Q.A die is thrown three times. Events A and B are defined as below: A : 4 on the third throw B : 6 on the first and 5 on the second throw Find the probability of A given that B has already occurred.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Conditional Probability
Conditional Probability
Roll a die and ask "what is the chance of an even number?" — that is 3/6. But suppose someone tells you the result is greater than 3. Now you are no longer looking at all six faces, only at {4,5,6}, and two of those (4 and 6) are even, so the probability becomes 2/3. That change — from the probability of A to the probability of A given that B has already occurred — is conditional probability.
The Idea: Shrink the Sample Space
Conditioning on B throws away every outcome where B is false and treats B as the new "whole world." You measure A only against what is still possible.
Think of filtering a table of data: unconditional probability uses every row; conditional probability keeps only the rows where the condition is true.
The Definition
For events A and B with P(B)>0,
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B).
We divide by P(B) to rescale so that B itself has probability 1; the surviving part of A is the overlap A∩B. Checking the die: P(A∩B)=P({4,6})=62 and P(B)=63, so P(A∣B)=3/62/6=32, matching the intuition.
Rearranging gives the multiplication rule P(A∩B)=P(A∣B)P(B), which is usually the easier way to compute a joint probability when a problem says "given that."
Two Cautions
- P(A∣B) and P(B∣A) are generally not equal; swapping them is the classic mistake. They are linked by Bayes' theorem, P(A∣B)=P(B)P(B∣A)P(A). …
Concept: Conditional Probability — we want P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B).
Step 1: Since the die is fair and throws are independent, each outcome has probability 61.
Step 2: Event B requires a specific result on the first two throws (6 then 5), so
P(B)=61×61=361.
Step 3: Event A∩B means: first throw = 6, second throw = 5, third throw = 4. …
Since the die throws are independent, the conditional probability P(A∣B) is simply the probability of getting a 4 on the third throw, which is 61.
Why conditional probability works this way here
The key idea is independence. When you roll a fair die, each throw is completely unaffected by the others. The outcome of the third throw has no connection to what happened on the first or second throw.
Events A and B involve different throws — A only cares about the third throw, B only about the first two. Because the throws are independent, knowing that B happened tells you nothing new about whether A will happen.
This is a special case where P(A∣B)=P(A). Most conditional probability problems aren't this simple — but when the events involve separate independent trials, the condition drops out.
A common mistake is to try to use the full conditional probability formula P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B) and compute P(B) unnecessarily. While that would also give the correct answer, it's extra work. The independence insight saves time — and is exactly what examiners want you to spot.
Step-by-step reasoning
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Identify the sample space.
A die thrown three times has 6×6×6=216 equally likely outcomes. Each outcome is an ordered triple (x1,x2,x3) where each xi∈{1,2,3,4,5,6}.
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Define the events clearly.
- A: "4 on the third throw" means x3=4.
- B: "6 on the first and 5 on the second throw" means x1=6 and x2=5.
-
Recognize independence across throws.
The outcome of any one throw does not influence any other throw. So the event A (which depends only on the third throw) is independent of the event B (which depends only on the first two throws). …
Method: Using independence to shortcut a conditional probability
Use this when the conditioning event and the target event depend on separate independent trials (different throws, different coins). Recognising independence saves the full calculation.
Steps
Step 1: Check whether the two events involve disjoint, independent trials.
If event A depends only on one trial (the third throw) and event B only on other trials (the first two), and the trials are independent, then A and B are independent.
Step 2: Apply the independence consequence for conditioning.
For independent events, conditioning changes nothing:
P(A∣B)=P(A). …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Grinding through the full formula and mis-handling P(B).
Why it's wrong: while P(A∣B)=P(A∩B)/P(B) works, students often compute P(B) or P(A∩B) with the wrong power of 61 and slip. Correct approach: notice the third throw is independent of the first two, so P(A∣B)=P(A)=61 directly.
Mistake 2: Thinking the condition B must change P(A). …
Showing the 12 most recent of 69 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.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) 61 (B) 51 (C) 1085 (D) 1081
›Reveal solutionSolution
A conditional probability found by directly counting favourable die-triples against all triples summing to the given total.
Concept and Intuition
P(first=4∣sum=15)=#{triples with sum=15}#{triples with first=4, sum=15} — a straightforward application of conditional probability by counting, since all 63 triples are equally likely.
Step-by-Step Solution
- If the first throw is 4, the other two throws (each from 1 to 6) must sum to 15−4=11.
