Skip to main content
Chapter 9 of 12
NCERT Solutions

Probability

CBSE · Class 11 · Applied Mathematics

NCERT Solutions for Probability — CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics.

45 questions24 flashcards5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Probability? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for ncert solutions and more.

1,000+ Class 11 students started this chapter today

17 Questions Solved · 6 Sections

Check your Progress - 1

1Write down an experiment in practical life whose sample space is S={0,1,2,}S = \{0,1,2,\ldots\}Show solution
Given: We need an experiment whose sample space is the set of all non-negative integers S={0,1,2,}S = \{0, 1, 2, \ldots\}.

Concept: The sample space lists all possible outcomes of a random experiment.

Answer: Observing the number of people who voted in a constituency is one such experiment. The number of voters can be 0, 1, 2, 3, … (any non-negative integer), so the sample space is S={0,1,2,}S = \{0, 1, 2, \ldots\}.

Other valid examples: number of calls received at a call centre in a day, number of accidents on a highway in a week, etc.
2Suppose 3 bulbs are selected at random from a lot of bulbs. Each bulb is tested and classified as defective (D) or non-defective (N). Write the sample space of this experiment.Show solution
Given: 3 bulbs are selected; each is classified as D (defective) or N (non-defective).

Concept: The sample space is the set of all possible ordered outcomes when each of the 3 bulbs is tested.

Working: Each bulb has 2 possible outcomes (D or N), so the total number of outcomes = 23=82^3 = 8.

Listing all outcomes systematically:

S={DDD, DDN, DND, NDD, DNN, NDN, NND, NNN}S = \{DDD,\ DDN,\ DND,\ NDD,\ DNN,\ NDN,\ NND,\ NNN\}

Answer: The sample space has 8 elements as listed above.

Check your Progress - 2

1Give a real life example of Independent Events and Dependent Events.Show solution
Independent Events:

Let:
- AA = Event that a person has black hair
- BB = Event that a person works in an MNC

The occurrence of AA does not affect the probability of BB and vice versa. Hence AA and BB are independent events.

Dependent Events:

Let:
- AA = Event of heavy traffic on a road
- BB = Event of a road accident

Heavy traffic increases the likelihood of an accident, so BB depends on AA. Hence AA and BB are dependent events.
2Give a real life example of Impossible and Sure Events.Show solution
Impossible Event: Getting the sun to rise in the west on any given day. The probability of this event is 0, so it is an impossible event.

Sure Event: Getting a sum of numbers 12\leq 12 when a pair of dice is rolled. Since the maximum sum is 6+6=126 + 6 = 12, this always happens. Its probability is 1, making it a sure event.
3Give a real life example of Exhaustive Events.Show solution
Exhaustive Events: When a coin is tossed once:
- AA = Getting a Head
- BB = Getting a Tail

AB=SA \cup B = S (the entire sample space), so AA and BB together cover all possible outcomes. Hence AA and BB are exhaustive events.
4Give a real life example of Mutually Exclusive Events.Show solution
Mutually Exclusive Events: When a person is running:
- AA = The person is running forward
- BB = The person is running backward

A person cannot run forward and backward at the same time, so AB=A \cap B = \emptyset. Hence AA and BB are mutually exclusive events.

Bonus — Mutually Exclusive and Exhaustive Events: When a die is thrown once:
- AA = Getting an even number {2,4,6}\{2, 4, 6\}
- BB = Getting an odd number {1,3,5}\{1, 3, 5\}

AB=A \cap B = \emptyset (mutually exclusive) and AB=SA \cup B = S (exhaustive).

