Unit 6 Key Concepts & Review – Probability Distributions

Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________________

 Sec. 6.1 (7.1) – Probability Distributions

o A probability distribution is a model which shows the probabilities of all possible
outcomes of an experiment.
1
o A uniform distribution is one which all outcomes are equally likely; P ( X  x )  .
n
o The expectation or expected value for any discrete probability distribution is
E ( X )  x1 P( x1 )  x2 P( x 2 )  ...  xn P( xn ) .

 Sec. 6.2 (7.2) – Binomial Distributions

o Bernoulli trials are repeated independent trials which are measured in terms of
successes or failures.
o A binomial distribution is one which consists of Bernoulli trials; P ( X  x )  n C x p x q n  x .
o Expectation of a binomial distribution is simplified as E ( X )  np .

 Sec. 6.3 (7.3) – Geometric Distributions – Waiting Time

o A geometric distribution is one which calculates the waiting time or number of
independent trials, before a success occurs; P ( X  x)  q x p .
q
o Expectation of a geometric distribution is simplified as E ( X )  .
p
o Note that both the probability and expectation formulas will calculate the number of
trials before a success. If you do not truly understand this statement, see Mr. Pearce.

 Sec. 6.4 (7.4) – Hypergeometric Distributions

o A hypergeometric distribution is one which consists of dependent trials which are
measured in terms of successes or failures; P ( X  x ) 
 a C x  na C r  x  .
n Cr
ra
o Expectation of a hypergeometric distribution is simplified as E ( X )  .
n

o The only difference between a binomial and hypergeometric distribution is the

dependency of the trials:
 Binomial = independent trials
 Hypergeometric = dependent trials

Practice Problems
1. If you repeatedly cut a deck of cards, what is the probability that you will cut an ace in fewer
than five cuts? Assume that the bottom half of the deck is placed on the top half after each
cut.

2. Student council organized a school fund-raising draw to raise money for the purchase of a new
scoreboard. There were 500 tickets sold at $5.00 each. Two hundred of the tickets were sold
internally to members of the student body and the remainders were sold in the community at
large. If three prizes were drawn, what is the probability that
a) None of the prizes were won by students?
b) All of the prizes were won by students?
MDM 4U – Grade 12 Mathematics of Data Management – Unit 6 Review – Probability Distributions 1 of 2
 3. Orazio and his tennis partner, Marieka, win a mixed doubles tennis tournament. Their win
allows them the first selection from the prize table. However, the prizes are indistinguishable
from each other because all of the prizes are identically wrapped. There are three prizes worth
$50, two worth $25, and five worth $10. What is the expected value of the prize that Orazio
and Marieka receive?

4. Jonathan, a clever mathematics student, made up a dice game. The rules state that if the roll,
n, is a prime number then Jonathan is willing to pay the player $2 n , whereas if the roll is not a
prime, the player pays Jonathan $n 2 .
a) What is the expectation of this game?
b) Is this game fair? Explain.

5. Ryan devises an interesting finite math card game. In playing the game with Ryan, he deals
you five cards. If you are dealt one spade, you win $10; if you are dealt two spades, you win
$20; if you are dealt three spades, you win $30; if you are dealt four spades, you win $40; and
finally, if you are dealt a hand of all spades, you win $100. Ryan charges you $15 to play the
game. After hearing the rules of the game, a confident Gary decides to play.
a) Set up the probability distribution table for the outcomes of the game.
b) How much should Gary expect to win or lose when he plays the game?
c) What should the cost of playing the game be so that it is a fair game for both people?

6. Susan is a rather confident math student. Susan estimates her probability of getting an A on
any test she writes is 80%. If Susan writes ten tests during the course of the semester,
determine the following:
a) On what test would Susan expect to be her first in which she does not get an A?
b) What is the probability that Susan’s first A occurs on one of her first three tests of the
year?

7. Statistics show that 38% of the students at this years prom had never been to a prom before.
a) If Jocelyn randomly surveyed fifty students at this years prom, what is the probability
that twenty had never been to a prom before?
b) Approximately how many of the 550 students at the prom had been to a prom before?

8. If the final exam was today, 13 of the 21 students in this course would be carrying marks of
70% or higher. Assume Mr. Fister was to randomly visit our class and survey the students
regarding their marks.
a) If ten students were surveyed, what is the probability that exactly seven of these
students will have marks of 70% or higher?
b) If Mr. Fister surveys seven students, how many can he expect to have marks of 70% or
higher?

9. Statistics show that 3 out of every 4 students surveyed at schools across Ontario dislike math.
a) If a random sample of twenty students is taken, what is the probability that at least two
of these students will say that they dislike math?
b) What is the probability that the 1st student who says they like math is the 3rd student
surveyed?

10. Forty of the departing fifty grade 12 students plan on entering university next year for their post
secondary school education. If ten grade 12 students are given scholarships, what is the
probability that four of these awards will be given to students not planning on attending
university?

11. Erica and Grace like to play crazy eights. If Erica deals Grace eight cards, how many spades
should Grace expect to be dealt?
MDM 4U – Grade 12 Mathematics of Data Management – Unit 6 Review – Probability Distributions 2 of 2