Probability Formulas

Probability Formulas Probability is defined as the chances for an event to occur. For a given situation or conditions there is always a chances for an event to likely or unlikely occur. The probability of an event is mostly in-between 0 to 1. The chances or probability for all the possible events to occur for a given condition add up to a 1. Therefore probability of an event is calculated by the following formulas: P (E) = Number of outcomes favorable for the event/Total number of outcomes. P (not E) = 1 P (E). Therefore P (E) + P (not E) = 1. Example 1: A dice is thrown what is the probability of getting the number 3? Solution: On throwing a dice the total number of possibilities are 6 either of the following numbers may show up i.e. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6}. Therefore total number of possible outcomes on throwing a dice = 6. The number of outcomes favorable of getting the number 3 = 1. P (3) = Number of outcomes favorable for number 3/Total number of outcomes. = 1/6. Therefore probability of getting number 3 is P (3) = 1/6. Example 2: A dice is thrown what is the probability of not getting the number 3? Solution: Total number of possible outcomes on throwing a dice = 6. The probability of getting number 3 is P (3) = 1/6. Using the formula P (not E) = 1 P (E). P (not 3) = 1 1/6 = 5/6. Therefore probability of not getting number 3 is 5/6.