Check your Progress - 3

1In a group of 100 sports car buyers, 40 bought alarm systems, 30 purchased bucket seats, and 20 purchased an alarm system and bucket seats. If a car buyer chosen at random bought an alarm system, what is the probability they also bought bucket seats?Show solution
Given:
- Total buyers = 100
- Buyers who bought alarm system: n(A)=40P(A)=0.40n(A) = 40 \Rightarrow P(A) = 0.40
- Buyers who bought bucket seats: n(B)=30P(B)=0.30n(B) = 30 \Rightarrow P(B) = 0.30
- Buyers who bought both: n(AB)=20P(AB)=0.20n(A \cap B) = 20 \Rightarrow P(A \cap B) = 0.20

Formula (Conditional Probability):
P(BA)=P(AB)P(A)P(B \mid A) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(A)}

Calculation:
P(BA)=0.200.40=0.5P(B \mid A) = \frac{0.20}{0.40} = 0.5

Answer: The probability that a buyer also bought bucket seats, given they purchased an alarm system, is 0.5\mathbf{0.5} or 50%.
2From the given data, find out the probability that a randomly selected person is male, given that he owns a pet.

| | Have pets | Do not have pets | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 0.41 | 0.08 | 0.49 |
| Female | 0.45 | 0.06 | 0.51 |
| Total | 0.86 | 0.14 | 1 |
Show solution
Given:
- Let MM = event that the person is male
- Let PP = event that the person owns a pet

From the table:
P(MP)=0.41P(M \cap P) = 0.41
P(P)=0.86P(P) = 0.86

Formula (Conditional Probability):
P(MP)=P(MP)P(P)P(M \mid P) = \frac{P(M \cap P)}{P(P)}

Calculation:
P(MP)=0.410.860.477P(M \mid P) = \frac{0.41}{0.86} \approx 0.477

Answer: The probability that a randomly selected person is male, given that they own a pet, is approximately 0.477\mathbf{0.477} or 47.7%.

Check your Progress - 4

1It's given that 80% of people attend their family doctor regularly; 35% of these people have no health problems cropping up during the following year. Out of the 20% of people who don't see their doctor regularly, only 5% have no health issues during the following year. What is the probability a person selected at random will have no health problems in the following year?Show solution
Given:
- Let DD = event that a person sees the doctor regularly
- Let HH = event that a person has no health problems in the following year

P(D)=0.80,P(D)=0.20P(D) = 0.80, \quad P(D') = 0.20
P(HD)=0.35,P(HD)=0.05P(H \mid D) = 0.35, \quad P(H \mid D') = 0.05

Formula (Total Probability Theorem):
P(H)=P(D)P(HD)+P(D)P(HD)P(H) = P(D)\cdot P(H \mid D) + P(D')\cdot P(H \mid D')

Calculation:
P(H)=0.80×0.35+0.20×0.05P(H) = 0.80 \times 0.35 + 0.20 \times 0.05
=0.28+0.01=0.29= 0.28 + 0.01 = 0.29

Answer: The probability that a randomly selected person will have no health problems in the following year is 0.29\mathbf{0.29} or 29%.

Exercise on Bayes' Theorem

1The number of loans sanctioned by a particular branch of a bank under different heads and the percentage of defaults in each category is given:

| Types of Loan | Number of Loans Approved | Defaults (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Loan | 15 | 3% |
| Education Loan | 5 | 1% |
| Housing Loan | 10 | 2% |
| Car Loan | 10 | 5% |

If the loan application form picked at random for review is found to be of a person who has defaulted, find the probability that the application was for a car loan.
Show solution
Given:
Total loans = 15+5+10+10=4015 + 5 + 10 + 10 = 40

Let:
- L1L_1 = Personal Loan, L2L_2 = Education Loan, L3L_3 = Housing Loan, L4L_4 = Car Loan
- DD = event that the selected person has defaulted

Prior Probabilities:
P(L1)=1540,P(L2)=540,P(L3)=1040,P(L4)=1040P(L_1) = \frac{15}{40}, \quad P(L_2) = \frac{5}{40}, \quad P(L_3) = \frac{10}{40}, \quad P(L_4) = \frac{10}{40}

Likelihoods (default rates):
P(DL1)=0.03,P(DL2)=0.01,P(DL3)=0.02,P(DL4)=0.05P(D \mid L_1) = 0.03, \quad P(D \mid L_2) = 0.01, \quad P(D \mid L_3) = 0.02, \quad P(D \mid L_4) = 0.05

