Q.If A and B are events such that P(A∣B)=P(B∣A), then (A) A⊂B but A=B (B) A=B (C) A∩B=ϕ (D) P(A)=P(B)
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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). …
From the definition, with P(A)>0 and P(B)>0 (needed for both conditionals to exist):
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B),P(B∣A)=P(A)P(A∩B).
Set them equal and cross-multiply: …
Writing both conditionals from the definition and equating them cancels the shared factor P(A∩B), forcing P(A)=P(B) — option (D).
Start from the definitions
For P(A∣B) and P(B∣A) to be defined we need P(B)>0 and P(A)>0. Then
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B),P(B∣A)=P(A)P(A∩B).
Both fractions have the same numerator, P(A∩B).
Use the given equality
We are told P(A∣B)=P(B∣A), so
P(B)P(A∩B)=P(A)P(A∩B).
Cross-multiplying,
P(A∩B)P(A)=P(A∩B)P(B) ⟹ P(A∩B)[P(A)−P(B)]=0.
In the non-degenerate case P(A∩B)=0 (the events actually overlap), divide it out to get
P(A)=P(B).
Why the other options fail …
Method: Comparing Two Conditional Probabilities via Their Definitions
Use this when a condition ties P(A∣B) to P(B∣A) (or any two conditionals that share a numerator) and you must deduce what that condition forces about the events.
Steps
Step 1: Expand each conditional with the definition
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B),P(B∣A)=P(A)P(A∩B).
The key structural observation is that both fractions have the same numerator, P(A∩B).
Step 2: Impose the given relation and cancel …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Concluding A=B instead of P(A)=P(B).
The symmetric-looking condition tempts students to pick option (B). Why it's wrong: equal conditional probabilities constrain only the probabilities, not the events — two genuinely different events can share P(A)=P(B). Correct approach: write both conditionals and cancel the common numerator P(A∩B), leaving P(A)=P(B).
Mistake 2: Missing that both conditionals share the same numerator. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 69 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-FN1 markMCQQ.If A and B are two events such that P(B)=0 and P(B)=1, then P(Aˉ∣Bˉ) is (A) 1−P(A∣B) (B) 1−P(Aˉ∣B) (C) P(Bˉ)1−P(A∪B) (D) P(Bˉ)P(Aˉ)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Directly apply the definition of conditional probability together with De Morgan's law; the answer is P(Bˉ)1−P(A∪B).
Concept and Intuition
Conditional probability is defined as P(X∣Y)=P(Y)P(X∩Y). Here X=Aˉ, Y=Bˉ. By De Morgan's law, Aˉ∩Bˉ=A∪B, so its probability is 1−P(A∪B).
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(Aˉ∣Bˉ)=P(Bˉ)P(Aˉ∩Bˉ).
- Aˉ∩Bˉ=A∪B (De Morgan).
- So P(Aˉ∩Bˉ)=1−P(A∪B). …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If A,B are any two events of a random experiment and P(B)=1, then P(A∣Bc)= (A) 1−P(B)P(A)+P(A∩B) (B) 1−P(B)P(A)−P(A∩B) (C) 1+P(B)P(A)+P(A∩B) (D) 1+P(B)P(A)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Direct application of the conditional-probability definition to the complement event gives P(A∣Bc)=1−P(B)P(A)−P(A∩B).
Concept and Intuition
A∩Bc is exactly the part of A that does not overlap with B, so its probability is P(A) minus the overlapping piece P(A∩B). Dividing by P(Bc)=1−P(B) (valid since P(B)=1) gives the conditional probability.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A∣Bc)=P(Bc)P(A∩Bc) by definition (needs P(Bc)=0, i.e. P(B)=1, as given).
- A=(A∩B)∪(A∩Bc), a disjoint union, so P(A)=P(A∩B)+P(A∩Bc)⇒P(A∩Bc)=P(A)−P(A∩B).
- P(Bc)=1−P(B). …
- 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 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.P(A∣A∩B)+P(B∣A∩B)= (A) 1 (B) P(A∪B) (C) P(A∩B) (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both conditional probabilities equal 1 because A∩B is a subset of both A and B, so their sum is 2.
