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Watch: What is probability?

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How do you show probability?

Probability or chance is how likely something is to happen.

If something has a low probability, it is unlikely to happen. If something has a high probability, it is likely to happen.

Probabilities are most commonly shown as fractions.

The probability of getting 'tails' when you toss a coin is a 1 in 2 chance, or 1/2.

Probabilities can also be shown as decimals or percentages. A probability of 1/2 can also be shown as 0.5 or 50%.

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Using probability

A bag contains three bananas and nothing else.

Probabilities can be shown on a scale between 0 (impossible) and 1 (certain).

The probability of reaching into the bag and pulling out a banana is 1 (certain), as there is nothing else in the bag.

The probability of reaching into the bag and pulling out an apple is 0 (impossible), as there are no apples in the bag.

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Activity 1

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Activity 2

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Activity 3

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Quiz

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NEW! Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica - the Halloween update
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More on Processes in mathematics

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