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Problem Solving And Data Analysis · Probability

SAT Probability Practice Questions (Free + Explanations) | Quiz 8

Question 12345 of 5

Question 1 of 5

A game uses a bag containing 4 red tiles, 3 blue tiles, and 2 green tiles. Two tiles are drawn at random without replacement. The probability that the two tiles are different colors can be written in the form , where is a constant. What is the value of ?

Explanation

The expression represents the probability that both drawn tiles are the same color, because:
- counts ways to draw 2 red tiles,
- counts ways to draw 2 blue tiles,
- counts ways to draw 2 green tiles,
- and counts all possible ways to draw 2 tiles from 9.

The event "two tiles are different colors" is the complement of "two tiles are the same color." Therefore,

Comparing this with

shows that .

So the correct answer is .

Concept summary

For two complementary events, the probability of one event equals 1 minus the probability of the other. Combination expressions often represent probabilities by counting favorable outcomes over total outcomes.

Question 2 of 5

A laboratory tested a screening method on 1,000 water samples from two regions. The table shows the results.

One sample is selected at random from the 1,000 samples. Given that the selected sample either came from Region A or is contaminated, what is the probability that it came from Region A and is not contaminated?

Explanation

Let be the event that a sample came from Region A or is contaminated. The question asks for

First, count the samples in the numerator: Region A and not contaminated = .

Next, count the samples in the given condition .
- Region A total:
- Contaminated total:
- Region A and contaminated:

Because samples that are both in Region A and contaminated were counted twice, use inclusion-exclusion:

So the conditional probability is

Therefore, the correct answer is .

Concept summary

For conditional probability, divide the number of outcomes satisfying both the target event and the given condition by the total number satisfying the given condition. When the condition is an "or" event, use inclusion-exclusion to count it correctly.

Question 3 of 5

A bag contains only red, blue, and green tiles. One tile is chosen at random from the bag. The probability of choosing a red tile is 3 times the probability of choosing a blue tile, and the probability of choosing a green tile is 6 times the probability of choosing a blue tile. If 8 more green tiles are added to the bag, the probability of choosing a green tile becomes . Which statement must be true?

Explanation

Let the number of blue tiles originally be . Since probability is proportional to the number of tiles, the number of red tiles is and the number of green tiles is . The original total is therefore . After 8 green tiles are added, the number of green tiles becomes , and the new total becomes . We are told that the new probability of green is , so

Cross-multiply:

So the bag originally had 4 blue tiles, 12 red tiles, and 24 green tiles. Therefore the statement that must be true is that the bag contained 4 blue tiles before the 8 green tiles were added.

Concept summary

When probabilities are based on selecting from a bag, the probability ratios match the ratios of the item counts. Use those relationships to write expressions for each category, then build and solve an equation from the updated probability.

Question 4 of 5

A company tests a machine by selecting one of its parts at random from a shipment. Historically, of the parts in shipments from Supplier A are defective, and of the parts in shipments from Supplier B are defective. On a certain day, of the parts in the warehouse came from Supplier A and the rest came from Supplier B. If a randomly selected part is found to be defective, what is the probability that it came from Supplier B?

Explanation

Use conditional probability. First find the probability that a randomly selected part is defective:

Given , , , and ,

Now find the probability that a part came from Supplier B given that it is defective:

So the probability is approximately .

Concept summary

For conditional probability in a mixed population, first find the overall probability of the given condition using a weighted sum, then divide the relevant joint probability by that total.

Question 5 of 5

A bag contains 5 red marbles and 7 blue marbles. Two marbles are drawn at random without replacement. Which expression is equivalent to the probability that the two marbles are different colors?

Explanation

To get two marbles of different colors, there are two possible orders: red then blue, or blue then red.

The probability of drawing a red marble first and then a blue marble is

The probability of drawing a blue marble first and then a red marble is

These two probabilities are equal, so the total probability is

Therefore, the equivalent expression is .

Concept summary

For probability without replacement, multiply probabilities along each valid sequence, then add the sequences that satisfy the condition.

Your results

0of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

500-550

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

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Your results

1of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

500-550

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

2of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

600-650

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

3of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

600-650

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

4of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

700+

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

5of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

700+

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice