BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Probability problem

Expert replies
by mjjking » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:10 am
Hi folks,

one problem for you. How do you solve this?

Event A: probability 2/3
Event B: Probability 2/3
Event C: Probability 2/3
Event D: Probability 1/3

What is the probability that none of the events listed above occur?
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
Enter a top MBA program - 2nd priority
Loving my wife: MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!

REAL THING 1 (AUG 2007): 680 (Q43, V40)
REAL THING 2 (APR 2009): 720 (Q47, V41)
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:29 pm
mjjking wrote:Hi folks,

one problem for you. How do you solve this?

Event A: probability 2/3
Event B: Probability 2/3
Event C: Probability 2/3
Event D: Probability 1/3

What is the probability that none of the events listed above occur?
To solve this, we need more information. Let me rephrase the question that I think you meant to ask:

If the chart above shows the probability of independent events A, B, C and D occuring, what's the probability that none of the 4 events occurs?

If we want to know the probability of MULTIPLE independent events occuring (or not occuring), we MULTIPLY the individual probabilties.

Let's start by calculating the probability of each event NOT occuring using the handy "1 minus" formula:

Prob (event occuring) + Prob (event not occuring) = 1

or

1 - Prob (event occuring) = Prob (event not occuring)

So, the probability of each event NOT occuring:

Event A: 1 - 2/3 = 1/3
Event B: 1 - 2/3 = 1/3
Event C: 1 - 2/3 = 1/3
Event D: 1 - 1/3 = 2/3

And the probability of ALL 4 events NOT occuring is:

1/3 * 1/3 * 1/3 * 2/3 = 2/81
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course
Join the discussion