The Laws of Probability As They Pertain To Genetics
P = F/T The probability of any event is the quotient of the favorable outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes
P = 4 aces/52 cards =1/13 What is the probability of drawing an ace from a deck of regular playing cards with one blind draw?
The probability of an event sure not to happen is zero
What is the probability of throwing a seven (7) with one toss of a regular die?
Zero! It is certain not to happen because there is no 7 on the die P = 0/6 = 0
The probability of an event sure to happen is one (1)
What is the probability of a steel shot hitting the surface below it when it is released?
One! Because of the law of gravity it is certain to happen.
The probability of simultaneous events is the product of their individual probabilities. (AND)
Toss a pair of dice. What is the P of throwing a six on one while throwing a six on the other?
P = F/T X F/T The P of one 6 is 1/6 and the P of the other 6 is 1/6. The P of simultaneous events (occurring at the same time) is 1/6 X 1/6, or 1/36.
The probability of mutually exclusive events is the sum of their individual probabilities (OR)
Flip a penny. What is the P you will get a heads or a tails?
If you flip a heads, you can’t get a tails. If you flip a tails, that eliminates the possibility of a heads. You have mutually exclusive events. So…………
P = F/T + F/T P = ½ + ½ = 1 +
The probability of an event is not affected by previous outcomes
After these results, what is the P of flipping heads on the next toss? ?
P = F/T = ½ Previous outcomes have no effect on the next toss!
¼ is the same as 1:3 1: % 25% How?
¼ means the same as 1 favorable result to 3 unfavorable results…… 1:3
¼ means 1 divided by four which is 0.25
¼ means 0.25, which is read 25/100 which is 25% 0.25 X 100% = 25%
With one draw from the deck what is the P of drawing: A 5? A 5? A heart? A heart? A 5 or a 7? A 5 or a 7? An ace and a heart? An ace and a heart? A face card? A face card?
Each of us puts our first name on a slip of paper and places it in a can. We draw one name. What is the P that it will be a girl’s name? What is the P that it will start with the letter R?
With one toss of a pair of dice, what is the P of getting: Snake eyes? Snake eyes? A 7 or 11? A 7 or 11? An unlucky 13? An unlucky 13?
Toss 4 dice. What is the P of getting a 1 on each of them (a total of 4)?
You still want to gamble?