Q.If P(A∣B)>P(A), then which of the following is correct : (A) P(B∣A)<P(B) (B) P(A∩B)<P(A)⋅P(B) (C) P(B∣A)>P(B) (D) P(B∣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). …
Concept: Conditional Probability — the condition P(A∣B)>P(A) means that knowing B has occurred makes A more likely. This implies a positive association between A and B.
Step 1: Write the definition of conditional probability:
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B)>P(A)
Step 2: Multiply both sides by P(B):
P(A∩B)>P(A)⋅P(B)
This eliminates option (B) immediately. …
The condition P(A∣B)>P(A) means A is more likely when B occurs — this implies B is also more likely when A occurs, so P(B∣A)>P(B). The correct option is (C).
Why this works: the logic of conditional probability
Conditional probability tells us how the chance of one event changes when we know another event has happened. The statement P(A∣B)>P(A) says: knowing B makes A more probable. That’s a statement about a positive association between A and B.
The key insight: if A is more likely in the presence of B, then B must also be more likely in the presence of A. This symmetry is built into the definition of conditional probability — it’s not an assumption, it’s a mathematical consequence.
Let’s see why.
Step-by-step reasoning
1. Write the given condition in terms of the intersection.
By definition:
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B)
The condition P(A∣B)>P(A) becomes:
P(B)P(A∩B)>P(A)
2. Multiply both sides by P(B) (which is positive).
P(A∩B)>P(A)⋅P(B)
This is a clean, useful form: the joint probability exceeds the product of the marginals. That’s the mathematical signature of a positive association.
A common mistake is to reverse the inequality when multiplying — but P(B)>0 always (since conditional probability is defined only when P(B)>0), so the direction stays the same.
3. Now examine P(B∣A).
By definition:
P(B∣A)=P(A)P(A∩B)
We already know P(A∩B)>P(A)⋅P(B). Substitute this into the numerator:
P(B∣A)>P(A)P(A)⋅P(B) …
Method: Turning a conditional-probability inequality into the joint form
Use this whenever a question states an inequality between a conditional probability and a plain probability (e.g. P(A∣B)>P(A)) and asks what else must be true.
Steps
Step 1: Replace every conditional probability by its definition.
Never reason about P(A∣B) directly — rewrite it using
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B).
This converts the statement into one about the joint probability P(A∩B).
Step 2: Clear the denominator to reach the symmetric form.
Because a conditional probability is only defined when P(B)>0, you may multiply through by P(B) without flipping the inequality. The given inequality becomes a statement comparing P(A∩B) with the product P(A)P(B). This form is symmetric in A and B. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Assuming P(A∣B) and P(B∣A) move in opposite directions.
Why it's wrong: they are linked symmetrically through P(A∩B), so if B makes A more likely, then A makes B more likely too. Correct approach: reduce both conditionals to the joint form P(A∩B) vs P(A)P(B) and you will see they agree, giving option (C), not (A).
Mistake 2: Reading P(A∣B)>P(A) as P(A∩B)<P(A)P(B). …
Showing the 12 most recent of 45 on this concept.
- KCET 2025Set A-11 markMCQQ.If A and B are two events such that A⊂B and P(B)=0, then which of the following is correct? (A) P(A∣B)=P(A)P(B) (B) P(A∣B)<P(A) (C) P(A∣B)≥P(A) (D) P(A)=P(B)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use A⊂B⇒A∩B=A, then note that dividing P(A) by P(B)≤1 cannot make it smaller.
Step 1 — Simplify the intersection.
If every element of A lies in B, then A∩B=A. Hence
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B)=P(B)P(A).
Step 2 — Compare with P(A).
Every probability satisfies 0<P(B)≤1 (we are told P(B)=0). Therefore P(B)1≥1, and multiplying the non-negative number P(A) by a factor ≥1 gives
P(A∣B)=P(A)⋅P(B)1≥P(A).
Equality holds exactly when P(B)=1 (or when P(A)=0).
Intuition: conditioning on B throws away all outcomes outside B — but none of A lies outside B. So A's share of the shrunken sample space can only grow.
