Q.Determine P(E∣F). Mother, father and son line up at random for a family picture. E : son on one end, F : father in middle.
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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). …
Condition on F (father in the middle) and count the arrangements in which E (son on an end) also holds.
With the father fixed in the centre, the two ends are filled by the mother and the son in 2!=2 ways:
(S,F,M)and(M,F,S). …
Once the father is fixed in the middle, only the two ends remain for the mother and son, so the son is always on an end: P(E∣F)=1.
Set up
Three distinct people (Mother, Father, Son) line up in 3!=6 equally likely orders. Let
- E: the son is on one of the two ends,
- F: the father is in the middle.
Event F
Fix the father in the centre position. The two end positions are filled by the mother and the son in 2!=2 ways:
(S,F,M)and(M,F,S),P(F)=62=31.
Event E and F together …
Method: Conditional probability on arrangements (permutation sample space)
Use this when distinct objects or people are placed in order at random and you must find P(E∣F) for events about positions ("on an end", "in the middle", "adjacent").
Steps
Step 1: Size the sample space as a permutation count.
Arranging n distinct items in a row gives n! equally likely orders (for three people, 3!=6). Equally-likely outcomes let you count:
P(E∣F)=n(F)n(E∩F).
Step 2: Count n(F) by fixing the positions F constrains.
Lock each person that F places, then the remaining people fill the remaining seats in (remaining)! ways. Fixing one person in a chosen seat leaves 2!=2 arrangements of the other two.
Step 3: Impose E on the arrangements already in F. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Dividing by 6 (all line-ups) instead of by 2.
Why it's wrong: once F (father in the middle) is given, only the 2!=2 arrangements (S,F,M) and (M,F,S) remain, so the denominator is 2, not the full 6. Correct approach: P(E∣F)=∣F∣∣E∩F∣=22=1.
Mistake 2: Doubting that both remaining arrangements put the son on an end. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 69 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.If E and F are events such that P(Fˉ)=0.7 and P(E∩F)=0.2, then P(E∣F) is (A) 2/3 (B) 1/3 (C) 3/4 (D) 1/4
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the basic conditional-probability formula together with the complement rule. P(E∣F)=2/3.
Concept and Intuition
P(E∣F) asks: given that F has already happened, what fraction of that reduced sample space does E∩F occupy? It is always P(F)P(E∩F), so first we need P(F) itself, which is given indirectly through its complement.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(Fˉ)=0.7⇒P(F)=1−0.7=0.3.
- P(E∩F)=0.2 is given directly. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.There are three families F1,F2,F3. F1 has 2 boys and 1 girl; F2 has 1 boy and 2 girls; F3 has 1 boy and 1 girl. A family is randomly chosen and a child is chosen from that family randomly. If it is known that the child thus selected is a girl, then the probability that she is from F2 is (A) 94 (B) 92 (C) 73 (D) 75
›Reveal solutionSolution
Applying Bayes' theorem across the three equally-likely families gives P(F2∣girl)=94.
Concept and Intuition
This is a textbook application of Bayes' theorem: we're given the reverse conditional probabilities (family → probability of picking a girl) and asked for the forward one (girl picked → probability she's from a specific family).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Prior: P(F1)=P(F2)=P(F3)=31.
- P(girl∣F1)=31 (1 girl out of 3 children), P(girl∣F2)=32, P(girl∣F3)=21.
- Total probability: P(girl)=31⋅31+31⋅32+31⋅21=31(31+32+21)=31⋅62+4+3=31⋅69=21
- P(F2∩girl)=31⋅32=92. …
- 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.If it is known that a woman has two children and she has at least one girl child, the probability that the woman has both girl children is (A) 41 (B) 31 (C) 32 (D) 21
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a classic conditional-probability trap: conditioning on "at least one girl" (not "the elder/first child is a girl") leaves 3 equally likely outcomes, of which 1 is both-girls, giving 31.
