Questions

STD 1: Statistical Analysis (Std 1), S2 Relative Frequency

and Probability (Y11) 1. Probability, 2UG 2011 HSC 5 MC
Combinations and Single Stage Events The letters A, B and C are used to make a three-letter company name. Each letter is used
only once.
(Std 1)
How many different company names can be made?
Teacher: Kirtana Hariharan
(A)
Exam Equivalent Time: 54 minutes (based on HSC allocation of 1.5 minutes approx. per mark)
(B)
(C)
(D)

2. Probability, 2UG 2005 HSC 11 MC

The diagram shows a spinner.

IMPORTANT FEATURES AND TIPS FROM 2UG EXAM HISTORY

MS-S2 Relative Frequency and Probability was a major contributor to the old Gen2 course,
contributing an average of 9.5% per exam over the past decade (note past allocations are no
guarantee of future contributions but can nonetheless cast light on a topic's likely
importance).
The arrow is spun and will stop in one of the six sections.
This analysis looks at the sub-topics of Combinations and Single-Stage Events (2.4%).
What is the probability that the arrow will stop in a section containing a number greater
than ?
ANALYSIS - What to Expect and Common pitfalls
(A)
Combinations have been examined at least once every year in the Gen2 exam, often
involving questions on number plates, PINs, ice-cream flavours, etc...
(B)
This topic area is typically poorly answered, with sub-50% mean marks common.
Unordered selection questions that require factorial notation to solve are regarded as (C)
beyond the scope of Standard 1 and the database reflects this.
With mean marks regularly below 50% in past Gen2 exams, this sub-topic is at the very high
(D)
difficulty end of possible Standard 1 content.
Single-Stage events are a simpler version of the much more common multi-stage event
probability.
3. Probability, 2UG 2014 HSC 6 MC 6. Probability, 2UG 2008 HSC 16 MC
A cafe menu has 3 entrees, 5 main courses and 2 desserts. Ariana is choosing a three- A bag contains some marbles. The probability of selecting a blue marble at random from this
course meal consisting of an entree, a main course and a dessert.
bag is .
How many different three-course meals can Ariana choose?
Which of the following could describe the marbles that are in the bag?
(A)
(A) blue, red
(B)
(B) blue, red
(C)
(C) blue, red, green
(D)
(D) blue, red, green

4. Probability, 2UG 2016 HSC 6 MC

7. Probability, 2UG 2010 HSC 8 MC
 RAP Data - Bottom 15%: School result (92%) was 3% above state average (89%)
 RAP Data - Bottom 12%: School result (55%) was 2% above state average (53%)
Ben has 6 shirts, 4 ties and 2 jackets.
A bag contains red, green, yellow and blue balls.
How many different outfits of a shirt, a tie and a jacket can he choose?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

5. Probability, 2UG 2013 HSC 1 MC

Which of the following events would be LEAST likely to occur?
(A) Tossing a fair coin and obtaining a head
(B) Rolling a standard six-sided die and obtaining a 3
(C) Randomly selecting the letter 'G' from the 26 letters of the alphabet
The table shows the probability of choosing a red, green, or blue ball from the bag.
(D) Winning first prize in a raffle of 100 tickets in which you have 4 tickets
If there are 12 yellow balls in the bag, how many balls are in the bag altogether
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
8. Probability, 2UG 2008 HSC 18 MC 11. Probability, 2UG 2005 HSC 20 MC
New car registration plates contain two letters followed by two numerals followed by two Dave’s school has computer security codes made up of four digits (eg 0773). Juanita’s
more letters eg AC 12 DC. Letters and numerals may be repeated. school has computer security codes made up of five digits (eg 30568).
Which of the following expressions gives the correct number of car registration plates that How many more codes are available at Juanita’s school than at Dave’s school?
begin with the letter M?
(A)
(A) (B)
(B) (C)
(C) (D)
(D)
12. Probability, 2UG 2010 HSC 23c
9. Probability, 2UG 2015 HSC 21 MC
 Part i: RAP Data - Bottom 11%: School result (96%) was 2% above state average (94%)
Four cards, labelled 2, 3, 5 and 7, are placed on a table to form a four‑digit number.
On Saturday, Jonty recorded the colour of T-shirts worn by the people at his gym. The results
How many different numbers greater than 3000 can be formed? are shown in the graph.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

10. Probability, 2UG 2017 HSC 15 MC

The faces on a twenty-sided die are labelled $0.05, $0.10, $0.15, … , $1.00.
The die is rolled once.
What is the probability that the amount showing on the upper face is more than 50 cents but
less than 80 cents?

A.

B.

C.
(i) How many people were at the gym on Saturday? (Assume everyone was wearing a T-
shirt). (1 mark)
D.
(ii) What is the probability that a person selected at random at the gym on Saturday, would
be wearing either a blue or green T-shirt? (1 mark)
13. Probability, 2UG 2013 HSC 29c 15. Probability, 2UG 2015 HSC 26e
Mary is designing a website that requires unique logins to be generated.  Part i: RAP Data - Bottom 25%: School result (92%) was 8% above state average (84%)
She plans to generate the logins using two capital letters from the alphabet followed by a The table shows the relative frequency of selecting each of the different coloured jelly beans
series of numerals from 0 to 9 inclusive. All logins will have the same number of numerals. from packets containing green, yellow, black, red and white jelly beans.
Repetition of letters and numerals is allowed.
What is the minimum number of numerals required for each login so that Mary can generate
at least 3 million logins?
Justify your answer with suitable calculations. (2 marks)

14. Probability, 2UG 2005 HSC 23a

There are tickets sold in a raffle. Justine sold all tickets to five of her friends. The
number of tickets she sold to each friend is shown in the table.

i. What is the relative frequency of selecting a red jelly bean? (1 mark)

ii. Based on this table of relative frequencies, what is the probability of NOT selecting a black
jelly bean? (1 mark)

16. Probability, 2UG 2006 HSC 25a

Three cards labelled , and can be arranged in any order.