Step 3 — Eliminate. …
- KCET 2025Set A-11 markMCQQ.If A and B are two non-mutually exclusive 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)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write both conditional probabilities with the same numerator P(A∩B), cancel it (legal because the events are not mutually exclusive), and the denominators must be equal.
Step 1 — Definition of conditional probability.
P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B),P(B∣A)=P(A)P(B∩A).
Note A∩B=B∩A, so the two fractions share the same numerator.
Step 2 — Impose the given condition.
P(B)P(A∩B)=P(A)P(A∩B).
Step 3 — Cancel — and see why we are allowed to.
The events are non-mutually-exclusive, i.e. A∩B=ϕ and P(A∩B)=0. (This hypothesis is exactly what makes the cancellation valid — if P(A∩B) were 0, both sides would be 0 for any P(A),P(B) and nothing would follow.) Dividing both sides by P(A∩B):
P(B)1=P(A)1⟹P(A)=P(B).
Step 4 — Why the other options are not forced. …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-A1 markMCQQ.If for two events A and B,P(A−B)=51 and P(A)=53 then P(B/A)= (A) 32 (B) 21 (C) 53 (D) 52
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key is to interpret P(A−B) as P(A∩Bc) and use the definition of conditional probability. The result is P(B/A)=32, so option (A) is correct.
We are asked for P(B/A), the probability of B given A. The definition is
P(B/A)=P(A)P(A∩B).
We know P(A)=53, so we need P(A∩B). The given P(A−B)=51 is the key: A−B means “A and not B,” i.e., A∩Bc.
- Relate P(A−B) to P(A∩B) Since A is the union of the disjoint parts “A and B” and “A and not B,” we have
P(A)=P(A∩B)+P(A∩Bc).
Here P(A∩Bc)=P(A−B)=51 and P(A)=53.
- Solve for P(A∩B)
53=P(A∩B)+51⇒P(A∩B)=53−51=52.
- Apply the conditional probability formula P(B/A)=P(A)P(A∩B)=3/52/5=32. …
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.If A and B are two events such that P(A)=31, P(B)=21 and P(A∩B)=61, then P(A′/B) is (A) 32 (B) 31 (C) 21 (D) 121
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use P(A′∣B)=1−P(A∣B) (equivalently P(B)P(B)−P(A∩B)), which gives 32.
Step 1 — The definition of conditional probability.
For P(B)>0,
P(A′∣B)=P(B)P(A′∩B)
Conditioning on B means we restrict the sample space to B and ask what fraction of B lies outside A.
Step 2 — Split B into the part inside A and the part outside A.
The events A∩B and A′∩B are disjoint and their union is exactly B:
P(B)=P(A∩B)+P(A′∩B)
⇒P(A′∩B)=P(B)−P(A∩B)=21−61=63−1=62=31
Step 3 — Divide by P(B).
P(A′∣B)=P(B)P(A′∩B)=2131=31×12=32
Step 4 — Cross-check with the complement rule. …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-E1 markMCQQ.Let A and B be two events such that P(A/B)=21 and P(B/A)=31 and P(A∩B)=61 then, which one of the following is not true? (A) A and B are not independent (B) P(A∪B)=32 (C) P(A′∩B)=61 (D) A and B are independent
›Reveal solutionSolution
P(A)=21, P(B)=31, and P(A)P(B)=61=P(A∩B), so A,B ARE independent; the false statement is that they are not independent.
From P(A∩B)=P(A∣B)P(B):
61=21P(B)⟹P(B)=31
From P(A∩B)=P(B∣A)P(A):
61=31P(A)⟹P(A)=21
Independence test:
P(A)P(B)=21⋅31=61=P(A∩B)
So A and B are independent. Checking the other options:
P(A∪B)=21+31−61=32(B true) …
- KCET 2021Set A-11 markMCQQ.Given that A and B are two events such that P(B)=53, P(A/B)=21 and P(A∪B)=54, then P(A)= (A) 103 (B) 21 (C) 51 (D) 53
›Reveal solutionSolution
Turn the conditional probability into P(A∩B), then substitute into the addition theorem and solve for P(A).