Total Probability of Default:
P(D)=1540(0.03)+540(0.01)+1040(0.02)+1040(0.05)P(D) = \frac{15}{40}(0.03) + \frac{5}{40}(0.01) + \frac{10}{40}(0.02) + \frac{10}{40}(0.05)
=140(0.45+0.05+0.20+0.50)=1.2040=0.03= \frac{1}{40}(0.45 + 0.05 + 0.20 + 0.50) = \frac{1.20}{40} = 0.03

By Bayes' Theorem:
P(L4D)=P(L4)P(DL4)P(D)=1040×0.050.03=0.01250.03=512P(L_4 \mid D) = \frac{P(L_4)\cdot P(D \mid L_4)}{P(D)} = \frac{\dfrac{10}{40} \times 0.05}{0.03} = \frac{0.0125}{0.03} = \frac{5}{12}

Answer: The probability that the defaulted application was for a car loan is 512\boxed{\dfrac{5}{12}}.
2A courier service company sends 30% of its orders by air, 50% by combination of bus and local transport and remaining 20% by train. Past record shows the courier is delivered late 2%, 7% and 5% of the time when orders are sent by air, bus/local transport and train respectively. Find (i) the probability that the order will be delivered late, (ii) the probability that the parcel delivered to a customer is sent by train if it is delivered late.Show solution
Given:
Let A1A_1 = sent by air, A2A_2 = sent by bus/local, A3A_3 = sent by train, LL = delivered late.

P(A1)=0.30,P(A2)=0.50,P(A3)=0.20P(A_1) = 0.30, \quad P(A_2) = 0.50, \quad P(A_3) = 0.20
P(LA1)=0.02,P(LA2)=0.07,P(LA3)=0.05P(L \mid A_1) = 0.02, \quad P(L \mid A_2) = 0.07, \quad P(L \mid A_3) = 0.05

(i) Total Probability of Late Delivery:
P(L)=P(A1)P(LA1)+P(A2)P(LA2)+P(A3)P(LA3)P(L) = P(A_1)P(L \mid A_1) + P(A_2)P(L \mid A_2) + P(A_3)P(L \mid A_3)
=0.30×0.02+0.50×0.07+0.20×0.05= 0.30 \times 0.02 + 0.50 \times 0.07 + 0.20 \times 0.05
=0.006+0.035+0.010=0.051= 0.006 + 0.035 + 0.010 = 0.051

P(L)=0.051=511000\boxed{P(L) = 0.051 = \frac{51}{1000}}

(ii) Probability that parcel was sent by train given it is late (Bayes' Theorem):
P(A3L)=P(A3)P(LA3)P(L)=0.20×0.050.051=0.0100.051=1051P(A_3 \mid L) = \frac{P(A_3)\cdot P(L \mid A_3)}{P(L)} = \frac{0.20 \times 0.05}{0.051} = \frac{0.010}{0.051} = \frac{10}{51}

P(A3L)=1051\boxed{P(A_3 \mid L) = \frac{10}{51}}
3A young entrepreneur imports high tech machines for a startup venture. The imported machines are to be set up by an expert. From experience it is known that 80% of the times the expert is able to correctly set up the machines. If the setup is correctly done the machine produces 90% acceptable items and in case of an incorrect set up the machine produces only 50% acceptable items. If after a certain set up the machine produces an acceptable item followed by an unacceptable item, find the probability that the machine is incorrectly set up.Show solution
Given:
Let CC = correct setup, II = incorrect setup.
P(C)=0.80,P(I)=0.20P(C) = 0.80, \quad P(I) = 0.20

Let EE = event that the machine produces an acceptable item followed by an unacceptable item.

