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Class 8 Maths — Chance and probability

Say how likely an event is, and write its probability as a fraction.

Name: ________________________

Before you start

Every chance there is sits somewhere on this line, from impossible at one end to certain at the other. Move along it.

0.00.51.0

0.5 in the middle is an even chance — as likely to happen as not. To the left of it things are unlikely and to the right they are likely, and nothing at all lives past the two ends.

  1. 1.Sort each event by how likely it is.

    Groups: Impossible · Possible but not certain · Certain

    • Rolling a number below 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6
    • Drawing a red ball from a bag of only red balls
    • Drawing a blue ball from a bag of only red balls
    • Rolling a 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6
    • Tossing a fair coin and getting a tail
    • Rolling an even number on a die numbered 1 to 6

  2. 2.Put these events in order, least likely first.

    • Rolling a number above 4 on a die numbered 1 to 6
    • Rolling a 5 on a die numbered 1 to 6
    • Tossing a fair coin and getting a head
    • Rolling a number below 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6
    • Rolling a 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6

  3. 3.A spinner has 8 equal sections numbered 1 to 8. What is the probability of landing on a number greater than 5? Write your answer as a fraction.

  4. 4.A fair die numbered 1 to 6 is rolled. What is the probability of getting an even number? Write your answer as a fraction.

  5. 5.A fair die numbered 1 to 6 is rolled. Match each event to its probability.

    • Rolling a 3
    • Rolling an odd number
    • Rolling a number above 4
    • Rolling a number below 7
    • Rolling a 9
    • 1/6
    • 1
    • 1/2
    • 0
    • 1/3

  6. 6.A fair die numbered 1 to 6 is rolled. Which of these is impossible?

    • a) Getting a 6
    • b) Getting a number less than 3
    • c) Getting a 7
    • d) Getting an odd number

  7. 7.A box holds 4 green, 6 yellow and 10 white counters. One is drawn without looking. What is the probability that it is yellow? Write your answer as a fraction.

  8. 8.A fair die numbered 1 to 6 is rolled. What is the probability of getting a 4? Write your answer as a fraction.

Answer key — Class 8 Maths — Chance and probability

  1. 1. Rolling a 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6 → Impossible; Tossing a fair coin and getting a tail → Possible but not certain; Rolling a number below 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6 → Certain; Drawing a red ball from a bag of only red balls → Certain; Drawing a blue ball from a bag of only red balls → Impossible; Rolling an even number on a die numbered 1 to 6 → Possible but not certain
  2. 2. 1. Rolling a 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6 2. Rolling a 5 on a die numbered 1 to 6 3. Rolling a number above 4 on a die numbered 1 to 6 4. Tossing a fair coin and getting a head 5. Rolling a number below 7 on a die numbered 1 to 6
  3. 3. 3/8
  4. 4. 1/2
  5. 5. Rolling a 3 → 1/6; Rolling an odd number → 1/2; Rolling a number above 4 → 1/3; Rolling a number below 7 → 1; Rolling a 9 → 0
  6. 6. c) Getting a 7
  7. 7. 3/10
  8. 8. 1/6