Step 1 — Extract P(A∩B) from the conditional probability.
By definition,
P(A/B)=P(B)P(A∩B)(P(B)=0).
Rearranging (the multiplication theorem):
P(A∩B)=P(A/B)⋅P(B)=21×53=103.
This is the key move — the conditional probability is not directly usable in the union formula, but P(A∩B) is.
Step 2 — Apply the addition theorem.
P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B).
The intersection is subtracted because the elements common to A and B would otherwise be counted twice.
Step 3 — Substitute the known values.
54=P(A)+53−103.
Step 4 — Solve for P(A). …
- KCET 2022Set C-41 markMCQQ.If A and B are two events such that P(A)=21, P(B)=31 and P(A∣B)=41, then P(A′∩B′) is (A) 3/16 (B) 1/12 (C) 3/4 (D) 1/4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Get P(A∩B) from the conditional probability, use the addition rule for P(A∪B), then apply De Morgan: P(A′∩B′)=1−P(A∪B).
Step 1 — Recover the joint probability from the conditional.
Conditional probability is defined by P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B) — it re-scales the probability of A to the reduced sample space B. Rearranging gives the multiplication rule:
P(A∩B)=P(A∣B)P(B)=41×31=121.
Step 2 — Addition rule for the union.
P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B)=21+31−121.
Taking LCM 12: …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.If A and B are two events such that P(Aˉ)=0.3,P(B)=0.4,P(A∩Bˉ)=0.5, then find the value of P(B/A∪Bˉ) (A) 0.33 (B) 0.7 (C) 0.8 (D) 0.25
›Reveal solutionSolution
The problem asks for a conditional probability P(B∣A∪Bˉ). Using the definition of conditional probability and the given probabilities, we compute P(B∩(A∪Bˉ)) and P(A∪Bˉ), then divide. The final value is 0.25, so the correct option is (D).
We are given:
- P(Aˉ)=0.3, so P(A)=1−0.3=0.7.
- P(B)=0.4.
- P(A∩Bˉ)=0.5.
We need P(B∣A∪Bˉ), which is the probability that B occurs given that A or Bˉ (or both) occurs.
Concept and intuition:
Conditional probability P(X∣Y)=P(Y)P(X∩Y). Here X=B and Y=A∪Bˉ. So we need the probability that both B and (A∪Bˉ) happen, divided by the probability that A∪Bˉ happens. The key is to simplify the intersection B∩(A∪Bˉ) using set algebra — it often collapses to something simpler.
-
Simplify the numerator P(B∩(A∪Bˉ))
Using the distributive law:
B∩(A∪Bˉ)=(B∩A)∪(B∩Bˉ)
But B∩Bˉ=∅, so this is just B∩A.
Hence P(B∩(A∪Bˉ))=P(A∩B).
-
Find P(A∩B)
We know P(A)=0.7 and P(A∩Bˉ)=0.5.
Since A=(A∩B)∪(A∩Bˉ) and these are disjoint,
P(A)=P(A∩B)+P(A∩Bˉ)
⇒0.7=P(A∩B)+0.5
⇒P(A∩B)=0.2.
-
Find the denominator P(A∪Bˉ)
Use the inclusion-exclusion principle: …
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-E1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] If P(B)=53P(A/B)=21 and P(A∪B)=54 then P(A∪B)′+P(A′∪B)=
(A) 54 (B) 21 (C) 1 (D) 51›Reveal solutionSolution
Step 5: sum = 1/5 + 4/5 = 1.
Concept: conditional probability, addition theorem, complements, De Morgan.
Given P(B) = 3/5, P(A|B) = 1/2, P(A U B) = 4/5.
Step 1: P(A ^ B) = P(A|B) P(B) = (1/2)(3/5) = 3/10.
Step 2: from P(A U B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A ^ B),
P(A) = 4/5 - 3/5 + 3/10 = 1/5 + 3/10 = 1/2.