If setup is correct: P(acceptable)=0.90P(\text{acceptable}) = 0.90, P(unacceptable)=0.10P(\text{unacceptable}) = 0.10
P(EC)=0.90×0.10=0.09P(E \mid C) = 0.90 \times 0.10 = 0.09

If setup is incorrect: P(acceptable)=0.50P(\text{acceptable}) = 0.50, P(unacceptable)=0.50P(\text{unacceptable}) = 0.50
P(EI)=0.50×0.50=0.25P(E \mid I) = 0.50 \times 0.50 = 0.25

Total Probability:
P(E)=P(C)P(EC)+P(I)P(EI)P(E) = P(C)\cdot P(E \mid C) + P(I)\cdot P(E \mid I)
=0.80×0.09+0.20×0.25=0.072+0.050=0.122= 0.80 \times 0.09 + 0.20 \times 0.25 = 0.072 + 0.050 = 0.122

By Bayes' Theorem:
P(IE)=P(I)P(EI)P(E)=0.20×0.250.122=0.0500.122=50122=2561P(I \mid E) = \frac{P(I)\cdot P(E \mid I)}{P(E)} = \frac{0.20 \times 0.25}{0.122} = \frac{0.050}{0.122} = \frac{50}{122} = \frac{25}{61}

Answer: The probability that the machine is incorrectly set up is 2561\boxed{\dfrac{25}{61}}.
4An insurance company insures scooter drivers, car drivers and bus drivers in the ratio 4:5:3. The probability of a scooter driver, car driver and bus driver meeting with an accident is 0.7%, 0.4% and 1.2% respectively. If an insured person meets with an accident, find the probability that the person is a scooter driver.Show solution
Given:
Let SS = scooter driver, CC = car driver, BB = bus driver insured.

Ratio = 4:5:3, so total parts = 12.
P(S)=412=13,P(C)=512,P(B)=312=14P(S) = \frac{4}{12} = \frac{1}{3}, \quad P(C) = \frac{5}{12}, \quad P(B) = \frac{3}{12} = \frac{1}{4}

Let AA = event of meeting with an accident.
P(AS)=0.007,P(AC)=0.004,P(AB)=0.012P(A \mid S) = 0.007, \quad P(A \mid C) = 0.004, \quad P(A \mid B) = 0.012

Total Probability:
P(A)=13(0.007)+512(0.004)+14(0.012)P(A) = \frac{1}{3}(0.007) + \frac{5}{12}(0.004) + \frac{1}{4}(0.012)
=0.00233+0.00167+0.003=0.007= 0.00233 + 0.00167 + 0.003 = 0.007

By Bayes' Theorem:
P(SA)=P(S)P(AS)P(A)=13×0.0070.007=13P(S \mid A) = \frac{P(S)\cdot P(A \mid S)}{P(A)} = \frac{\dfrac{1}{3} \times 0.007}{0.007} = \frac{1}{3}

Answer: The probability that the insured person who met with an accident is a scooter driver is 13\boxed{\dfrac{1}{3}}.
5Two cards from a pack of 52 cards are lost. From the remaining cards of the pack a card is drawn at random and is found to be a spade. Find the probability that the lost cards are both spades.Show solution
Given:
A standard deck has 52 cards: 13 spades and 39 non-spades.

Let the events be:
- A0A_0 = both lost cards are non-spades
- A1A_1 = exactly one lost card is a spade
- A2A_2 = both lost cards are spades
- EE = the card drawn from remaining 50 cards is a spade

Prior Probabilities:
P(A0)=(392)(522)=7411326,P(A1)=(131)(391)(522)=5071326,P(A2)=(132)(522)=781326P(A_0) = \frac{\binom{39}{2}}{\binom{52}{2}} = \frac{741}{1326}, \quad P(A_1) = \frac{\binom{13}{1}\binom{39}{1}}{\binom{52}{2}} = \frac{507}{1326}, \quad P(A_2) = \frac{\binom{13}{2}}{\binom{52}{2}} = \frac{78}{1326}

