GRE Subject Test: Math : Probability

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Probability & Statistics

A student has 14 piece of gum, 3 are spearmint, 5 are peppermint, and the rest are cinnamon. If one piece of gum is chosen at random, which of the following is NOT true.

Possible Answers:

The probability of picking a spearmint is .

The probability of picking a cinnamon is .

The probability of picking a spearmint or a cinnamon is .

The probability of picking a cinnamon or a peppermint is .

The probability of not picking a cinnamon is .

Correct answer:

The probability of picking a spearmint or a cinnamon is .

Explanation:

The probability of picking a spearmint or a cinnamon is the addition of probability of picking a spearmint and the probability of picking a cinnamon

 not 

Example Question #1 : Probability & Statistics

If I toss a coin 3 times, how many times will I roll at least one head?

Possible Answers:

None of the Above

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: We need to find out how many outcomes there will be.
If we roll a coin three times, there are  outcomes.
If we roll a coin  times, there will be  outcomes.

Step 2: Find all the outcomes.

The outcomes here are: HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, and TTT.

Step 3: In the list of outcomes, count how many times the letter H appears at least once.

The letter "H" appears in HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, and TTH.

The letter "H" appears in  of the  outcomes.

The probability of getting at least one H in the outcomes in Step 2 is .


Example Question #2 : Probability & Statistics

How many different combinations can i have when flipping a coin three times?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: Let's answer a smaller problem. How many ways can I toss one coin?

There are two ways, either I get Heads or Tails.

Step 2: How about two coins?

There are four ways... They are, HH, HT, TH, and TT

Step 3: How many different combinations for three coins?
Let's List them:
HHH, HHT, HTH, THH, TTT, THT, TTH, HTT

There are  different combinations.

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