Q.$A$ and $B$ are two students. Their chances of solving a problem correctly are $\dfrac{1}{3}$ and $\dfrac{1}{4}$, respectively. If the probability of their making a common error is $\dfrac{1}{20}$ and they obtain the same answer, then the probability of their answer to be correct is
(A) $\dfrac{1}{12}$
(B) $\dfrac{1}{40}$
(C) $\dfrac{13}{120}$
(D) $\dfrac{10}{13}$

Showing the 12 most recent of 69 on this concept.

1. 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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2. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-23-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.It is given that in a random experiment events A and B are such that $P(A) = \dfrac{1}{4}$, $P(A|B) = \dfrac{1}{2}$ and $P(B|A) = \dfrac{2}{3}$ then $P(B) =$ (A) $\dfrac{1}{3}$ (B) $\dfrac{2}{3}$ (C) $\dfrac{1}{2}$ (D) $\dfrac{1}{6}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Using $P(B|A)$ to find $P(A\cap B)$, then dividing by $P(A|B)$, gives $P(B)=\dfrac13$.

   Concept and Intuition

   The conditional probability definitions $P(A|B)=\dfrac{P(A\cap B)}{P(B)}$ and $P(B|A)=\dfrac{P(A\cap B)}{P(A)}$ share the common quantity $P(A\cap B)$ — computing it from one equation lets us solve the other for the unknown probability.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. From $P(B|A)=\dfrac{P(A\cap B)}{P(A)}=\dfrac23$, and $P(A)=\dfrac14$: $P(A\cap B)=\dfrac23\times\dfrac14=\dfrac16$.
   2. From $P(A|B)=\dfrac{P(A\cap B)}{P(B)}=\dfrac12$: $P(B)=\dfrac{P(A\cap B)}{P(A|B)}=\dfrac{1/6}{1/2}=\dfrac13$.

   Common Mistakes …

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3. AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.On every evening, a student either watches TV or reads a book. The probability of watching TV is $\dfrac{4}{5}$. If he watches TV, the probability that he will fall asleep is $\dfrac{3}{4}$ and it is $\dfrac{1}{4}$ when he reads a book. If the student is found to be asleep on an evening, the probability that he watched the TV is (A) $\dfrac{11}{13}$ (B) $\dfrac{12}{13}$ (C) $\dfrac{2}{13}$ (D) $\dfrac{4}{13}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   This tests Bayes' theorem: finding the probability of a cause (watched TV) given an observed effect (fell asleep). The answer is $\dfrac{12}{13}$.

   Concept and Intuition

   When asked "given the observed outcome, what's the probability of a particular cause," that's a Bayes'-theorem setup: compute the joint probability of that cause with the outcome, and divide by the total probability of the outcome (summed over all causes).

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. $P(\text{TV})=\tfrac45$, $P(\text{book})=\tfrac15$.
   2. $P(\text{asleep}\mid\text{TV})=\tfrac34$, $P(\text{asleep}\mid\text{book})=\tfrac14$.
   3. Total probability of falling asleep: $P(\text{asleep})=P(\text{TV})P(\text{asleep}\mid\text{TV})+P(\text{book})P(\text{asleep}\mid\text{book})=\tfrac45\cdot\tfrac34+\tfrac15\cdot\tfrac14=\tfrac35+\tfrac1{20}=\tfrac{12}{20}+\tfrac1{20}=\tfrac{13}{20}$. …

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4. AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.Two persons P and Q are considering to apply for a job. The probability that P applies for the job is 1/4, the probability that P applies for the job given that Q applies for the job is 1/2, and the probability that Q applies for the job given that P applies for the job is 1/3. Then the probability that P does not apply for the job given that Q does not apply for the job is (A) $4/5$ (B) $5/6$ (C) $7/8$ (D) $11/12$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Chain the given conditional probabilities to find $P(Q)$ and $P(P\cap Q)$, then use the complement rule — the answer is (A) $4/5$.

   Concept and Intuition

   Conditional probability definitions let us cross-multiply to recover the joint probability $P(P\cap Q)$ from either conditional. Once $P(P), P(Q), P(P\cap Q)$ are all known, De Morgan's law converts "neither event" into the complement of the union.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Given: $P(P)=\tfrac14$, $P(P|Q)=\tfrac12$, $P(Q|P)=\tfrac13$.
   2. $P(P\cap Q) = P(Q|P)\cdot P(P) = \tfrac13\times\tfrac14 = \tfrac1{12}$.
   3. Also $P(P\cap Q) = P(P|Q)\cdot P(Q) \Rightarrow \tfrac1{12} = \tfrac12\cdot P(Q) \Rightarrow P(Q)=\tfrac16$.
   4. $P(P\cup Q) = P(P)+P(Q)-P(P\cap Q) = \tfrac14+\tfrac16-\tfrac1{12} = \tfrac{3}{12}+\tfrac{2}{12}-\tfrac{1}{12}=\tfrac{4}{12}=\tfrac13$.
   5. By De Morgan's law, "neither P nor Q applies" is the complement of $P\cup Q$: $P(\overline P\cap\overline Q) = 1-\tfrac13=\tfrac23$.
   6. $P(\overline Q) = 1-P(Q) = 1-\tfrac16=\tfrac56$. …

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5. AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-AN1 markMCQ
   Q.Given $P(A) = 0.5, P(B) = 0.4, P(A \cap B) = 0.3$ then $P(A'/B')$ is equal to (A) $\dfrac{1}{3}$ (B) $\dfrac{1}{2}$ (C) $\dfrac{2}{3}$ (D) $\dfrac{3}{4}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Using De Morgan's law $A'\cap B'=(A\cup B)'$ and the conditional probability formula gives $P(A'|B')=\dfrac23$.

