Tree Diagrams


In these lessons, we will look at more examples of probability word problems.
We will use tree diagrams to help us solve the problems.
We will see that tree diagrams can be used to represent the set of all possible outcomes involving one or more experiments.




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Related Pages
Using Tree Diagrams In Probability
Probability Tree Diagrams
More Lessons On Probability
Probability Worksheets

Probability tree diagrams are useful for both independent (or unconditional) probability and dependent (or conditional) probability.

The following tree diagram shows the probabilities when a coin is tossed two times. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions on using probability tree diagrams.

Tree Diagram




Tree Diagrams For Independent Events

Example:
Julia spins 2 spinners; one of which is labeled 1, 2 and 3, and the other is labeled 4, 5 and 6.

a) Draw a tree diagram for the experiment.
b) What is the probability that the spinners stop at “3” and “4”?
c) Find the probability that the spinners do not stop at “3” and “4”.
d) What is the probability that the first spinner does not stop at “1”?

  • Show Solution

    a) Tree diagram for the experiment.
    Probability Tree Diagram

    b) The probability that the spinners stop at “3” and “4”
    n(S ) = 9
    Probability that the spinners stop at (3,4) =

    c) The probability that the spinners do not stop at “3” and “4”
    Probability that the spinners do not stop at (3,4) =

    d) The probability that the first spinner does not stop at “1”
    Probability that the first spinner stop at “1” =
    Probability that the first spinner does not stop at “1” =



Example:
Box A contains 3 cards numbered 1, 2 and 3. Box B contains 2 cards numbered 1 and 2. One card is removed at random from each box.

a) Draw a tree diagram to list all the possible outcomes.
b) Find the probability that:
(i) the sum of the numbers is 4
(ii) the sum of the two numbers is even.
(iii) the product of the two numbers is at least 5.
(iv) the sum is equal to the product.

  • Show Solution

    a) A tree diagram of all possible outcomes.

    b) The probability that:
    (i) the sum of the numbers is 4.
    Let S be the sample space and A be the event that the sum is 4.
    n(S) = 6; n(A) = 2
    P(A) =

    (ii) the sum of the two numbers is even.
    Let B be the event that the sum is even.
    n(B) = 3
    P(B) =

    (iii) the product of the two numbers is at least 5.
    Let C be the event that the product of the two numbers is at least 5.
    n(C) = 1
    P(C) =

    (iv) the sum is equal to the product.
    Let D be the event that the sum of the two numbers is equal to the product.
    n(D) = 1
    P(D) =

Example:
A bag contains 4 cards numbered 2, 4, 6, 9. A second bag contains 3 cards numbered 2, 3, 6. One card is drawn at random from each bag.

a) Draw a tree diagram for the experiment.
b) With the help of the tree diagram, calculate the probability that the two numbers obtained:
(i) have different values.
(ii) are both even.
(iii) are both prime.
(iv) have a sum greater than 5.
(v) have a product greater than 16.

  • Show Solution

    Solution:
    a) A tree diagram of all possible outcomes.

    b) The probability that the two numbers obtained:
    (i) have different values.
    Let S be the sample space and A be the event that the two values are different
    n(S) = 12 ; n(A) = 10
    P(A) =

    (ii) are both even.
    Let B be the event that both values are even.
    n(B) = 6
    P(B) =

    (iii) are both prime.
    Let C be the event that both values are prime.
    n(C) = 2
    P(C) =

    (iv) have a sum greater than 5.
    Let D be the event that the sum of both values is greater than 5.
    n(D) = 10
    P(D) =

    (v) have a product greater than 16.
    Let E be the event that the product of both values is greater than 16.
    n(E) = 6
    P(E) =

How to use probability tree diagrams for independent events (or unconditional probability)?

Example:
Jenny has a bag with 7 blue sweets and 3 red sweets. She picks a sweet at random from the bag, replaces it and picks again at random. Draw a tree diagram to represent this situation and use it to calculate the probabilities that she picks
a) 2 red sweets
b) no red sweets
c) at least 1 blue sweet
d) 1 sweet of each color

How to do a probability tree?

Probability Trees and Independent Events
Multiplying and adding probabilities of independent events

Example:
Sarah picks a marble from a bag. There are 8 marbles in the bag and 5 of them are green. The rest are red. She looks at the marble and then places it into the bag. She then picks another marble. Complete a probability tree.

How to solve probability problems using tree diagrams?

The following videos gives more examples of solving probability problems using tree diagrams. A tree diagram can help you generate all the outcomes.

Example:
Show the possible outcomes of playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. Find the probability of a tie game.

Example:
You are ordering a sandwich. Make a list of all the possibilities.
Bread - white, sourdough
Meat - ham, turkey
Cheese - American, Provolone
Find the probability of making a sandwich with both white bread and ham.

Tree Diagrams For Dependent Events

Example:
Jimmy has a bag with seven blue sweets and 3 red sweets in it. He picks up a sweet at random from the bag, but does not replaces it and then picks again at random. Draw a tree diagram to represent this situation and use it to calculate the probabilities that he picks:
(a) two red sweets
(b) no red sweets
(c) at least one blue sweet
(d) one sweet of each color

Probability Diagrams for events that involve with and without replacements.

Example:
A bag contains 4 red sweets and 5 blue sweets. Draw a probability tree diagram when
a) the sweets are taken with replacement.
b) the sweets are taken without replacement.

Example:
A bag contains four light bulbs, of which two are defective. We draw bulbs without replacement until a working bulb is selected. Set up the tree diagram for this experiment, find the probability of each outcome, and determine the probability that at most two draws occur.

Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.
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