Basic Probability MCQs 2026
60 questions with detailed answers · 42 from past papers · 6 quiz batches available
Choose a Quiz Batch. Each batch has 10 questions from this topic, in order. Take them one by one to work through all 60 MCQs. Login to save your scores and see your best per batch.
Read each question, think about the answer, then click Show Answer to reveal the correct option and explanation. Load 10 at a time so it stays manageable — perfect for one-topic study sessions on the bus or during a break.
- Q1 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
From a deck, P(king) equals
💡 Explanation:4 kings out of 52 → 4/52 = 1/13.
- Q2 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
Exactly two heads in three tosses: P equals
💡 Explanation:3 outcomes HHT, HTH, THH out of 8 → 3/8.
- Q3 hard
A lottery picks 6 numbers from 49. Total combinations equal
💡 Explanation:49C6 = 49!/(6!43!) = 13983816.
- Q4 hard
If P(A|B) = P(A|B'), then A is
💡 Explanation:Same conditional probability given B or B' implies independence.
- Q5 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The sample space of a random experiment is
💡 Explanation:The sample space S lists every elementary outcome of the experiment.
- Q6 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
A probability model must satisfy P(S) equal to
💡 Explanation:One of Kolmogorov's axioms: the probability of the entire sample space is 1.
- Q7 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
For any event A, the axiom of probability requires P(A) to be
💡 Explanation:Probabilities are non-negative and at most 1.
- Q8 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
Two events A and B are mutually exclusive if
💡 Explanation:Disjoint events cannot occur together.
- Q9 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The complement rule states that P(A') equals
💡 Explanation:The complement accounts for all outcomes not in A.
- Q10 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
If A and B are mutually exclusive, then P(A ∪ B) equals
💡 Explanation:For disjoint events, addition rule has no overlap term.
- Q11 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The general addition rule is P(A ∪ B) equals
💡 Explanation:Subtracting the intersection avoids double counting.
- Q12 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
Given P(A) = 0.4, P(B) = 0.5 and P(A ∩ B) = 0.2, P(A ∪ B) is
💡 Explanation:P(A∪B) = 0.4 + 0.5 − 0.2 = 0.7.
- Q13 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
Conditional probability P(A|B) is defined as
💡 Explanation:Conditioning restricts the sample space to B.
- Q14 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
If P(A ∩ B) = 0.12 and P(B) = 0.3, then P(A|B) equals
💡 Explanation:P(A|B) = 0.12/0.3 = 0.4.
- Q15 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
Events A and B are independent if and only if
💡 Explanation:Independence means occurrence of one does not change probability of the other.
- Q16 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
If A and B are independent with P(A) = 0.3 and P(B) = 0.4, then P(A ∩ B) is
💡 Explanation:P(A∩B) = 0.3 × 0.4 = 0.12.
- Q17 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The multiplication rule for independent events gives P(A ∩ B) as
💡 Explanation:Independence converts joint probability to a product.
- Q18 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
The general multiplication rule states P(A ∩ B) equals
💡 Explanation:Chain rule: P(A∩B) = P(A)P(B|A) = P(B)P(A|B).
- Q19 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
Bayes' theorem expresses P(A|B) as
💡 Explanation:Bayes reverses conditioning using prior and likelihood.
- Q20 hard
In Bayes' theorem, P(B) in the denominator is found by
💡 Explanation:P(B) = Σ P(B|Ai)P(Ai) over a partition {Ai}.
- Q21 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
A fair die is rolled once. P(getting an even number) equals
💡 Explanation:Even faces {2,4,6}: 3 outcomes out of 6 → 3/6 = 1/2.
- Q22 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
Two fair coins are tossed. P(exactly one head) equals
💡 Explanation:Outcomes HT, TH: 2 of 4 → 1/2.
- Q23 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
A card is drawn from a standard 52-card deck. P(red card) equals
💡 Explanation:26 red cards out of 52 → 1/2.
- Q24 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The classical definition of probability applies when
💡 Explanation:Classical probability = favourable outcomes / total equally likely outcomes.
- Q25 easy
Empirical (relative frequency) probability is based on
💡 Explanation:Long-run relative frequency estimates probability from data.
- Q26 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
The number of permutations of n distinct objects taken r at a time is
💡 Explanation:nPr = n!/(n−r)! counts ordered arrangements.
- Q27 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time is
💡 Explanation:nCr = n!/[r!(n−r)!] counts unordered selections.
- Q28 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The value of 5C2 equals
💡 Explanation:5C2 = 5!/(2!3!) = 120/12 = 10.
- Q29 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The value of 5P2 equals
💡 Explanation:5P2 = 5!/3! = 120/6 = 20.
- Q30 easy
How many ways can 4 people sit in 4 chairs in a row
💡 Explanation:4! = 24 permutations.