Concept and Intuition
With two children, birth order matters for counting equally likely outcomes: BB,BG,GB,GG, each with probability 1/4. The event "at least one girl" is a set of outcomes, not a statement about a specific (e.g. first) child, so it correctly removes only BB and keeps three outcomes, not two. This distinguishes it from the simpler (and different) question "given the elder child is a girl," which would leave only {GB,GG} and give probability 1/2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Sample space (ordered by birth, say elder-younger): {BB,BG,GB,GG}, each with probability 41.
- Event E = "at least one girl" = {BG,GB,GG}, so P(E)=43. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.A family consists of 8 persons. If 4 persons are chosen at random and they are found to be 2 men and 2 women, then the probability that there are equal number of men and women in that family is (A) 51 (B) 73 (C) 52 (D) 72
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a Bayes'-theorem problem: given the observed sample (2 men, 2 women out of 4 drawn), find the posterior probability that the family itself is evenly split (4 men, 4 women), by weighting each possible family composition's likelihood of producing that sample.
Concept and Intuition
Before drawing, we don't know how many of the 8 family members are men — call it k (k can range from 0 to 8, but only k=2,3,4,5,6 can possibly yield a sample of 2 men and 2 women out of 4 drawn, since we need at least 2 men and at least 2 women in the family). Treating each feasible value of k as equally likely a priori, Bayes' theorem says: P(k=4∣observed 2M,2W)=∑kP(observed∣k)P(observed∣k=4), since the priors cancel when they're equal.
Step-by-Step Solution
- For a family with k men and 8−k women, the probability of drawing exactly 2 men and 2 women in a sample of 4 (hypergeometric) is proportional to (2k)(28−k) (the (48) denominator is common to all k and cancels in the ratio).
- Only k=2,3,4,5,6 give a nonzero value (need k≥2 and 8−k≥2).
- Compute L(k)=(2k)(28−k) for each:
- k=2: (22)(26)=1×15=15
- k=3: (23)(25)=3×10=30
- k=4: (24)(24)=6×6=36
- k=5: (25)(23)=10×3=30
- k=6: (26)(22)=15×1=15
- Sum of likelihoods =15+30+36+30+15=126. …
- 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-2025-05-23-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 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 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.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∩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∩Q) from either conditional. Once P(P),P(Q),P(P∩Q) are all known, De Morgan's law converts "neither event" into the complement of the union.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: P(P)=41, P(P∣Q)=21, P(Q∣P)=31.
- P(P∩Q)=P(Q∣P)⋅P(P)=31×41=121.
- Also P(P∩Q)=P(P∣Q)⋅P(Q)⇒121=21⋅P(Q)⇒P(Q)=61.
- P(P∪Q)=P(P)+P(Q)−P(P∩Q)=41+61−121=123+122−121=124=31.
- By De Morgan's law, "neither P nor Q applies" is the complement of P∪Q: P(P∩Q)=1−31=32.
- P(Q)=1−P(Q)=1−61=65. …
- 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 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-FN1 markMCQQ.One ticket is selected at random from 50 tickets numbered 00,01,02,…49. The probability that sum of the digits is 10, given that product of the digits is 9 is (A) 109 (B) 41 (C) 21 (D) 252
›Reveal solutionSolution
Only two tickets (19 and 33) have digit-product 9, and only one of them (19) also has digit-sum 10, giving conditional probability 1/2.
Concept and Intuition
Conditional probability P(sum=10∣product=9) restricts attention entirely to the tickets satisfying the "given" condition (product =9), then asks what fraction of those also satisfy the target condition (sum =10).
Step-by-Step Solution
- List all two-digit combinations (d1,d2) with d1∈{0,1,2,3,4} (tens digit, since tickets run 00–49) and d2∈{0,…,9} (units digit) whose product is 9:
- d1=1,d2=9: ticket 19.
- d1=3,d2=3: ticket 33.
- No other integer pairs with d1≤4 give product 9.
- So the "product = 9" event has exactly 2 tickets: {19,33}.
- Check digit sums: 19→1+9=10 ✓; 33→3+3=6 ✗.
- Only 1 out of these 2 tickets also has digit-sum 10. …
- List all two-digit combinations (d1,d2) with d1∈{0,1,2,3,4} (tens digit, since tickets run 00–49) and d2∈{0,…,9} (units digit) whose product is 9:
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