Step 3: P((A U B)') = 1 - P(A U B) = 1 - 4/5 = 1/5. …
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.Events E1 and E2 form a partition of the sample space S. A is any event such that P(E1)=P(E2)=21, P(E2/A)=21 and P(A/E2)=32, then P(E1/A) is (A) 21 (B) 32 (C) 1 (D) 41
›Reveal solutionSolution
A partition's posterior probabilities must add to 1, so P(E1∣A)=1−P(E2∣A)=1−21=21.
Step 1 — What "partition of the sample space" means.
E1 and E2 form a partition of S if they are mutually exclusive (E1∩E2=∅) and exhaustive (E1∪E2=S), with non-zero probabilities. So exactly one of them must occur.
Step 2 — Conditioning preserves the partition.
Conditioning on an event A (with P(A)>0) just renormalises probabilities inside A; it does not destroy the partition. Formally,
A=(A∩E1)∪(A∩E2),(A∩E1)∩(A∩E2)=∅
Dividing by P(A):
P(A)P(A∩E1)+P(A)P(A∩E2)=P(A)P(A)=1
which is precisely
P(E1∣A)+P(E2∣A)=1
The posterior probabilities of a partition must still sum to 1 — a fact worth remembering, since it turns many Bayes questions into a one-line subtraction.
Step 3 — Substitute the given value.
P(E1∣A)=1−P(E2∣A)=1−21=21 …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.P and Q are considering to apply for a job. The probability that P applies for the job is 41. The probability that P applies for the job given that Q applies for the job is 21, and the probability that Q applies for the job given that P applies for the job is 31. Then the probability that P does not apply for the job given that Q does not apply for the job is (A) 54 (B) 87 (C) 65 (D) 1211
›Reveal solutionSolution
We are given conditional probabilities and need to find P(P∣Q). Using the definitions of conditional probability and the law of total probability, we compute P(Q) and P(Q), then apply Bayes' theorem to get 54, which corresponds to option (A).
Concept and intuition:
This is a classic problem of working backwards from conditional probabilities to find a joint probability table. We know P(P), P(P∣Q), and P(Q∣P). From these, we can find P(P∩Q) in two ways, which lets us solve for P(Q). Then we can compute the desired conditional probability P(P∣Q) using the complement rule and the definition of conditional probability.
Step-by-step solution:
- Write down what is given. Let P = event that P applies, Q = event that Q applies. We have:
P(P)=41,P(P∣Q)=21,P(Q∣P)=31.
- Use the definition of conditional probability to express P(P∩Q) in two ways. From P(P∣Q)=P(Q)P(P∩Q), we get
P(P∩Q)=P(P∣Q)⋅P(Q)=21P(Q).
From P(Q∣P)=P(P)P(P∩Q), we get
P(P∩Q)=P(Q∣P)⋅P(P)=31⋅41=121.
- Equate the two expressions for P(P∩Q) to find P(Q).
21P(Q)=121⇒P(Q)=61.
- Find P(Q) and P(P∩Q).
P(Q)=1−P(Q)=1−61=65.
Also, P(P∩Q)=P(P)−P(P∩Q)=41−121=123−121=122=61.
- Find P(P∩Q). Since P∩Q is the complement of P∪Q, we can use:
P(P∩Q)=1−P(P∪Q).
First, P(P∪Q)=P(P)+P(Q)−P(P∩Q)=41+61−121. …
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.A student answers a multiple choice question with 5 alternatives, of which exactly one is correct. The probability that he knows the correct answer is p,0<p<1. If he knows the answer, he answers it correctly; if he does not know the answer, he guesses it, and the probability that he guesses correctly is 51. Given that he has answered the question correctly, the probability that he knew the correct answer is (A) 4p+33p (B) 3p+25p (C) 4p+15p (D) 3p+14p
›Reveal solutionSolution
By Bayes: P(K | correct) = P(K) P(correct | K) / P(correct) = p / [ (4p + 1)/5 ] = 5p/(4p + 1).
Concept: Bayes' theorem. (The stem is truncated, but this is the standard question: given that he answered correctly, find the probability that he actually knew the answer.)
Let K = he knows the answer, P(K) = p, so P(not K) = 1 - p.
If he knows it, he is certainly correct: P(correct | K) = 1.
If he does not know it, he guesses among 5 alternatives: P(correct | not K) = 1/5. …
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