- Q31 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
A committee of 3 is chosen from 7 people. The number of ways is
💡 Explanation:7C3 = 7!/(3!4!) = 35.
- Q32 medium
If order matters, 3-digit codes from digits 1–5 without repetition: total codes equal
💡 Explanation:5P3 = 5!/2! = 60.
- Q33 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
Drawing 2 aces in succession without replacement from a deck: use
💡 Explanation:Without replacement, P(second ace|first ace) changes.
- Q34 medium
Drawing with replacement makes successive draws
💡 Explanation:Replacement restores the same population each draw.
- Q35 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
P(at least one six in two rolls of a fair die) equals
💡 Explanation:P(at least one) = 1 − P(no six) = 1 − (5/6)² = 1 − 25/36 = 11/36.
- Q36 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
P(both sixes in two rolls of a fair die) equals
💡 Explanation:P(both) = (1/6)² = 1/36 assuming independence.
- Q37 hard
If P(A) = 0.6 and P(B) = 0.5 with P(A ∩ B) = 0.3, events A and B are
💡 Explanation:P(A∩B)≠0 so not disjoint; 0.6×0.5=0.3 so they are independent here.
- Q38 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
For independent A, B: P(A ∪ B) with P(A)=0.4, P(B)=0.5 equals
💡 Explanation:P(A∪B) = 0.4 + 0.5 − 0.4×0.5 = 0.9 − 0.2 = 0.7.
- Q39 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
A box has 3 red and 2 blue balls. One drawn at random. P(red) equals
💡 Explanation:3 red out of 5 total → 3/5.
- Q40 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
From the same box, two balls drawn without replacement. P(both red) equals
💡 Explanation:P = (3/5)(2/4) = 6/20 = 3/10.
- Q41 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
From the same box, two balls drawn with replacement. P(both red) equals
💡 Explanation:P = (3/5)² = 9/25.
- Q42 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The probability of an impossible event is
💡 Explanation:Empty set has probability zero by axioms.
- Q43 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
The probability of a sure (certain) event is
💡 Explanation:The whole sample space has probability 1.
- Q44 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
If P(A) = 0.35, then P(A') equals
💡 Explanation:P(A') = 1 − 0.35 = 0.65.
- Q45 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
A and B independent implies P(A|B) equals
💡 Explanation:Independence: conditioning on B does not change P(A).
- Q46 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
A survey: 60% read newspaper A, 50% read B, 30% read both. P(read A or B) equals
💡 Explanation:P(A∪B) = 0.6 + 0.5 − 0.3 = 0.8.
- Q47 medium
From the same survey, P(read A but not B) equals
💡 Explanation:P(A only) = P(A) − P(A∩B) = 0.6 − 0.3 = 0.3.
- Q48 hard
Law of total probability requires
💡 Explanation:Partition {Bi} with ΣP(Bi)=1 allows P(A)=ΣP(A|Bi)P(Bi).
- Q49 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS hard
In a diagnostic test: disease prevalence 2%, sensitivity 95%, specificity 90%. P(positive test) approximately uses
💡 Explanation:P(+)=P(+|D)P(D)+P(+|D')P(D') = 0.019+0.098 = 0.117.
- Q50 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS hard
Using those test figures, P(disease | positive) by Bayes is approximately
💡 Explanation:P(D|+) = 0.019/0.117 ≈ 0.162.
- Q51 hard
Odds in favour of an event with probability p equal
💡 Explanation:Odds for = P(event)/P(complement).
- Q52 hard
If odds against are 3:1, probability of the event equals
💡 Explanation:Odds against 3:1 → P = 1/(3+1) = 1/4.
- Q53 medium
A password has 3 letters A–Z with repetition allowed. Total passwords equal
💡 Explanation:26³ = 17576.
- Q54 medium
Choosing a president and vice-president from 10 members (distinct roles) gives
💡 Explanation:10P2 = 10×9 = 90 ordered selections.
- Q55 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS medium
At least one head in three fair coin tosses: P equals
💡 Explanation:1 − P(no heads) = 1 − (1/2)³ = 7/8.
- Q56 medium
For any events, P(A ∩ B) cannot exceed
💡 Explanation:Joint probability is bounded by each marginal probability.
- Q57 Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/CSS easy
For any event A, P(A) + P(A') equals
💡 Explanation:An event and its complement partition the sample space.
- Q58 hard
The birthday problem illustrates that
💡 Explanation:Pairwise comparisons grow rapidly (nC2), raising collision probability.
- Q59 medium
A Venn diagram for three events can represent
💡 Explanation:Three-set Venn partitions into 8 regions for inclusion–exclusion.
- Q60 hard
Inclusion–exclusion for three events adds back
💡 Explanation:General formula: ΣP(Ai) − ΣP(Ai∩Aj) + P(A∩B∩C).