Chapter 16 Probability Ex 16.2 Solutions
Question - 1 : - A die is rolled. Let E be the event “die shows 4” and F be the event “die shows even number”. Are E and F mutually exclusive?
Answer - 1 : -
When a die is rolled, the sample space is given by
S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Accordingly, E = {4} and F = {2, 4, 6}
It is observed that E ∩ F = {4} ≠ Φ
Therefore, E and F are not mutually exclusive events.
Question - 2 : - A die is thrown. Describe the following events:
(i) A: a number less than 7 (ii) B: a number greater than 7 (iii) C: a multiple of 3
(iv) D: a number less than 4 (v) E: an even number greater than 4 (vi) F: a number not less than 3
Also find
Answer - 2 : -
When a die is thrown, the sample space is given by S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
Accordingly:
(i) A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
(ii) B = Φ
(iii) C = {3, 6}
(iv) D = {1, 2, 3}
(v) E = {6}
(vi) F = {3, 4, 5, 6}
A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, A ∩ B = Φ
B ∪ C = {3, 6}, E ∩ F = {6}
D ∩ E =Φ, A – C = {1, 2, 4, 5}
D – E = {1, 2, 3},
Question - 3 : - An experiment involves rolling a pair of dice and recording the numbers that come up. Describe the following events:
A: the sum is greater than 8, B: 2 occurs on either die
C: The sum is at least 7 and a multiple of 3.
Which pairs of these events are mutually exclusive?
Answer - 3 : - When a pair of dice is rolled, the sample space is given by
It is observed that
A ∩ B =Φ
B ∩ C =Φ
Hence, events A and B and events B and C are mutually exclusive.
Question - 4 : - Three coins are tossed once. Let A denote the event ‘three heads show”, B denote the event “two heads and one tail show”. C denote the event “three tails show” and D denote the event ‘a head shows on the first coin”. Which events are
(i) mutually exclusive? (ii) simple? (iii) compound?
Answer - 4 : -
When three coins are tossed, the sample space is given by
S = {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT}
Accordingly,
A = {HHH}
B = {HHT, HTH, THH}
C = {TTT}
D = {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT}
We now observe that
A ∩ B =Φ, A ∩ C =Φ, A ∩ D = {HHH} ≠ Φ
B ∩ C =Φ, B ∩ D = {HHT, {HTH} ≠ Φ
C ∩ D = Φ
(i) Event A and B; event A and C; event B and C; and event C and D are all mutually exclusive.
(ii) If an event has only one sample point of a sample space, it is called a simple event. Thus, A and C are simple events.
(iii) If an event has more than one sample point of a sample space, it is called a compound event. Thus, B and D are compound events.
Question - 5 : - Three coins are tossed. Describe
(i) Two events which are mutually exclusive.
(ii) Three events which are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
(iii) Two events, which are not mutually exclusive.
(iv) Two events which are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive.
(v) Three events which are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive.
Answer - 5 : -
When three coins are tossed, the sample space is given by
S = {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT}
(i) Two events that are mutually exclusive can be
A: getting no heads and B: getting no tails
This is because sets A = {TTT} and B = {HHH} are disjoint.
(ii) Three events that are mutually exclusive and exhaustive can be
A: getting no heads
B: getting exactly one head
C: getting at least two heads
i.e.,
A = {TTT}
B = {HTT, THT, TTH}
C = {HHH, HHT, HTH, THH}
This is because A ∩ B = B ∩ C = C ∩ A = Φand A ∪ B ∪ C = S
(iii) Two events that are not mutually exclusive can be
A: getting three heads
B: getting at least 2 heads
i.e.,
A = {HHH}
B = {HHH, HHT, HTH, THH}
This is because A ∩ B = {HHH} ≠ Φ
(iv) Two events which are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive can be
A: getting exactly one head
B: getting exactly one tail
That is
A = {HTT, THT, TTH}
B = {HHT, HTH, THH}
It is because, A ∩ B =Φ, but A ∪ B ≠ S
(v) Three events that are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive can be
A: getting exactly three heads
B: getting one head and two tails
C: getting one tail and two heads
i.e.,
A = {HHH}
B = {HTT, THT, TTH}
C = {HHT, HTH, THH}
This is because A ∩ B = B ∩ C = C ∩ A = Φ, but A ∪ B ∪ C ≠ S
Question - 6 : - Two dice are thrown. The events A, B and C are as follows:
A: getting an even number on the first die.
B: getting an odd number on the first die.
C: getting the sum of the numbers on the dice ≤ 5
Describe the events
(i)
(ii) not B (iii) A or B(iv) A and B (v) A but not C (vi) B or C
(vii) B and C (viii)
Answer - 6 : -
When two dice are thrown, thesample space is given by
(vii) B and C = B ∩ C 
Question - 7 : - Two dice are thrown. The events A, B and C are as follows:
A: getting an even number on the first die.
B: getting an odd number on the first die.
C: getting the sum of the numbers on the dice ≤ 5
State true or false: (give reason for your answer)
(i) A and B are mutually exclusive
(ii) A and B are mutually exclusive and exhaustive
(iii)
(iv) A and C are mutually exclusive
(v) A and
are mutually exclusive(vi)
are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
Answer - 7 : -
(i) It is observed that A ∩ B = Φ
∴ A and B are mutually exclusive.
Thus, the given statement is true.
(ii) It is observed that A ∩ B = Φ and A ∪ B = S
∴ A and B are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
Thus, the given statement is true.
(iii) It is observed that
Thus, the given statement istrue.
(iv) Itis observed that A ∩ C = {(2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3), (4, 1)} ≠Φ
∴A and C are not mutually exclusive.
Thus, thegiven statement is false.
(v) 
∴A and are not mutually exclusive.
Thus, thegiven statement is false.
(vi) Itis observed that 
;
However, 
Therefore, events 
are not mutually exclusive andexhaustive.
Thus, thegiven statement is false.