Q.A man is known to speak truth 3 out of 4 times. He throws a die and reports that it is a six. Find the probability that it is actually a six.

Showing the 12 most recent of 69 on this concept.

1. AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.A person is known to speak the truth in 3 out of 4 occasions. If he throws a die and reports that it is six, then the probability that it is actually six is (A) $\dfrac{3}{8}$ (B) $\dfrac{2}{7}$ (C) $\dfrac{1}{9}$ (D) $\dfrac{4}{5}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A classic Bayes'-theorem problem: combine the prior $P(\text{six})=1/6$ with the witness's reliability $3/4$ to get the posterior probability it's actually six, given he reports six. The answer is $3/8$.

   Concept and Intuition

   Before he speaks, the die has $P(\text{six})=1/6$. His report is evidence, but he isn't perfectly reliable (truthful $3/4$ of the time). Bayes' theorem updates the prior probability using how likely the report "six" is under each of the two possibilities (six actually occurred vs. it didn't).

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Let $E_1$ = the die actually shows six, $E_2$ = it doesn't. $P(E_1)=\dfrac16$, $P(E_2)=\dfrac56$.
   2. Let $A$ = he reports "six". If $E_1$ occurred, he reports six truthfully with probability $\dfrac34$: $P(A\mid E_1)=\dfrac34$.
   3. If $E_2$ occurred, he reports "six" only if he lies, with probability $\dfrac14$: $P(A\mid E_2)=\dfrac14$.
   4. By Bayes' theorem:

   $P(E_1\mid A)=\frac{P(A\mid E_1)P(E_1)}{P(A\mid E_1)P(E_1)+P(A\mid E_2)P(E_2)}.$

   5. Numerator: $\dfrac34\cdot\dfrac16=\dfrac{3}{24}=\dfrac18$.
   6. Denominator's second term: $\dfrac14\cdot\dfrac56=\dfrac{5}{24}$.
   7. Sum $=\dfrac{3}{24}+\dfrac{5}{24}=\dfrac{8}{24}=\dfrac13$. …

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2. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.A person is known to speak false once out of 4 times. If that person picks a card at random from a pack of 52 cards and reports that it is a king, then the probability that it is actually a king is (A) $\dfrac{1}{37}$ (B) $\dfrac{1}{5}$ (C) $\dfrac{12}{37}$ (D) $\dfrac{25}{37}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Classic Bayes'-theorem problem: weigh the prior probability of drawing a king against the person's truth-telling reliability. Answer: $1/5$.

   Concept and Intuition

   The report 'it is a king' can arise two ways: the card really is a king and the person tells the truth, or the card is NOT a king and the person lies (falsely claims king). Bayes' theorem combines these into the posterior probability that it's actually a king.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Prior: $P(K)=4/52=1/13$ (king drawn), $P(\bar K)=12/13$ (not a king).
   2. Truth-telling: $P(\text{truth})=3/4$, $P(\text{lie})=1/4$.
   3. $P(\text{reports king}\mid K) = P(\text{truth}) = 3/4$ (truthfully reports the actual king).
   4. $P(\text{reports king}\mid \bar K) = P(\text{lie}) = 1/4$ (lies about a non-king, falsely calling it a king). …

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3. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.A man is known to speak truth 7 out of 10 times. After throwing a die with 100 faces marked $1, 2, 3, \ldots, 100$ on its faces, the man reports that he got a prime number on the die. What is the probability that it is actually a prime? (A) $\frac{5}{16}$ (B) $\frac{7}{16}$ (C) $\frac{11}{16}$ (D) $\frac{10}{16}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A classic Bayes'-theorem "truth-telling" problem: combining the base rate of primes among 1–100 with the man's truthfulness gives $P(\text{actually prime}\mid\text{reports prime}) = \frac{7}{16}$.

