Skip to content
Worked Examples · Example 3

Q.A card is drawn from a well-shuffled pack of 52 playing cards. Find the probability that the card drawn is a king or a heart.

Gujarat GsebTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
20% · 9/44 Questions
✓ Free question

Step 1 — Find each individual probability. There are 4 kings in the pack, so P(king)=452P(\text{king})=\dfrac{4}{52}. There are 13 hearts, so P(heart)=1352P(\text{heart})=\dfrac{13}{52}.

Step 2 — Find the overlap. Exactly ONE card is both a king and a heart — the king of hearts — so P(king∩heart)=152P(\text{king}\cap\text{heart})=\dfrac{1}{52}.

Step 3 — Apply the general Addition Theorem.

P(king∪heart)=452+1352−152=1652=413P(\text{king}\cup\text{heart})=\dfrac{4}{52}+\dfrac{13}{52}-\dfrac{1}{52}=\dfrac{16}{52}=\dfrac{4}{13}

Dual-check (direct-counting route): count the favourable cards directly without the formula — 4 kings, plus 13 hearts, minus the 1 card (king of hearts) counted in both groups, gives 4+13−1=164+13-1=16 distinct favourable cards out of 52, so P=1652=413P=\dfrac{16}{52}=\dfrac{4}{13} — the same answer reached by simply listing instead of applying the formula.

✓Final answer

P(king or heart) =1652=413=\dfrac{16}{52}=\dfrac{4}{13}.

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.