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Probability: the basics

Explore what probability means and why it's useful.
Probability is simply how likely something is to happen.
Whenever we’re unsure about the outcome of an event, we can talk about the probabilities of certain outcomes—how likely they are. The analysis of events governed by probability is called statistics.
The best example for understanding probability is flipping a coin:
There are two possible outcomes—heads or tails.
What’s the probability of the coin landing on Heads? We can find out using the equation P, left parenthesis, H, right parenthesis, equals, question mark.You might intuitively know that the likelihood is half/half, or 50%.  But how do we work that out?  Probability =
Formula for calculating the probability of certain outcomes for an event
In this case:
Probability of a coin landing on heads
Probability of an event = (# of ways it can happen) / (total number of outcomes)
P(A) = (# of ways A can happen) / (Total number of outcomes)
Example 1
There are six different outcomes.
Different outcomes rolling a die
What’s the probability of rolling a one?
Probability formula for rolling a '1' on a die
What’s the probability of rolling a one or a six?
Probability of a 1 or a 6 outcome when rolling a die
Using the formula from above:
Probability formula applied
What’s the probability of rolling an even number (i.e., rolling a two, four or a six)?
Probability of rolling an even number? The formula and solution
Tips
  • The probability of an event can only be between 0 and 1 and can also be written as a percentage.
  • The probability of event A is often written as P, left parenthesis, A, right parenthesis.
  • If P, left parenthesis, A, right parenthesis, is greater than, P, left parenthesis, B, right parenthesis, then event A has a higher chance of occurring than event B.
  • If P, left parenthesis, A, right parenthesis, equals, P, left parenthesis, B, right parenthesis, then events A and B  are equally likely to occur.
Next step:
Practice basic probability skills on Khan Academy —try our stack of practice questions with useful hints and answers!
Khan Academy video wrapper
Intro to theoretical probabilitySee video transcript
Khan Academy video wrapper
Simple probability: yellow marbleSee video transcript

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  • piceratops seed style avatar for user Wendy Sugimura
    If two standard dice are rolled. What is the probability that the total of two dice is less than 6?
    (25 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • blobby green style avatar for user Rhyss
      less than 6 would not include 6 so
      [ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ]
      | ‎ ‎ 1-1‎ ‎ ‎ 2-1 ‎ ‎ 3-1 ‎ ‎ 4-1 ‎ ‎ |
      | ‎ ‎ 1-2 ‎ ‎ 2-2 ‎ ‎ 3-2 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎|
      | ‎ ‎ 1-3 ‎ ‎ 2-3 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ |
      | ‎ ‎ 1-4 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎|
      [ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ]

      Length=10
      total =6x6

      ⁂ p()=10/36
      (8 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user bgljade
    A card is drawn from a standard deck of 52 cards. Find the probability that is
    a.) a heart or a face card.
    b.) a jack or an ace card
    c.) a 10 or a spade.
    (11 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • duskpin sapling style avatar for user Avinash Athota
      I am just warning you, I don't know much about cards that much, so my numbers may be off.
      a. there are 13 heart cards and 12 face cards (aces aren't faces, right?), of which 3 are repeated, so 13+12-3 = 22/52 = 11/26
      b. there are 4 jacks and 4 aces, so 4+4 = 8/52 = 4/26 = 2/13
      c. there are 4 tens and 13 spades, and one 10 is repeated, so 4+13-1 = 16/52 = 8/26 = 4/13
      I hope that helps!
      (26 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user kira.o'brien
    what's the probability I wont throw my computer because of khan academy?
    (13 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user Isaac 🤠
    im hungry 🍞
    (6 votes)
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  • piceratops seedling style avatar for user Jim
    Can't you multiply the possibility(fraction) with the the same numerator or denominator to get a different but equivalent answer?
    Example: 3/4 chance times 3/3(numerator) equals 9/12. At my school, they say you can multiply fractions with the same numerator/denominator, but I haven't taken probability yet in my grade.
    (4 votes)
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  • starky sapling style avatar for user Trin
    does probability always have to be written like a fraction? How do you know when to write it as a percentage?
    (2 votes)
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    • leafers sapling style avatar for user green_ninja
      Usually, the question concerning probability should specify if they want either fractions or percentages. Here on KA, you can tell if they're asking for a percentage if you see a % sign by the answer box, while for fractions / decimals a small dialogue box will pop up after you click on the answer box telling you which form to put it in. (I've also seen them state which form to use in italics right after the question.)

      Hope this helps!😀
      (7 votes)
  • piceratops seed style avatar for user lpalmer22
    If there were 3 black dogs,4 brown dogs,and 2 white dog what would happen if You took 2 brown dogs away.
    (2 votes)
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  • mr pants green style avatar for user Peter V. 0_0
    Khan Buttcademy deleted my previous comment, I'm on to you Mr. Academy
    (2 votes)
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  • mr pants green style avatar for user Peter V. 0_0
    Math is l ame, boring, and s tupid, I rather have my f oot run over than do math.
    (2 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user lpfirth
    Heres is a question I am stuck on that's on my study guide:

    If a balanced tetrahedron with faces 1,2,3,4 is rolled twice, find the probability that the Sum is prime.

    It also asks to find the probability that a 3 is rolled on at least one of the rolls and I think I got the correct answer, but I'm not sure can you help me double-check?
    (2 votes)
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