Skip to content
Question

Q.(a) The probability that it rains today is 0.4. If it rains today, the probability that it will rain tomorrow is 0.8. If it does not rain today, the probability that it will rain tomorrow is 0.7.
P1P_1: denotes the probability that it does not rain today.
P2P_2: denotes the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, if it rains today.
P3P_3: denotes the probability that it will rain tomorrow, if it does not rain today.
P4P_4: denotes the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, if it does not rain today.

(i) Find the value of P1⋅P4−P2⋅P3P_1 \cdot P_4 - P_2 \cdot P_3. (2 Marks)
(ii) Calculate the probability of raining tomorrow. (1 Mark)
CBSESample paperShort· 3mImportance★★★★★
✓ Free question

This problem uses conditional probability and the law of total probability. The key is to correctly identify each given probability and compute the required expression P1⋅P4−P2⋅P3P_1 \cdot P_4 - P_2 \cdot P_3, which simplifies to 0.4×0.3−0.2×0.7=−0.020.4 \times 0.3 - 0.2 \times 0.7 = -0.02. The probability of rain tomorrow is 0.4×0.8+0.6×0.7=0.740.4 \times 0.8 + 0.6 \times 0.7 = 0.74.

Concept and Intuition

This is a classic two-day weather problem built on conditional probability. The idea is simple: the chance of rain tomorrow depends on whether it rains today. We are given:

  • The unconditional probability of rain today: P(rain today)=0.4P(\text{rain today}) = 0.4
  • Two conditional probabilities for tomorrow:
    • If it rains today, chance of rain tomorrow is 0.80.8
    • If it does NOT rain today, chance of rain tomorrow is 0.70.7

The problem then defines four derived probabilities (P1P_1 through P4P_4) — these are just the complements of the given events. The trick is to translate each PiP_i into standard probability notation without confusion.

Watch out

A common mistake is to mix up which probability is the complement of which. For example, P2P_2 is "probability that it will NOT rain tomorrow, if it rains today" — that is the complement of the given 0.80.8, not 0.70.7. Always read the condition carefully.

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify P1P_1

P1P_1 is the probability that it does not rain today.

Since rain today has probability 0.40.4, the complement is:

P1=1−0.4=0.6P_1 = 1 - 0.4 = 0.6

2. Identify P2P_2

P2P_2 is the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, given that it rains today.

We are told: if it rains today, rain tomorrow has probability 0.80.8. So the complement is:

P2=1−0.8=0.2P_2 = 1 - 0.8 = 0.2

3. Identify P3P_3

P3P_3 is the probability that it will rain tomorrow, given that it does not rain today.

This is directly given: 0.70.7. So:

P3=0.7P_3 = 0.7

4. Identify P4P_4

P4P_4 is the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, given that it does not rain today.

This is the complement of P3P_3:

P4=1−0.7=0.3P_4 = 1 - 0.7 = 0.3

5. Compute P1⋅P4−P2⋅P3P_1 \cdot P_4 - P_2 \cdot P_3

Substitute the values:

P1⋅P4−P2⋅P3=0.6×0.3−0.2×0.7P_1 \cdot P_4 - P_2 \cdot P_3 = 0.6 \times 0.3 - 0.2 \times 0.7

=0.18−0.14=0.04= 0.18 - 0.14 = 0.04

Tip

Notice that P1⋅P4−P2⋅P3P_1 \cdot P_4 - P_2 \cdot P_3 is actually the determinant of a 2×22 \times 2 matrix formed by the conditional probabilities and their complements. This structure appears often in problems involving two events and their complements.

6. Calculate the probability of rain tomorrow

We use the law of total probability. Rain tomorrow can happen in two mutually exclusive ways:

  • It rains today and then rains tomorrow
  • It does not rain today and then rains tomorrow

Let RtodayR_{\text{today}} and RtomorrowR_{\text{tomorrow}} denote rain events. Then:

P(Rtomorrow)=P(Rtoday)⋅P(Rtomorrow∣Rtoday)+P(not Rtoday)⋅P(Rtomorrow∣not Rtoday)P(R_{\text{tomorrow}}) = P(R_{\text{today}}) \cdot P(R_{\text{tomorrow}} \mid R_{\text{today}}) + P(\text{not } R_{\text{today}}) \cdot P(R_{\text{tomorrow}} \mid \text{not } R_{\text{today}})

=0.4×0.8+0.6×0.7= 0.4 \times 0.8 + 0.6 \times 0.7

=0.32+0.42=0.74= 0.32 + 0.42 = 0.74

Law of Total Probability

P(B)=P(A)⋅P(B∣A)+P(Ac)⋅P(B∣Ac)P(B) = P(A) \cdot P(B \mid A) + P(A^c) \cdot P(B \mid A^c)

✓Final answer

  1. The value of P1⋅P4−P2⋅P3P_1 \cdot P_4 - P_2 \cdot P_3 is 0.04\boxed{0.04}.
  2. The probability of rain tomorrow is 0.74\boxed{0.74}.

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.