   Concept and Intuition

   Even though the man is more likely to tell the truth than lie, the base rate of the event matters. Since primes are a minority (25 out of 100), a "prime" report is diluted by false reports from the much larger non-prime set.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Number of primes from 1 to 100 is 25 (2, 3, 5, ..., 97), so $P(\text{prime})=\frac{25}{100}=\frac14$, and $P(\text{not prime})=\frac34$.
   2. He speaks truth with probability $\frac{7}{10}$: $P(\text{reports prime}\mid\text{prime})=\frac{7}{10}$, and (lying) $P(\text{reports prime}\mid\text{not prime})=\frac{3}{10}$. …

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4. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.A die is thrown three times. If the sum of the numbers thrown is 15, then the probability that the first throw was a Four, is (A) $\dfrac{1}{6}$ (B) $\dfrac{1}{5}$ (C) $\dfrac{5}{108}$ (D) $\dfrac{1}{108}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A conditional probability found by directly counting favourable die-triples against all triples summing to the given total.

   Concept and Intuition

   $P(\text{first}=4\mid\text{sum}=15)=\dfrac{\#\{\text{triples with first}=4,\ \text{sum}=15\}}{\#\{\text{triples with sum}=15\}}$ — a straightforward application of conditional probability by counting, since all $6^3$ triples are equally likely.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. If the first throw is $4$, the other two throws (each from $1$ to $6$) must sum to $15-4=11$.
   2. Pairs of dice summing to $11$: $(5,6)$ and $(6,5)$ — 2 ways.
   3. Now count all triples $(a,b,c)$, each in $1$–$6$, with $a+b+c=15$. Substitute $a'=6-a,\,b'=6-b,\,c'=6-c$ (each in $0$–$5$): then $a'+b'+c'=18-15=3$.
   4. Number of non-negative integer solutions to $a'+b'+c'=3$ is $\binom{3+2}{2}=10$; since $3<5$ none violate the upper bound of $5$, so all $10$ are valid.
   5. So there are $10$ triples with sum $15$ in total. …

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5. AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.Three boxes $B_1$, $B_2$ and $B_3$ contain balls with different colors as follows:

   	White	Black	Red
   $B_1$	2	1	2
   $B_2$	3	2	4
   $B_3$	4	3	2

   A die is thrown. Box $B_1$ is chosen if either 1 or 2 turns up. Box $B_2$ is chosen if 3 or 4 turns up and box $B_3$ is chosen if 5 or 6 turns up. Having chosen a box in this way, a ball is drawn at random from that box. If the ball drawn is found to be Red, then the probability that it is drawn from box $B_2$ is (A) $\dfrac{7}{12}$ (B) $\dfrac{5}{12}$ (C) $\dfrac{1}{12}$ (D) $\dfrac{3}{26}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A Bayes'-theorem problem: reverse the conditional probability "ball is Red, which box?" using the total-probability formula.

   Concept and Intuition

   Bayes' theorem lets us "invert" a conditional probability. We know $P(\text{Red}\mid B_i)$ for each box and the prior $P(B_i)$ (each $1/3$ since the die is fair and each box corresponds to two faces); we want the posterior $P(B_2 \mid \text{Red})$.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Totals in each box: $B_1$: $2+1+2=5$; $B_2$: $3+2+4=9$; $B_3$: $4+3+2=9$.
   2. $P(\text{Red}\mid B_1)=\dfrac{2}{5}$, $P(\text{Red}\mid B_2)=\dfrac{4}{9}$, $P(\text{Red}\mid B_3)=\dfrac{2}{9}$.
   3. Each box has prior probability $\dfrac13$ (each box corresponds to two die faces out of six).
   4. Total probability: $P(\text{Red}) = \dfrac13\left(\dfrac25+\dfrac49+\dfrac29\right) = \dfrac13\left(\dfrac25+\dfrac23\right) = \dfrac13\cdot\dfrac{16}{15}=\dfrac{16}{45}$. …

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6. AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.In a test a student either guesses or copies or knows the answer to answer a multiple choice question with four choices. The probability that he makes a guess is $1/3$ and the probability that he copies the answer is $1/6$. The probability that his answer is correct, given that he copied it is $1/8$. The probability that he knew the answer to the question, given that he answered it correctly is (A) $\dfrac{29}{24}$ (B) $\dfrac{22}{29}$ (C) $\dfrac{24}{29}$ (D) $\dfrac{23}{29}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A classic Bayes'-theorem problem with three mutually exclusive causes (guess/copy/know) for a correct answer. Answer: $24/29$.