- Pairs of dice summing to 11: (5,6) and (6,5) — 2 ways.
- 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.
- Number of non-negative integer solutions to a′+b′+c′=3 is (23+2)=10; since 3<5 none violate the upper bound of 5, so all 10 are valid.
- So there are 10 triples with sum 15 in total. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.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) 52,41 (B) 51,21 (C) 51,41 (D) 21,53
›Reveal solutionSolution
Counting the 36 equally likely dice outcomes directly gives P(A∣B)=51 and P(B∣A)=21.
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∩B, then apply the conditional probability formula P(X∣Y)=P(Y)P(X∩Y) directly as a ratio of counts.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A = "same number on each die": outcomes (1,1),(2,2),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5),(6,6) — 6 outcomes, so P(A)=366.
- B = "sum >7", i.e. sum ∈{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)=3615.
- A∩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 ≤7 — excluded. So A∩B has 3 outcomes, P(A∩B)=363. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.A die is thrown twice. Let A be the event of getting a prime number when the die is thrown first time and B be the event of getting an even number when the die is thrown second time. Then P(A/Bˉ)= (A) 21 (B) 32 (C) 51 (D) 53
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since A and B (hence Bˉ) come from two independent throws of the die, conditioning on Bˉ does not change P(A); the answer is 1/2.
Concept and Intuition
When two events are determined by physically independent trials (first throw vs second throw of a die), any conditional probability between them collapses to the unconditional probability — conditioning on an independent event changes nothing.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A: prime number on the first throw, i.e. outcome in {2,3,5}, so P(A)=63=21.
- B: even number on the second throw, i.e. outcome in {2,4,6}, so P(B)=21, and P(Bˉ)=21 (odd on the second throw). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.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) 83 (B) 72 (C) 91 (D) 54
›Reveal solutionSolution
A classic Bayes'-theorem problem: combine the prior P(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(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
- Let E1 = the die actually shows six, E2 = it doesn't. P(E1)=61, P(E2)=65.
- Let A = he reports "six". If E1 occurred, he reports six truthfully with probability 43: P(A∣E1)=43.
- If E2 occurred, he reports "six" only if he lies, with probability 41: P(A∣E2)=41.
- By Bayes' theorem:
P(E1∣A)=P(A∣E1)P(E1)+P(A∣E2)P(E2)P(A∣E1)P(E1).
- Numerator: 43⋅61=243=81.
- Denominator's second term: 41⋅65=245.
- Sum =243+245=248=31. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-FN1 markMCQQ.A pair of dice is thrown. Then the probability that either of the dice shows 2 when their sum is 6 is (A) 21 (B) 51 (C) 52 (D) 53
›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
- Pairs (d1,d2) with d1+d2=6: (1,5),(2,4),(3,3),(4,2),(5,1) — 5 outcomes, each equally likely given the sum is 6.
- Favourable outcomes (either die shows 2): (2,4) and (4,2) — 2 outcomes.
- Required probability =52.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.It is given that in a random experiment events A and B are such that P(A)=41, P(A∣B)=21 and P(B∣A)=32 then P(B)= (A) 31 (B) 32 (C) 21 (D) 61
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using P(B∣A) to find P(A∩B), then dividing by P(A∣B), gives P(B)=31.
Concept and Intuition
The conditional probability definitions P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B) and P(B∣A)=P(A)P(A∩B) share the common quantity P(A∩B) — computing it from one equation lets us solve the other for the unknown probability.
Step-by-Step Solution
- From P(B∣A)=P(A)P(A∩B)=32, and P(A)=41: P(A∩B)=32×41=61.
- From P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B)=21: P(B)=P(A∣B)P(A∩B)=1/21/6=31.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.If two events A and B are such that P(Aˉ)=0.3, P(B)=0.4 and P(A∩Bˉ)=0.5, then P(B/(A∪Bˉ))= (A) 0.25 (B) 0.6 (C) 0.45 (D) 0.8
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests careful set manipulation of conditional probability with a compound conditioning event A∪Bˉ. Answer: 0.25.
Concept and Intuition
Conditional probability P(B∣E)=P(E)P(B∩E) works exactly the same way when E is a compound event like A∪Bˉ — we just need to correctly compute P(E) and P(B∩E) using set algebra (distributing intersection over union, and using the fact that B and Bˉ are disjoint).
Step-by-Step Solution
- From P(Aˉ)=0.3, get P(A)=1−0.3=0.7.
- P(A∩Bˉ)=0.5 is given directly, so P(A∩B)=P(A)−P(A∩Bˉ)=0.7−0.5=0.2.