(i) Justine claims that each of her friends is equally likely to win first prize.
Give a reason why Justine’s statement is NOT correct. (1 mark)
(ii) What is the probability that first prize is NOT won by Khalid or Herman? (2 marks)
(i) In how many different ways can the cards be arranged? (1 mark)

(ii) What is the probability that the second card in an arrangement is a ? (1 mark)

(iii) What is the probability that the last card in an arrangement is not a ? (1 mark)
17. Probability, 2UG 2010 HSC 26a 20. Probability, 2UG 2008 HSC 24b
 Part ii: RAP Data - Bottom 19%: School result (35%) was 5% above state average (30%)  Part iv: RAP Data - Bottom 7%: School result (10%) was equal to state average (10%)
A design of numberplates has a two-digit number, two letters and then another two-digit Three-digit numbers are formed from five cards labelled , , , and .
number, for example
(i) How many different three-digit numbers can be formed? (1 mark)

(ii) If one of these numbers is selected at random, what is the probability that it is odd? (1
mark)
(iii) How many of these three-digit numbers are even? (1 mark)

(i) How many different numberplates are possible using this design? (1 mark) (iv) What is the probability of randomly selecting a three-digit number less than with its
(ii) Jo’s birthday is 30 December 1992, so she would like a numberplate with either digits arranged in descending order? (2 marks)

21. Probability, 2UG 2009 HSC 23b

Jo can order a numberplate with ‘JO’ in the middle but will have to have randomly A personal identification number (PIN) is made up of four digits. An example of a PIN is
selected numbers on either side.

What is the probability that Jo is issued with one of the numberplates she would like?
(2 marks)
(i) When all ten digits are available for use, how many different PINs are possible? (1
18. Probability, 2UG 2012 HSC 26a mark)
(ii) Rhys has forgotten his four-digit PIN, but knows that the first digit is either 5 or 6.
 Part ii: RAP Data - Bottom 15%: School result (45%) was 4% above state average (41%) What is the probability that Rhys will correctly guess his PIN in one attempt? (1 mark)

Postcodes in Australia are made up of four digits eg 2040.

(i) How many different postcodes beginning with a 2 are possible? (1 mark)
Copyright © 2004-18 The State of New South Wales (Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW)
(ii) Peta remembers that the first two digits of a town’s postcode are and
then 4. She is unable to remember the rest of the postcode. (1 mark)

What is the probability that Peta guesses the correct postcode?

19. Probability, 2UG 2018 HSC 26f

A toy shop sells buckets and spades separately. Buckets are available in one of six colours.
Spades are also available in one of the same six colours.
Abdul wants to buy a bucket-and-spade set where the bucket and spade are of different
colours.
How many different bucket-and-spade sets are possible for Abdul to buy? (1 mark)
Worked Solutions 6. Probability, 2UG 2008 HSC 16 MC

1. Probability, 2UG 2011 HSC 5 MC

2. Probability, 2UG 2005 HSC 11 MC

7. Probability, 2UG 2010 HSC 8 MC

3. Probability, 2UG 2014 HSC 6 MC

4. Probability, 2UG 2016 HSC 6 MC

5. Probability, 2UG 2013 HSC 1 MC

8. Probability, 2UG 2008 HSC 18 MC 12. Probability, 2UG 2010 HSC 23c

(i)

(ii)

9. Probability, 2UG 2015 HSC 21 MC

♦ Mean mark 48%.

13. Probability, 2UG 2013 HSC 29c

10. Probability, 2UG 2017 HSC 15 MC ♦ Mean mark 34%
COMMENT: Students can use
their rough working to find an
appropriate "number of
numerals" where their answer
♦ Mean mark 50%.
should start.

11. Probability, 2UG 2005 HSC 20 MC

14. Probability, 2UG 2005 HSC 23a 16. Probability, 2UG 2006 HSC 25a
(i) (i)

(ii)

(ii)

(iii)

15. Probability, 2UG 2015 HSC 26e

i.
17. Probability, 2UG 2010 HSC 26a

(i) ♦ Mean mark 41%

ii.
(ii) ♦♦ Mean mark 30%
IMPORTANT: Since the middle
letters of "JO" can be
guaranteed, the
focus becomes purely on the 4
surrounding digits.
18. Probability, 2UG 2012 HSC 26a 20. Probability, 2UG 2008 HSC 24b
(i) (i)

♦ Mean marks of 43% and ♦ Mean mark 45%.

41% for parts (i) and (ii)
respectively.

(ii) (ii)

(iii)
19. Probability, 2UG 2018 HSC 26f

♦ Mean mark 48%.

♦ Mean mark 35%.

(iv)

♦♦♦ Mean mark 10%.

21. Probability, 2UG 2009 HSC 23b

(i) ♦ Mean mark 43%

(ii) ♦♦♦ Mean mark 18%

MARKER'S COMMENT: A
common error is finding the
number of possible
combinations but not then
calculating the probability.

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