 0.06\).
  1. Draw a Venn diagram, showing the events \(G\) and \(R\), and fill in the probability corresponding to each of the four regions of your diagram.
  2. Determine whether the events \(G\) and \(R\) are independent.
  3. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( R \mid G )\).
OCR MEI S1 Q1
18 marks Easy -1.2
1 Laura frequently flies to business meetings and often finds that her flights are delayed. A flight may be delayed due to technical problems, weather problems or congestion problems, with probabilities \(0.2,0.15\) and 0.1 respectively. The tree diagram shows this information. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{10679ff3-494d-4f4e-a38a-0832faa91690-1_605_1650_534_284}
  1. Write down the values of the probabilities \(a , b\) and \(c\) shown in the tree diagram. One of Laura's flights is selected at random.
  2. Find the probability that Laura's flight is not delayed and hence write down the probability that it is delayed.
  3. Find the probability that Laura's flight is delayed due to just one of the three problems.
  4. Given that Laura's flight is delayed, find the probability that the delay is due to just one of the three problems.
  5. Given that Laura's flight has no technical problems, find the probability that it is delayed.
  6. In a particular year, Laura has 110 flights. Find the expected number of flights that are delayed.
OCR MEI S1 Q2
8 marks Moderate -0.8
2 Each day Anna drives to work.
  • \(R\) is the event that it is raining.
  • \(L\) is the event that Anna arrives at work late.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( R ) = 0.36 , \mathrm { P } ( L ) = 0.25\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( R \cap L ) = 0.2\).
  1. Determine whether the events \(R\) and \(L\) are independent.
  2. Draw a Venn diagram showing the events \(R\) and \(L\). Fill in the probability corresponding to each of the four regions of your diagram.
  3. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( L \mid R )\). State what this probability represents.
OCR MEI S1 Q3
8 marks Moderate -0.8
3 In the 2001 census, people living in Wales were asked whether or not they could speak Welsh. A resident of Wales is selected at random.
  • \(W\) is the event that this person speaks Welsh.
  • \(C\) is the event that this person is a child.
You are given that \(\mathrm { P } ( W ) = 0.20 , \mathrm { P } ( C ) = 0.17\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( W \cap C ) = 0.06\).
  1. Determine whether the events \(W\) and \(C\) are independent.
  2. Draw a Venn diagram, showing the events \(W\) and \(C\), and fill in the probability corresponding to each region of your diagram.
  3. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( W \mid C )\).
  4. Given that \(\mathrm { P } \left( W \mid C ^ { \prime } \right) = 0.169\), use this information and your answer to part (iii) to comment very briefly on how the ability to speak Welsh differs between children and adults. [1]
OCR MEI S1 Q3
8 marks Standard +0.3
3 Isobel plays football for a local team. Sometimes her parents attend matches to watch her play.
  • \(A\) is the event that Isobel's parents watch a match.
  • \(\quad B\) is the event that Isobel scores in a match.
You are given that \(\frac { 3 } { 7 }\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( A ) = \frac { 7 } { 10 }\).
  1. Calculate \(\mathrm { P } ( A \cap B )\). The probability that Isobel does not score and her parents do not attend is 0.1 .
  2. Draw a Venn diagram showing the events \(A\) and \(B\), and mark in the probability corresponding to each of the regions of your diagram.
  3. Are events \(A\) and \(B\) independent? Give a reason for your answer.
  4. By comparing \(\mathrm { P } ( B \mid A )\) with \(\mathrm { P } ( B )\), explain why Isobel should ask her parents not to attend.
OCR MEI S1 Q4
18 marks Moderate -0.5
4 It has been estimated that \(90 \%\) of paintings offered for sale at a particular auction house are genuine, and that the other \(10 \%\) are fakes. The auction house has a test to determine whether or not a given painting is genuine. If this test gives a positive result, it suggests that the painting is genuine. A negative result suggests that the painting is a fake. If a painting is genuine, the probability that the test result is positive is 0.95 .
If a painting is a fake, the probability that the test result is positive is 0.2 .
  1. Copy and complete the probability tree diagram below, to illustrate the information above. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{f3d936ba-8f60-4350-a5b3-92200996434c-3_466_667_834_737} Calculate the probabilities of the following events.
  2. The test gives a positive result.
  3. The test gives a correct result.
  4. The painting is genuine, given a positive result.
  5. The painting is a fake, given a negative result. A second test is more accurate, but very expensive. The auction house has a policy of only using this second test on those paintings with a negative result on the original test.
  6. Using your answers to parts (iv) and (v), explain why the auction house has this policy. The probability that the second test gives a correct result is 0.96 whether the painting is genuine or a fake.
  7. Three paintings are independently offered for sale at the auction house. Calculate the probability that all three paintings are genuine, are judged to be fakes in the first test, but are judged to be genuine in the second test.
OCR S4 2007 June Q1
6 marks Standard +0.3
1 For the events \(A\) and \(B , \mathrm { P } ( A ) = 0.3 , \mathrm { P } ( B ) = 0.6\) and \(\mathrm { P } \left( A ^ { \prime } \cap B ^ { \prime } \right) = c\), where \(c \neq 0\).
  1. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( A \cap B )\) in terms of \(c\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( B \mid A )\) and deduce that \(0.1 \leqslant c \leqslant 0.4\).
OCR S4 2011 June Q3
10 marks Standard +0.8
3 For the events \(A\) and \(B , \mathrm { P } ( A ) = \mathrm { P } ( B ) = \frac { 3 } { 4 }\) and \(\mathrm { P } \left( A \mid B ^ { \prime } \right) = \frac { 1 } { 2 }\).
  1. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( A \cap B )\). For a third event \(C , \mathrm { P } ( C ) = \frac { 1 } { 4 }\) and \(C\) is independent of the event \(A \cap B\).
  2. Find \(\mathrm { P } ( A \cap B \cap C )\).
  3. Given that \(\mathrm { P } ( C \mid A ) = \lambda\) and \(\mathrm { P } ( B \mid C ) = 3 \lambda\), and that no event occurs outside \(A \cup B \cup C\), find the value of \(\lambda\).