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Probabilities of exhaustive events sum to one worksheet — GCSE Foundation

Fifteen questions on "probabilities of exhaustive events sum to one" — DfE statement P4. Print it, or print three versions so neighbours cannot copy by letter; the key gives the letter for each version.

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Probabilities of exhaustive events sum to one worksheet — GCSE Foundation

Maths · GCSE Foundation · P4 · Probabilities of exhaustive events sum to one · 15 questions

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1.A spinner can land on red, blue, green or yellow, and it cannot land on more than one colour. The probability that it lands on red is 0.05 and the probability that it lands on yellow is 0.35. The probability that it lands on blue is twice the probability that it lands on green. Work out the probability that it lands on green.
(a)0.4
(b)0.6
(c)0.2
(d)0.3
2.A spinner lands on red, on blue or on green, and it cannot land on more than one colour at a time. The probability that it lands on red is 0.3 and the probability that it lands on blue is 0.5. Work out the probability that it lands on red or on blue.
(a)0.8
(b)0.2
(c)0.15
(d)0.4
3.In a game, Freddie says the probability of winning is 0.45, the probability of drawing is 0.3 and the probability of losing is 0.35, and that all three of his probabilities are correct. Which statement about Freddie's probabilities is correct?
(a)No — the three probabilities sum to 1.10, over 1.
(b)Yes — each probability lies between 0 and 1.
(c)Yes — the three outcomes are mutually exclusive.
(d)Yes — winning has the highest single probability.
4.The probability that the Hughes family go away during the summer holidays is 3/7. Work out the probability that they do not go away during the summer holidays.
(a)4/7
(b)1/7
(c)3/7
(d)1/2
5.The probability that Priya's dentist appointment overruns is 0.35. Work out the probability that it does not overrun.
(a)1.35
(b)0.35
(c)0.65
(d)0.75
6.The probability that a plant grown from a seed packet germinates is 7/10. Work out the probability that it does not germinate.
(a)3/10
(b)10/3
(c)7/10
(d)3/7
7.The probability that a machine completes a task successfully is 0.85. Work out the probability that the machine does not complete the task successfully.
(a)0.85
(b)0.15
(c)0.25
(d)0.5
8.At a tombola stall, each ticket wins a toy, wins a sweet or wins nothing, and no ticket can win more than one of these. The probability that a ticket wins a toy is 0.15 and the probability that it wins a sweet is 0.4. Work out the probability that a ticket wins neither a toy nor a sweet.
(a)0.55
(b)0.45
(c)0.6
(d)0.85
9.A card is taken at random from an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. The probability that the card is a diamond is 1/4. Work out the probability that the card is not a diamond.
(a)1/2
(b)3/4
(c)1/4
(d)3/52
10.A card is taken at random from an ordinary pack of 52 playing cards. The pack contains 4 aces and 4 kings. Work out the probability that the card is an ace or a king.
(a)16/52
(b)8/52
(c)4/52
(d)1/52
11.At a quiz night, each team's result is a win, a draw or a loss, and no team can have more than one of these results. The probability that a team wins is 42% and the probability that a team draws is 18.5%. Work out the probability, as a percentage, that a team does not win and does not draw.
(a)58.0%
(b)60.5%
(c)39.5%
(d)81.5%
12.At a coffee shop, each customer buys tea, coffee, water or juice, and never more than one of these. The probability that a customer buys tea is 0.36 and the probability that they buy juice is 0.04. The probability that a customer buys coffee is three times the probability that they buy water. Work out the probability that a customer buys water.
(a)0.15
(b)0.30
(c)0.60
(d)0.45
13.A box contains counters that are silver, bronze or copper only. The probability that a counter taken at random is silver is 1/2 and the probability that it is bronze is 1/8. The box contains 64 counters in total. Work out the number of copper counters.
(a)8
(b)40
(c)24
(d)32
14.A spinner lands on one of four colours: amber, black, cyan or damson. The probability it lands on amber is 0.18, on black is 0.22 and on cyan is 0.24. Work out the probability that it lands on amber or damson.
(a)0.54
(b)0.36
(c)0.82
(d)0.64
15.The probability that it rains in Manchester tomorrow is 1/12. Work out the probability that it does not rain in Manchester tomorrow.
(a)11/11
(b)11/12
(c)1/11
(d)1/12

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