What is Probability? Definition, Meaning & Example
A measure of the likelihood that an event will occur, expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
TL;DR: A measure of the likelihood that an event will occur, expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
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Probability: A measure of the likelihood that an event will occur, expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
Explanation
Probability is calculated as the ratio of favorable outcomes to total possible outcomes. An event with probability 0 is impossible, while probability 1 means the event is certain. Probability 0.5 or 50% means the event is equally likely to happen or not happen. For example, a fair coin toss has probability 0.5 for heads and 0.5 for tails. Probability is used in statistics, risk assessment, games, and weather forecasting. Understanding probability helps students make informed decisions in uncertain situations. The sum of probabilities of all possible outcomes must equal 1.
Example
If you roll a fair six-sided die, the probability of getting a 3 is 1/6 because there is 1 favorable outcome (rolling a 3) out of 6 possible outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between theoretical and experimental probability?
Theoretical probability is calculated using known outcomes, while experimental probability is based on actual repeated trials.
Can probability be greater than 1?
No, probability must be between 0 and 1 inclusive. A probability greater than 1 is impossible and indicates an error.
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