List

Probability Short Problems - Age 11-14



This is part of our collection of Short Problems.

You may also be interested in our longer problems on Probability - Stage 3.

Printable worksheets containing selections of these problems are available here

Satnav Dilemma
problem

Satnav Dilemma

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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How many routes are there in this diagram from S to T?
Birthday Party
problem

Birthday Party

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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The 30 students in a class have 25 different birthdays between them. What is the largest number that can share any birthday?
Would you like a Jelly Baby?
problem

Would you like a Jelly Baby?

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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What is the smallest number of jelly babies Tom must take, to be certain that he gets at least one of each flavour?
Half and Half
problem

Half and Half

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Two of the four small triangles are to be painted black. In how many ways can this be done?
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
problem

Strange dice

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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If two of these unusually numbered dice are thrown, how many different sums are possible?
School Dinners
problem

School Dinners

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Our school dinners offer the same choice each day, and each day I try a new option. How long will it be before I eat the same meal again?
Monkey Puzzle
problem

Monkey Puzzle

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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What is the probability that all three monkeys left the cafe wearing the wrong hats?
Pieces of Eight
problem

Pieces of Eight

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Two of the triangles in the diagram are shaded black. What is the probability the resulting figure has at least one line of symmetry?
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
problem

Clubs

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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How many students are in the maths club and the science club?
Nine or Ten?
problem

Nine or Ten?

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Is a score of 9 more likely than a score of 10 when you roll three dice?
Almost Constant Digits
problem

Almost Constant Digits

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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How many 10-digit numbers containing only 1s, 2s and 3s can you write?
Counting Socks
problem

Counting Socks

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you work out the smallest number of socks Rachel needs to take out of the box to be guaranteed a pair?
Perfect Score
problem

Perfect Score

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you work out how many children answered all the questions correctly?
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
problem

Rain

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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How many dry days did Aisha have on her holiday?
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
problem

Fair's Fair

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you design a die which rolls 'fairly' against mine?