Probability and the probability scale
Probability is about estimating or calculating how likely or 'probable' something is to happen. The chance of an event happening can be described in words, for example ‘certain’, ‘impossible’ or ‘likely’.
In maths, probabilities are always written as fractionA fraction is a part of a whole, for example 1/2., decimalA number that uses powers of 10 as place value. In the example of 0.82, the 8 represents tenths and the 2 represents hundredths. or percentageA proportion representing parts per hundred, for example 9% is 9 out of 100, or 9/100. with values between 0 and 1.
The probability scale
An outcome that is impossible has a probability of 0 and an outcome that is certain has a probability of 1. This means probabilities cannot be bigger than 1. This can be shown on a probability scale.