   Concept and Intuition

   $P(A'|B')$ asks: given we're outside $B$, what's the chance we're also outside $A$? The key trick is that $A'\cap B' = (A\cup B)'$ (De Morgan), which is easy to compute from $P(A\cup B)$.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. $P(A\cup B)=P(A)+P(B)-P(A\cap B)=0.5+0.4-0.3=0.6$.
   2. $P(A'\cap B')=P((A\cup B)')=1-P(A\cup B)=1-0.6=0.4$.
   3. $P(B')=1-P(B)=1-0.4=0.6$. …

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6. AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.In a school there are 3 sections A, B and C. Section A contains 20 girls and 30 boys, section B contains 40 girls and 20 boys and section C contains 10 girls and 30 boys. The probabilities of selecting the section A, B and C are 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 respectively. If a student selected at random from the school is a girl, then the probability that she belongs to section A is (A) $\dfrac{121}{200}$ (B) $\dfrac{16}{121}$ (C) $\dfrac{14}{81}$ (D) $\dfrac{16}{81}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A three-section Bayes'-theorem problem; the answer is $\dfrac{16}{81}$, option (D).

   Concept and Intuition

   Given a randomly selected student is a girl, we want to reverse-condition on which section she came from. This requires the total probability of "selecting a girl" (summed over all three sections weighted by section-selection probability), then applying Bayes' theorem to isolate section A's contribution.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Conditional probabilities of picking a girl within each section: $P(\text{girl}\mid A)=\dfrac{20}{50}=\dfrac{2}{5}$; $P(\text{girl}\mid B)=\dfrac{40}{60}=\dfrac{2}{3}$; $P(\text{girl}\mid C)=\dfrac{10}{40}=\dfrac14$.
   2. Section-selection probabilities: $P(A)=\dfrac15,\ P(B)=\dfrac{3}{10},\ P(C)=\dfrac12$.
   3. Joint terms: $P(A)P(\text{girl}\mid A)=\dfrac15\cdot\dfrac25=\dfrac{2}{25}$; $P(B)P(\text{girl}\mid B)=\dfrac{3}{10}\cdot\dfrac23=\dfrac15$; $P(C)P(\text{girl}\mid C)=\dfrac12\cdot\dfrac14=\dfrac18$. …

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7. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.Bag A contains 3 white and 4 black balls. Bag B contains 4 white and 3 black balls. Bag C contains 2 white and 5 black balls. A bag is randomly selected and then a ball is randomly drawn from that bag. If the ball drawn was found to be white, then the probability that the ball is drawn from bag C is (A) $\dfrac{1}{6}$ (B) $\dfrac{2}{9}$ (C) $\dfrac{1}{4}$ (D) $\dfrac{2}{13}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   This is a direct Bayes'-theorem (inverse probability) question. Answer: $\dfrac{2}{9}$.

   Concept and Intuition

   We're given the outcome (a white ball was drawn) and asked for the probability of a particular cause (it came from bag C). This is exactly Bayes' theorem: $P(C\mid W) = \dfrac{P(C)P(W\mid C)}{\sum_i P(\text{bag}_i)P(W\mid \text{bag}_i)}$.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Each bag is chosen with probability $\frac13$.
   2. $P(W\mid A) = \dfrac{3}{7}$ (3 white out of 7 total in bag A).
   3. $P(W\mid B) = \dfrac{4}{7}$ (4 white out of 7 in bag B).
   4. $P(W\mid C) = \dfrac{2}{7}$ (2 white out of 7 in bag C).
   5. Total probability of white: $P(W) = \frac13\left(\dfrac37+\dfrac47+\dfrac27\right) = \frac13\cdot\dfrac{9}{7} = \dfrac{9}{21} = \dfrac{3}{7}$. …

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8. AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.In a bolt factory, machines A, B, C manufacture 25%, 35%, 40% of the total output respectively. There is a chance of having 5%, 4%, 2% defective bolts manufactured by A, B, C respectively. If a bolt is drawn at random from the output, then the probability that it is defective is (A) $\dfrac{69}{2000}$ (B) $\dfrac{59}{2000}$ (C) $\dfrac{79}{2000}$ (D) $\dfrac{89}{2000}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Classic total-probability ("law of total probability") setup: weight each machine's defect rate by its share of output and sum. The answer is (A).