- Compute P(A∪Bˉ) using inclusion-exclusion: P(A∪Bˉ)=P(A)+P(Bˉ)−P(A∩Bˉ). Here P(Bˉ)=1−0.4=0.6, so P(A∪Bˉ)=0.7+0.6−0.5=0.8. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQQ.Three boxes B1, B2 and B3 contain balls with different colors as follows:A die is thrown. Box B1 is chosen if either 1 or 2 turns up. Box B2 is chosen if 3 or 4 turns up and box B3 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 B2 is (A) 127 (B) 125 (C) 121 (D) 263
White Black Red B1 2 1 2 B2 3 2 4 B3 4 3 2 ›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(Red∣Bi) for each box and the prior P(Bi) (each 1/3 since the die is fair and each box corresponds to two faces); we want the posterior P(B2∣Red).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Totals in each box: B1: 2+1+2=5; B2: 3+2+4=9; B3: 4+3+2=9.
- P(Red∣B1)=52, P(Red∣B2)=94, P(Red∣B3)=92.
- Each box has prior probability 31 (each box corresponds to two die faces out of six).
- Total probability: P(Red)=31(52+94+92)=31(52+32)=31⋅1516=4516. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.Two persons A and B throw three unbiased dice one after the another. If A gets the sum 13, then the probability that B gets higher sum is (A) 2165 (B) 274 (C) 21635 (D) 21620
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests knowing (or deriving) the distribution of the sum of three dice and just needs P(sum>13) since B's throw is independent of A's. Answer: 35/216.
Concept and Intuition
Since the two people throw independently, "A got 13" tells us nothing about B's throw — we just need P(sum of 3 dice>13)=P(sum≥14) out of all 63=216 equally likely outcomes.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Total outcomes for three dice: 63=216.
- The number of ways to get sum s with 3 dice is symmetric: N(s)=N(21−s) (since replacing each die value v by 7−v maps sum s to 21−s).
- Known counts: N(3)=1,N(4)=3,N(5)=6,N(6)=10,N(7)=15; by symmetry N(18)=1,N(17)=3,N(16)=6,N(15)=10,N(14)=15. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-FN1 markMCQQ.Let A and B be two events with P(A)=71, P(A/B)=52 and P(B)=72. Then the value P(B/A) is (A) 51 (B) 495 (C) 54 (D) 53
›Reveal solutionSolution
Chain the conditional-probability definition twice: first get P(A∩B) from P(A/B), then get P(B/A) from that.
Concept and Intuition
Conditional probability is defined as P(E/F)=P(F)P(E∩F). Given one conditional probability, we can back out the joint probability P(A∩B), and then use it (with the definition again, but conditioning the other way) to find the other conditional probability.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A/B)=P(B)P(A∩B)⇒P(A∩B)=P(A/B)⋅P(B)=52×72=354.
- Now use P(B/A)=P(A)P(A∩B)=1/74/35. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-AN1 markMCQQ.An unbiased coin is tossed 3 times. If the third toss gets head, then the probability of getting at least one more head is (A) 3/4 (B) 1/4 (C) 1/2 (D) 1/3
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing conditional independence: given the third toss's outcome, the first two tosses remain independent unbiased flips, so their probability is unaffected by the condition. Answer: 3/4.
Concept and Intuition
Since coin tosses are independent events, knowing the outcome of the third toss (head) gives us no information about the first two tosses. So the question really just asks: what's the probability of getting at least one head in two independent fair coin tosses? This is most easily computed via the complement (no heads at all in two tosses).
Step-by-Step Solution
- The condition 'the third toss gets head' is independent of the outcomes of the first two tosses (each coin toss is independent of the others).
- So conditioning on the third toss being heads doesn't change the probabilities for the first two tosses — they remain two independent fair coin flips.
- We want P(at least one head among the first two tosses).
- Use the complement: P(no heads in first two tosses)=P(both tails)=21×21=41.
- So P(at least one head)=1−41=43.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.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) 354 (B) 355 (C) 72 (D) 71
›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
- Prior: P(k green balls)=71 for k=0,1,…,6.
- Likelihood of drawing 3 balls, all green, given k green balls out of 6: P(all green∣k)=(36)(3k)=20(3k) (zero for k<3).
- Compute: k=3:(33)=1⇒1/20; k=4:(34)=4⇒4/20; k=5:(35)=10⇒10/20; k=6:(36)=20⇒20/20=1. …
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