   Concept and Intuition

   This is a textbook application of Bayes' theorem: we're given the prior probabilities of three exhaustive, mutually exclusive ways of answering (guessing, copying, knowing) along with the conditional probability of being correct under each, and asked to reverse the conditioning — find the probability the student knew the answer, GIVEN that they got it right.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. The three ways of answering are exhaustive: $P(\text{know})=1-P(\text{guess})-P(\text{copy})=1-\tfrac13-\tfrac16=1-\tfrac12=\tfrac12$.
   2. Conditional correctness probabilities: $P(C\mid\text{guess})=\tfrac14$ (one of four choices), $P(C\mid\text{copy})=\tfrac18$ (given), $P(C\mid\text{know})=1$.
   3. Total probability of being correct: $P(C)=\tfrac13\cdot\tfrac14+\tfrac16\cdot\tfrac18+\tfrac12\cdot1=\tfrac1{12}+\tfrac1{48}+\tfrac12$. …

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7. AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.Two dice are rolled. If A denote the event that the same number shows on each die and B denote the event that the sum of the numbers on both dice is greater than 7, then $P(A|B)$ and $P(B|A)$ respectively are (A) $\dfrac{2}{5}, \dfrac{1}{4}$ (B) $\dfrac{1}{5}, \dfrac{1}{2}$ (C) $\dfrac{1}{5}, \dfrac{1}{4}$ (D) $\dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{3}{5}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Counting the 36 equally likely dice outcomes directly gives $P(A|B)=\frac15$ and $P(B|A)=\frac12$.

   Concept and Intuition

   With two fair dice there are $36$ equally likely outcomes, so every probability here reduces to simple counting: enumerate the outcomes in $A$, in $B$, and in $A\cap B$, then apply the conditional probability formula $P(X|Y)=\dfrac{P(X\cap Y)}{P(Y)}$ directly as a ratio of counts.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. $A$ = "same number on each die": outcomes $(1,1),(2,2),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5),(6,6)$ — $6$ outcomes, so $P(A)=\dfrac6{36}$.
   2. $B$ = "sum $>7$", i.e. sum $\in\{8,9,10,11,12\}$. Counting pairs per sum: sum 8 has 5 pairs, 9 has 4, 10 has 3, 11 has 2, 12 has 1 — total $5+4+3+2+1=15$ outcomes, so $P(B)=\dfrac{15}{36}$.
   3. $A\cap B$: doubles with sum $>7$ — check each double: $(4,4)$ sum 8 ✓, $(5,5)$ sum 10 ✓, $(6,6)$ sum 12 ✓; $(1,1),(2,2),(3,3)$ have sums $2,4,6$, all $\le7$ — excluded. So $A\cap B$ has $3$ outcomes, $P(A\cap B)=\dfrac3{36}$. …

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8. AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.A pair of dice is thrown. Then the probability that either of the dice shows 2 when their sum is 6 is (A) $\dfrac{1}{2}$ (B) $\dfrac{1}{5}$ (C) $\dfrac{2}{5}$ (D) $\dfrac{3}{5}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   This is a conditional probability: restrict the sample space to pairs summing to 6, then count how many of those have a 2 on either die.

   Concept and Intuition

   "Given that the sum is 6" restricts attention to only those (die1, die2) pairs whose total is 6. Within that restricted, equally-likely set, we simply count the favourable outcomes.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Pairs $(d_1,d_2)$ with $d_1+d_2=6$: $(1,5),(2,4),(3,3),(4,2),(5,1)$ — 5 outcomes, each equally likely given the sum is 6.
   2. Favourable outcomes (either die shows 2): $(2,4)$ and $(4,2)$ — 2 outcomes.
   3. Required probability $=\dfrac{2}{5}$.

   Common Mistakes …

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9. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.In a college, the heights of 4% of male and 1% of female students are more than 1.8 meters. If 60% of the total students are female and a student selected at random has height more than 1.8 meters, then the probability that this student is a female, is (A) $\dfrac{8}{11}$ (B) $\dfrac{6}{11}$ (C) $\dfrac{5}{11}$ (D) $\dfrac{3}{11}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A direct application of Bayes' theorem: given the height is above 1.8m, find the probability the student is female.

