Probability Fundamentals

Apply probability rules for IB Maths. Calculate combined event probabilities using addition and multiplication rules.

Probability quantifies uncertainty. IB Maths tests combined events, conditional probability, and independence.

Core Rules

P(A)=1P(A)P(A') = 1 - P(A)

P(AB)=P(A)+P(B)P(AB)P(A \cup B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A \cap B)

P(AB)=P(A)×P(BA)P(A \cap B) = P(A) \times P(B|A)

Independent: P(AB)=P(A)×P(B)P(A \cap B) = P(A) \times P(B).

Mutually exclusive: P(AB)=0P(A \cap B) = 0.

Conditional Probability

P(AB)=P(AB)P(B)P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(B)}

Tools

  • Tree diagrams: multiply along, add between paths.
  • Venn diagrams: organise overlapping events.
  • Tables: two-way tables for conditional probability.

Practice Problems

    1. P(A)=0.4P(A) = 0.4, P(B)=0.5P(B) = 0.5, P(AB)=0.1P(A \cap B) = 0.1. Find P(AB)P(A \cup B) and P(AB)P(A|B).
    1. Are A and B independent? (from Problem 1)

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Key Takeaways

  • P(AB)=P(A)+P(B)P(AB)P(A \cup B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A \cap B).

  • P(AB)=P(AB)P(B)P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(B)}.

  • Independent ↔ P(AB)=P(A)P(B)P(A \cap B) = P(A)P(B).

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