CurriculumGrade 12Mathematics

Conditional Probability

Aligned to S-CP.A.3 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

What this lesson teaches

The conditional probability P(A given B) = P(A and B) / P(B) is the chance of A once B is known to have occurred. If P(A given B) = P(A), then A and B are independent.

Worked example

In a class, P(plays a sport and plays music) = 0.2 and P(plays music) = 0.5. Then P(plays a sport given plays music) = 0.2 / 0.5 = 0.4.

Practice questions

  1. Write the formula for P(A given B).
  2. If P(A and B) = 0.15 and P(B) = 0.3, find P(A given B).
  3. If P(A given B) = P(A), what does that tell you about the two events?

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Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Probabilidad condicional

La probabilidad condicional P(A dado B) = P(A y B) / P(B) es la probabilidad de A una vez que se sabe que B ocurrió. Si P(A dado B) = P(A), entonces A y B son independientes.

Ejemplo: En una clase, P(practica un deporte y toca música) = 0.2 y P(toca música) = 0.5. Entonces P(practica un deporte dado que toca música) = 0.2 / 0.5 = 0.4.

More Statistics & Probability lessons

Making Inferences from SamplesS-IC.B.4Normal Distributions and the Empirical RuleS-ID.A.4Making Inferences from SamplesS-IC.A.1Surveys, Experiments, and Observational StudiesS-IC.B.3Comparing Two TreatmentsS-IC.B.5Events, Unions, and ComplementsS-CP.A.1

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