Likelihoods:
- If A0A_0: 13 spades remain in 50 cards P(EA0)=1350\Rightarrow P(E \mid A_0) = \dfrac{13}{50}
- If A1A_1: 12 spades remain in 50 cards P(EA1)=1250\Rightarrow P(E \mid A_1) = \dfrac{12}{50}
- If A2A_2: 11 spades remain in 50 cards P(EA2)=1150\Rightarrow P(E \mid A_2) = \dfrac{11}{50}

Total Probability:
P(E)=74113261350+50713261250+7813261150P(E) = \frac{741}{1326}\cdot\frac{13}{50} + \frac{507}{1326}\cdot\frac{12}{50} + \frac{78}{1326}\cdot\frac{11}{50}
=11326×50(741×13+507×12+78×11)= \frac{1}{1326 \times 50}(741 \times 13 + 507 \times 12 + 78 \times 11)
=9633+6084+85866300=1657566300=14= \frac{9633 + 6084 + 858}{66300} = \frac{16575}{66300} = \frac{1}{4}

By Bayes' Theorem:
P(A2E)=P(A2)P(EA2)P(E)=781326×115014=78×11×41326×50=3432663000.0518P(A_2 \mid E) = \frac{P(A_2)\cdot P(E \mid A_2)}{P(E)} = \frac{\dfrac{78}{1326} \times \dfrac{11}{50}}{\dfrac{1}{4}} = \frac{78 \times 11 \times 4}{1326 \times 50} = \frac{3432}{66300} \approx 0.0518

Answer: The probability that both lost cards are spades is approximately 0.051\boxed{0.051}.
6A laboratory blood test is 99% effective in detecting a certain disease when it is in fact present. However, the test also yields a false positive result for 0.5% of the healthy persons tested. If 0.2% of the population actually has the disease, what is the probability that a person has the disease given that his test result is positive?Show solution
Given:
Let DD = person has the disease, DD' = person does not have the disease, TT = test result is positive.

P(D)=0.002,P(D)=0.998P(D) = 0.002, \quad P(D') = 0.998
P(TD)=0.99(test detects disease correctly)P(T \mid D) = 0.99 \quad (\text{test detects disease correctly})
P(TD)=0.005(false positive rate)P(T \mid D') = 0.005 \quad (\text{false positive rate})

Total Probability of Positive Test:
P(T)=P(D)P(TD)+P(D)P(TD)P(T) = P(D)\cdot P(T \mid D) + P(D')\cdot P(T \mid D')
=0.002×0.99+0.998×0.005= 0.002 \times 0.99 + 0.998 \times 0.005
=0.00198+0.00499=0.00697= 0.00198 + 0.00499 = 0.00697

By Bayes' Theorem:
P(DT)=P(D)P(TD)P(T)=0.002×0.990.00697=0.001980.00697=198697P(D \mid T) = \frac{P(D)\cdot P(T \mid D)}{P(T)} = \frac{0.002 \times 0.99}{0.00697} = \frac{0.00198}{0.00697} = \frac{198}{697}

Answer: The probability that a person has the disease given a positive test result is 1986970.284\boxed{\dfrac{198}{697}} \approx 0.284 or about 28.4%.

Check your Progress - 5

1The manager of a car repair workshop knows from past experience that when a call is received from a person who is stuck far away and has a problem starting the car, the probabilities of various troubles are:

| Event | Trouble | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Battery problem | 0.4 |
| A2 | No petrol | 0.3 |
| A3 | Flooded | 0.1 |
| A4 | Some other reason | 0.2 |

P(EA1)=0.3, P(EA2)=0, P(EA3)=0.8, P(EA4)=0.5P(E \mid A_1) = 0.3,\ P(E \mid A_2) = 0,\ P(E \mid A_3) = 0.8,\ P(E \mid A_4) = 0.5

(a) If a person follows the instructions given by the manager, what is the probability that the car starts?
(b) If the car starts on following the instructions of the manager, find the probability that the car had a battery problem.
Show solution
Given:
P(A1)=0.4, P(A2)=0.3, P(A3)=0.1, P(A4)=0.2P(A_1)=0.4,\ P(A_2)=0.3,\ P(A_3)=0.1,\ P(A_4)=0.2
P(EA1)=0.3, P(EA2)=0, P(EA3)=0.8, P(EA4)=0.5P(E \mid A_1)=0.3,\ P(E \mid A_2)=0,\ P(E \mid A_3)=0.8,\ P(E \mid A_4)=0.5