   Concept and Intuition

   When an item can come from several mutually exclusive, exhaustive sources (here, machines A, B, C), and each source has its own conditional probability of producing a defect, the overall probability of a defect is the weighted average:

   $P(D) = \sum_i P(\text{source}_i)\,P(D\mid \text{source}_i).$

   This is the law of total probability — it's the natural way to combine "how much each machine contributes" with "how likely each machine's own output is defective."

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Let $A, B, C$ denote drawing a bolt from each machine: $P(A)=0.25$, $P(B)=0.35$, $P(C)=0.40$ (these sum to 1, as they must).
   2. Conditional defect probabilities: $P(D\mid A)=0.05$, $P(D\mid B)=0.04$, $P(D\mid C)=0.02$.
   3. By the law of total probability:

   $P(D) = P(A)P(D\mid A) + P(B)P(D\mid B) + P(C)P(D\mid C).$

   4. Compute each term: $0.25\times0.05=0.0125$; $0.35\times0.04=0.014$; $0.40\times0.02=0.008$. …

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9. AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-19-FN1 markMCQ
   Q.A shopkeeper buys a particular type of electric bulbs from three manufacturers $M_1, M_2$ and $M_3$. He buys 25% of his requirement from $M_1$, 45% from $M_2$ and 30% from $M_3$. Based on past experience he found that 2% of type $M_3$ bulbs are defective, where as only 1% of type $M_1$ and type $M_2$ are defective. If a bulb chosen by him at random is defective, then the probability that it was of type $M_3$ is (A) $\dfrac{5}{13}$ (B) $\dfrac{6}{13}$ (C) $\dfrac{7}{13}$ (D) $\dfrac{8}{13}$

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A direct application of Bayes' theorem with the law of total probability for the defective-bulb probability. Answer: (B).

   Concept and Intuition

   This is a classic "reverse conditional probability" problem: we know how likely a defect is given the source, and want the reverse — the probability the source was $M_3$ given a defect was observed. Bayes' theorem converts one into the other via the law of total probability.

   Step-by-Step Solution

   1. Given: $P(M_1)=0.25,\ P(M_2)=0.45,\ P(M_3)=0.30$; $P(D|M_1)=0.01,\ P(D|M_2)=0.01,\ P(D|M_3)=0.02$.
   2. Total probability of a defective bulb: $P(D)=P(M_1)P(D|M_1)+P(M_2)P(D|M_2)+P(M_3)P(D|M_3)$ $=0.25(0.01)+0.45(0.01)+0.30(0.02)=0.0025+0.0045+0.006=0.013$. …

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10. AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQ
    Q.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) $\dfrac{5}{216}$ (B) $\dfrac{4}{27}$ (C) $\dfrac{35}{216}$ (D) $\dfrac{20}{216}$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    This tests knowing (or deriving) the distribution of the sum of three dice and just needs $P(\text{sum}>13)$ 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 $P(\text{sum of 3 dice}>13)=P(\text{sum}\ge14)$ out of all $6^3=216$ equally likely outcomes.

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Total outcomes for three dice: $6^3=216$.
    2. 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 $21-s$).
    3. Known counts: $N(3)=1,N(4)=3,N(5)=6,N(6)=10,N(7)=15$; by symmetry $N(18)=1,N(17)=3,N(16)=6,N(15)=10,N(14)=15$. …

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11. AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQ
    Q.An urn A contains 4 white and 1 black ball; urn B contains 3 white and 2 black balls and urn C contains 2 white and 3 black balls. One ball is transferred randomly from A to B; later one ball is transferred randomly from B to C. Finally, if a ball is drawn randomly from C, then the probability that it is a black ball is (A) $\dfrac{7}{12}$ (B) $\dfrac{89}{180}$ (C) $\dfrac{101}{180}$ (D) $\dfrac{17}{36}$

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    A two-stage transfer-then-draw problem, solved by branching over all four possible transfer outcomes: probability of black $=\dfrac{101}{180}$.

    Concept and Intuition

    This is a sequential conditional-probability problem: each transfer changes the composition of the receiving urn, so we must branch over every possible outcome of each transfer and weight the final draw accordingly (total probability theorem, applied twice).

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Urn A: 4W,1B. Transfer to B: $P(\text{W})=\frac45$, $P(\text{B})=\frac15$.
    2. If white moved to B: B becomes 4W,2B (6 balls). If black moved to B: B becomes 3W,3B (6 balls).
    3. From B (4W,2B): transfer white to C with $P=\frac{4}{6}=\frac23$ (C becomes 3W,3B), or black with $P=\frac26=\frac13$ (C becomes 2W,4B).
    4. From B (3W,3B): transfer white to C with $P=\frac12$ (C becomes 3W,3B), or black with $P=\frac12$ (C becomes 2W,4B).
    5. Final draw from C: $P(\text{black}\mid 3W3B)=\frac12$; $P(\text{black}\mid 2W4B)=\frac{4}{6}=\frac23$.
    6. Combine all four branches:
       • A-white, B-white: $\frac45\cdot\frac23\cdot\frac12=\frac{8}{30}=\frac{4}{15}$
       • A-white, B-black: $\frac45\cdot\frac13\cdot\frac23=\frac{8}{45}$ …

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12. 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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