Math A

Single and Compound
Events

A single event involves the use of ONE item such as:
  • one card being drawn
  • one coin being tossed
  • one die being rolled
  • one person being chosen

Example:  From a normal deck of 52 cards, what is the probability of choosing the queen of clubs?

The deck contains only one queen of clubs,
 so the probability will be 1/52.

 

 A compound event involves the use of two or more items such as:
  • two cards being drawn
  • three coins being tossed
  • two dice being rolled
  • four people being chosen

Examples:

1.  Amy has 5 tank tops, 3 pairs of jeans, and 2 pairs of sneakers.   How many different outfits consisting of one tank top, one pair of jeans, and one pair of sneakers are possible?

Using Counting Principle:  5  x  3  x  2  =  30 outfits

 

2.  How many different 4 letter words can be formed from the letters in the word MATH? 

Using Permutations:  4P4 = 4 • 3 • 2 • 1 = 24

 

3.  If there are 8 marbles in a jar ( 5 are red and 3 are blue), and 4 of them are selected at random, what is the probability that 1 is blue and 3 are red?

Using Combinations:

        

 

 

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Roberts