5 CAT Probability Problems you should solve

Introduction:
Probability is a super-fascinating topic that keeps on your toes. Along with mathematical ability, it requires a combination of quick thinking and reasoning skills in order to crack these exams quickly. An important part of CAT quantitative aptitude section, it is important you practice problems for this topic. We bring this five-problem set with the same intent and purpose.
Question 1: Let A and B be two events such that

Where Ā stands for complement of event A. Then, events A and B are
(a) Mutually exclusive
(b) Independent but not equally likely
(c) Equally likely but not independent
(d) Equally likely and mutually exclusive

Answers and Explanations

Option (b)

Hence, the events A and B are independent events but not equally likely.

Question 2: Three houses are available in a locality. Three persons apply for the houses. Each applies for one house without consulting others. The probability that all the three apply for the same house, is
(a) 7/9
(b) 8/9
(c) 1/9
(d) 2/9

Answers and Explanations

Option c

All the three persons has three options to apply a house.

Therefore total number of cases = 3³

Now, favorable cases = 3 (All can apply for house 1 or 2 or 3)

Therefore required probability = {3/(3³)} = 1/9

Question 3: The probability that A speaks truth is 4/5 while this probability for B is 3/4. The probability that they contradict each other when asked to speak on a fact, is
(a) 7/20
(b) 1/5
(c) 3/20
(d) 4/5

Answers and Explanations

Option (a)

Question 4: Five horses are in a race. Mr. A selects two of the horses at random and bets on them. The probability that Mr. A selected the winning horse, is
(a) 4/5
(b) 3/5
(c) 1/5
(d) 2/5

Answers and Explanations

Option (d)

The probability that Mr. A selected the loosing horse = 4/5 x ¾ = 3/5

The probability that Mr. A selected the winning horse = {1 – (3/5)} = 2/5

Question 5: Events A, B, C are mutually exclusive events such that

The set of possible values of x are in the interval

(a) 1/3 , ½
(b) 1/3, 2/3
(c) 1/3, 13/3
(d) 0,1

Answers and Explanations

Option (a)

Tips and Tricks you can use CAT Probability Problems

Do remember that probability is not a pure mathematics topics. It requires you to combine reasoning skills with mathematical ability.
Some important areas that you should cover to solve CAT Probability Problems: dices, playing cards, and more. A number of problems are based on these concepts for this topic.
The best resource for learning the basics of Probability is class 11/12 books. You can refer to books by RD Sharma and NCERT to understand the basics of the topic.
One of the best books for probability is by KC Sinha. It adopts a comprehensive approach for the topic and you can refer to it mastering the topic.
Make sure you study Permutation and Combinations. Probability is based on the basics of P and C and therefore, you need to make sure you study this topic.