Concept and Intuition
Conditioning an event on its own subset (or superset relationship) often collapses to a probability of exactly 1: if E⊆F, then P(F∣E)=1, since knowing E occurred guarantees F occurred too.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A∣A∩B)=P(A∩B)P(A∩(A∩B)).
- Since A∩(A∩B)=A∩B (intersecting with A again changes nothing, as A∩B⊆A), this is P(A∩B)P(A∩B)=1.
- Similarly, P(B∣A∩B)=P(A∩B)P(B∩(A∩B))=P(A∩B)P(A∩B)=1.
- Sum =1+1=2. …
- 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 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.In a sample space, E is an event associated with the events A and B. If P(A)P(E∣A)=l and P(B)P(E∣B)=m then, P(B∣E)= (A) l+mm always (B) l+ml only when P(A)+P(B)=1 (C) l+mm only when P(A)+P(B)=1 (D) l+ml always
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests when the "total probability" decomposition P(E)=P(A∩E)+P(B∩E) is legitimate — only when A,B partition the sample space. Answer: l+mm, and only under that condition.
Concept and Intuition
Bayes' rule always gives P(B∣E)=P(B∩E)/P(E). The numerator is handed to us as m. The tricky part is the denominator: P(E) can only be written as P(A∩E)+P(B∩E)=l+m if every outcome of E passes through either A or B and not both — that is exactly the statement that {A,B} partitions the sample space, equivalent to A∩B=∅ and P(A)+P(B)=1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- From the given data, P(A∩E)=l and P(B∩E)=m.
- By definition, P(B∣E)=P(E)P(B∩E)=P(E)m.
- If (and only if) A,B partition the sample space, E=(E∩A)∪(E∩B) with no overlap, so P(E)=l+m.
- Substituting, P(B∣E)=l+mm — but this substitution is valid only under the partition condition P(A)+P(B)=1. …
- 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 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-AN1 markMCQQ.Given P(A)=0.5,P(B)=0.4,P(A∩B)=0.3 then P(A′/B′) is equal to (A) 31 (B) 21 (C) 32 (D) 43
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using De Morgan's law A′∩B′=(A∪B)′ and the conditional probability formula gives P(A′∣B′)=32.
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′∩B′=(A∪B)′ (De Morgan), which is easy to compute from P(A∪B).
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B)=0.5+0.4−0.3=0.6.
- P(A′∩B′)=P((A∪B)′)=1−P(A∪B)=1−0.6=0.4.
- P(B′)=1−P(B)=1−0.4=0.6. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-FN1 markMCQQ.If A and B are mutually exclusive events with P(A)=41 and P(B)=73. Then what is the value of P(A/A∪B)= (A) 197 (B) 1912 (C) 1906 (D) 1913
›Reveal solutionSolution
Mutually exclusive events make P(A∪B) a simple sum, and since A is entirely contained in A∪B, the conditional probability reduces to P(A)/P(A∪B).
Concept and Intuition
For mutually exclusive A,B: P(A∩B)=0, so P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B). Also A∩(A∪B)=A always, so P(A∣A∪B)=P(A∪B)P(A∩(A∪B))=P(A∪B)P(A).
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)=41+73.
- Common denominator 28: 287+2812=2819. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.A, B, C are mutually exclusive and exhaustive events of a random experiment and E is an event that occurs in conjunction with one of the events A, B, C. The conditional Probabilities of E given the happening of A, B, C are respectively 0.6, 0.3 and 0.1. If P(A)=0.30 and P(B)=0.50, then P(C∣E)= (A) 352 (B) 3515 (C) 3518 (D) 3517
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a direct Bayes' theorem application over three mutually exclusive, exhaustive causes; P(C∣E)=2/35.
Concept and Intuition
When an event E can occur alongside any of several mutually exclusive, exhaustive causes A,B,C, Bayes' theorem lets us find the probability of a particular cause given that E has occurred, by weighing each cause's prior probability by how likely E is under it, then normalizing.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Since A,B,C are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, P(C)=1−P(A)−P(B)=1−0.30−0.50=0.20.
- Total probability of E: P(E)=P(E∣A)P(A)+P(E∣B)P(B)+P(E∣C)P(C) =0.6(0.30)+0.3(0.50)+0.1(0.20)=0.18+0.15+0.02=0.35 …
- 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). …
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