   Concept and Intuition

   This is the classic "reverse conditional probability" setup — we know $P(\text{tall}\mid\text{gender})$ for each gender and the gender proportions, and want $P(\text{gender}\mid\text{tall})$. Bayes' theorem converts one direction of conditioning into the other by weighting each gender's tall-probability by its population share and normalizing.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Let $M$ = male, $F$ = female, $H$ = height $>1.8$m. Given: $P(F)=0.6$, $P(M)=0.4$, $P(H\mid M)=0.04$, $P(H\mid F)=0.01$.
   2. Total probability of height $>1.8$m: $P(H)=P(M)P(H\mid M)+P(F)P(H\mid F)=0.4(0.04)+0.6(0.01)=0.016+0.006=0.022$. …

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10. AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQ
    Q.An item is tested on a device for its defectiveness. The probability that such an item is defective is 0.3. The device gives accurate result in 8 out of 10 such tests. If the device reports that an item tested is not defective, then the probability that it is actually defective is (A) $\dfrac{2}{15}$ (B) $\dfrac{3}{29}$ (C) $\dfrac{3}{31}$ (D) $\dfrac{4}{51}$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    A direct Bayes'-theorem inversion problem; the item is actually defective with probability $\dfrac{3}{31}$ given a "not defective" report — option (C).

    Concept and Intuition

    The device's report can be wrong. To find the true state given an observed (possibly wrong) report, we must weigh both ways the report could have arisen: a genuinely non-defective item correctly reported as such, or a genuinely defective item incorrectly reported as non-defective. Bayes' theorem combines these.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Let $D$: item defective, $P(D)=0.3$; $D'$: item not defective, $P(D')=0.7$.
    2. Device accuracy $=0.8$, so it errs with probability $0.2$.
    3. "Reports not defective" while the item is defective means the device made an error: $P(\text{report ND}\mid D)=0.2$.
    4. "Reports not defective" while the item is not defective means the device was accurate: $P(\text{report ND}\mid D')=0.8$. …

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11. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQ
    Q.For a biased die, the probabilities for different faces to turn up are given below

    Face	1	2	3	4	5	6
    Probability	0.1	0.32	0.21	0.15	0.05	0.17

    The die is tossed and you are told that either face 1 or 2 has turned up. Then the probability that it is face 1 is (A) $\dfrac{10}{33}$ (B) $\dfrac{5}{21}$ (C) $\dfrac{8}{21}$ (D) $\dfrac{1}{42}$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    Conditioning on "face 1 or face 2" just means renormalizing the two individual probabilities so they add to 1.

    Concept and Intuition

    $P(\text{face 1}\mid\text{face 1 or 2})=\dfrac{P(\text{face 1})}{P(\text{face 1})+P(\text{face 2})}$, since these two events are mutually exclusive and their union is the conditioning event.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. $P(1)=0.1$, $P(2)=0.32$.
    2. $P(1\text{ or }2)=0.1+0.32=0.42$.
    3. $P(1\mid1\text{ or }2)=\dfrac{0.1}{0.42}=\dfrac{10}{42}=\dfrac{5}{21}$.

    Common Mistakes …

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12. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQ
    Q.A bag contains 6 balls. If three balls are drawn at a time and all of them are found to be green, then the probability that exactly 5 of the balls in the bag are green is: (A) $\dfrac{4}{35}$ (B) $\dfrac{5}{35}$ (C) $\dfrac{2}{7}$ (D) $\dfrac{1}{7}$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    This is a Bayes'-theorem problem: given a uniform prior on the unknown number of green balls in the bag, update the belief after observing 3 green balls drawn. Answer: $2/7$.

    Concept and Intuition

    Before drawing, any number of green balls from $0$ to $6$ is equally likely (7 equally likely hypotheses). Observing "all 3 drawn balls are green" is much more likely under hypotheses with more green balls, so Bayes' theorem reweights the prior toward higher $k$. We want the posterior probability that $k=5$.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Prior: $P(k \text{ green balls})=\dfrac17$ for $k=0,1,\dots,6$.
    2. Likelihood of drawing 3 balls, all green, given $k$ green balls out of 6: $P(\text{all green}\mid k)=\dfrac{\binom{k}{3}}{\binom{6}{3}}=\dfrac{\binom{k}{3}}{20}$ (zero for $k<3$).
    3. Compute: $k=3:\binom33=1\Rightarrow1/20$; $k=4:\binom43=4\Rightarrow4/20$; $k=5:\binom53=10\Rightarrow10/20$; $k=6:\binom63=20\Rightarrow20/20=1$. …

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