Theoretical probability

  • Win or Lose?
    problem

    Win or lose?

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A gambler bets half the money in his pocket on the toss of a coin, winning an equal amount for a head and losing his money if the result is a tail. After 2n plays he has won exactly n times. Has he more money than he started with?
  • Coin Tossing Games
    problem

    Coin tossing games

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    You and I play a game involving successive throws of a fair coin. Suppose I pick HH and you pick TH. The coin is thrown repeatedly until we see either two heads in a row (I win) or a tail followed by a head (you win). What is the probability that you win?
  • Marbles and Bags
    problem

    Marbles and bags

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Two bags contain different numbers of red and blue marbles. A marble is removed from one of the bags. The marble is blue. What is the probability that it was removed from bag A?
  • Gambling at Monte Carlo
    problem

    Gambling at Monte Carlo

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    A man went to Monte Carlo to try and make his fortune. Is his strategy a winning one?

  • Teams
    problem

    Teams

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Two brothers belong to a club with 10 members. Four are selected for a match. Find the probability that both brothers are selected.
  • Snooker Frames
    problem

    Snooker frames

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    It is believed that weaker snooker players have a better chance of winning matches over eleven frames (i.e. first to win 6 frames) than they do over fifteen frames. Is this true?
  • Snooker
    problem

    Snooker

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A player has probability 0.4 of winning a single game. What is his probability of winning a 'best of 15 games' tournament?
  • Squash
    problem

    Squash

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    If the score is 8-8 do I have more chance of winning if the winner is the first to reach 9 points or the first to reach 10 points?
  • Knock-out
    problem

    Knock-out

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Before a knockout tournament with 2^n players I pick two players. What is the probability that they have to play against each other at some point in the tournament?
  • Rain or Shine
    problem

    Rain or shine

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Predict future weather using the probability that tomorrow is wet given today is wet and the probability that tomorrow is wet given that today is dry.