Question

A student says that if you throw a die, it will show up 1 or not 1. Therefore, the probability of getting 1 and the probability of getting ‘not 1’ each is equal to `1/2`. Is this correct? Give reasons. 

Answer 1

No, this is not correct.

Suppose we throw a die, then total number of outcomes = 6

Possible outcomes = 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6

∴ Probability of getting 1 = `1/6`

Now, probability of getting not 1 = 1 – Probability of getting 1

= `1 - 1/6`

= `5/6`