(a) Probability that the car starts — Total Probability Theorem:
P(E)=P(A1)P(EA1)+P(A2)P(EA2)+P(A3)P(EA3)+P(A4)P(EA4)P(E) = P(A_1)P(E \mid A_1) + P(A_2)P(E \mid A_2) + P(A_3)P(E \mid A_3) + P(A_4)P(E \mid A_4)
=0.4×0.3+0.3×0+0.1×0.8+0.2×0.5= 0.4 \times 0.3 + 0.3 \times 0 + 0.1 \times 0.8 + 0.2 \times 0.5
=0.12+0+0.08+0.10=0.30= 0.12 + 0 + 0.08 + 0.10 = \mathbf{0.30}

The probability that the car starts is 0.3.

(b) Probability that the car had a battery problem given it started — Bayes' Theorem:
P(A1E)=P(A1)P(EA1)P(E)=0.4×0.30.30=0.120.30=0.4P(A_1 \mid E) = \frac{P(A_1)\cdot P(E \mid A_1)}{P(E)} = \frac{0.4 \times 0.3}{0.30} = \frac{0.12}{0.30} = \mathbf{0.4}

The probability that the car had a battery problem, given it started, is 0.4.
2In a factory which manufactures bulbs, units A, B and C manufacture respectively 25%, 35% and 40% of the bulbs. Of their outputs, 5, 4 and 2 percent are respectively defective bulbs. A bulb is drawn at random from the product and is found to be defective. What is the probability that it is manufactured by unit B?Show solution
Given:
Let B1,B2,B3B_1, B_2, B_3 = events that the bulb is manufactured by units A, B, C respectively.
Let EE = event that the bulb is defective.

P(B1)=0.25,P(B2)=0.35,P(B3)=0.40P(B_1) = 0.25, \quad P(B_2) = 0.35, \quad P(B_3) = 0.40
P(EB1)=0.05,P(EB2)=0.04,P(EB3)=0.02P(E \mid B_1) = 0.05, \quad P(E \mid B_2) = 0.04, \quad P(E \mid B_3) = 0.02

Total Probability of Defective Bulb:
P(E)=P(B1)P(EB1)+P(B2)P(EB2)+P(B3)P(EB3)P(E) = P(B_1)P(E \mid B_1) + P(B_2)P(E \mid B_2) + P(B_3)P(E \mid B_3)
=0.25×0.05+0.35×0.04+0.40×0.02= 0.25 \times 0.05 + 0.35 \times 0.04 + 0.40 \times 0.02
=0.0125+0.0140+0.0080=0.0345= 0.0125 + 0.0140 + 0.0080 = 0.0345

By Bayes' Theorem:
P(B2E)=P(B2)P(EB2)P(E)=0.35×0.040.0345=0.0140.0345=2869P(B_2 \mid E) = \frac{P(B_2)\cdot P(E \mid B_2)}{P(E)} = \frac{0.35 \times 0.04}{0.0345} = \frac{0.014}{0.0345} = \frac{28}{69}

Answer: The probability that the defective bulb was manufactured by unit B is 2869\boxed{\dfrac{28}{69}}.

Stuck on a step?

Ask Super Tutor AI to explain any solution on this page in a simpler way — free, 24x7.

Ask a Doubt Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Probability for CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics?
Probability covers several key topics that are frequently asked in CBSE Class 11 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.
How to score full marks in Probability — CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 45 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.
Where can I get free NCERT Solutions for Probability Class 11 Applied Mathematics?
This page has free step-by-step NCERT Solutions for every exercise question in Probability (CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics) — written the way examiners award marks: given, formula, working, answer.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

For serious students

Get the full Probability chapter — for free.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan for CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics.