JEE Main · Mathematics ↓ Falling

Probability appeared 35 times across 3 years — 4% of Mathematics. This question is from Probability Distribution and Variance.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 9 17 9 35

Three defective oranges are accidentally mixed with seven good ones and on looking at them, it is not possible to differentiate between them. Two oranges are drawn at random from the lot. If x denote the number of defective oranges, then the variance of x is :

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

Variance formula for discrete probability distributions:

σ² = Σ pᵢ xᵢ² - μ²
Core Logic

Construct the discrete probability distribution matrix for drawing 2 items out of 10 total items (3 defective, 7 good):

Probability Distribution and Variance diagram for Q69 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
Probability Distribution and Variance diagram for Q69 - JEE Main 2025 Morning

xᵢpᵢ
x=0⁷C₂¹⁰C₂ = (42)/(90)
x=1⁷C₁ × ³C₁¹⁰C₂ = (42)/(90)
x=2³C₂¹⁰C₂ = (6)/(90)

Step 1: Calculating the Mean
μ = Σ xᵢ pᵢ = 0((42)/(90)) + 1((42)/(90)) + 2((6)/(90)) = (54)/(90) = (3)/(5)
Step 2: Evaluating the Variance Metric
σ² = Σ pᵢ xᵢ² - μ² = [0 + 1²((42)/(90)) + 2²((6)/(90))] - ((3)/(5))² σ² = (66)/(90) - (9)/(25) = (11)/(15) - (9)/(25) = (28)/(75)
Pattern Recognition

Discrete tables are best managed by computing component factor rows systematically before finalizing variance updates.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Maths: Probability

More Probability Previous-Year Questions — Page 5

Q55 jee_main_2025_07_april_evening Bayes Theorem
A bag contains 19 unbiased coins and one coin with head on both sides. One coin drawn at random is tossed and head turns up. If the probability that the drawn coin was unbiased, is mathrmmmathrmn, (mathrmm,n) = 1, then n² -m² is equal to :
  • A. 80
  • B. 60
  • C. 72
  • D. 64

Solution

Related Formula

Bayes' Theorem for conditional probability is formulated as:

P(E₁|H) = (P(E₁) · P(H|E₁))/(P(E₁) · P(H|E₁) + P(E₂) · P(H|E₂))
Core Logic

Let the events be: E₁: Selection of an unbiased coin. E₂: Selection of the two-headed (biased) coin. H: Head turns up on the toss.

Syllabus values:

P(E₁) = (19)/(20), P(E₂) = (1)/(20) P(H|E₁) = (1)/(2), P(H|E₂) = 1
Step 1: Total Probability Calculation

The overall probability of obtaining a head is:

P(H) = P(E₁)P(H|E₁) + P(E₂)P(H|E₂) P(H) = (19)/(20) · (1)/(2) + (1)/(20) · 1 = (19)/(40) + (2)/(40) = (21)/(40)
Step 2: Apply Bayes Theorem

We need the probability that the coin is unbiased given a head showed up:

P(E₁|H) = ((19)/(40))/((21)/(40)) = (19)/(21)

Thus, (m)/(n) = (19)/(21) m = 19, n = 21 since (19, 21) = 1.

Step 3: Evaluate final expression

Calculate n² - m²:

n² - m² = 21² - 19² = 441 - 361 = 80
Pattern Recognition

Bayes' Theorem split problems are easily handled by constructing paths: unbiased path = 19 × 1 = 19, biased path = 1 × 2 = 2. Probability = (19)/(19+2) = (19)/(21).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Probability

Q56 jee_main_2025_07_april_evening Random Variables and Expectation
Let a random variable X take values 0, 1, 2, 3 with P(X = 0) = P(X = 1) = p, P(X = 2) = P(X = 3) and E(X²) = 2E(X). Then the value of 8p - 1 is:
  • A. 0
  • B. 2
  • C. 1
  • D. 3

Solution

Related Formula

The sum of all probabilities in a probability distribution is strictly equal to 1:

Σ P(Xᵢ) = 1
Core Logic

Let P(X=2) = P(X=3) = q. From the total probability rule:

P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3) = 1 p + p + q + q = 1 2p + 2q = 1 p + q = (1)/(2) (i)
Step 1: Computing Expectations

Compute E(X):

E(X) = 0· p + 1· p + 2· q + 3· q = p + 5q

Compute E(X²):

E(X²) = 0²· p + 1²· p + 2²· q + 3²· q = p + 13q
Step 2: Solve the Linear System

Given E(X²) = 2E(X):

p + 13q = 2(p + 5q) p + 13q = 2p + 10q p = 3q

Substitute p = 3q into equation (i):

3q + q = (1)/(2) 4q = (1)/(2) q = (1)/(8)

Then, p = 3((1)/(8)) = (3)/(8).

Step 3: Calculate 8p - 1

Now we evaluate the required expression:

8p - 1 = 8((3)/(8)) - 1 = 3 - 1 = 2
Pattern Recognition

Always combine basic distribution axioms (sum of probabilities = 1) with structural definition equations (E(X) = Σ x P(x)) to systematically eliminate unknown parameters.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Probability

Q69 jee_main_2025_24_jan_evening Probability of Invertible Matrices
Let A=[aᵢⱼ] be a square matrix of order 2 with entries either 0 or 1. Let E be the event that A is an invertible matrix. Then the probability P(E) is:
  • A. (5)/(8)
  • B. (3)/(16)
  • C. (1)/(8)
  • D. (3)/(8)

Solution

Related Formula

A 2 × 2 matrix A = pmatrix a & b c & d pmatrix is invertible if and only if its determinant is non-zero:

(A) = ad - bc ≠ 0
Step 1: Count Total Matrix Sample Space

Each of the 4 entry slots in the 2 × 2 matrix has 2 binary choices (0 or 1) :

Total Matrices = 2⁴ = 16
Step 2: Count Favorable Non-Zero Determinant Matrices

Since elements are 0 or 1, the products ad and bc can only evaluate to 0 or 1. For ad - bc ≠ 0, we have two distinct cases:

  • Case I: ad = 1 and bc = 0 .
  • ad = 1 ⇒ a = 1, d = 1 (1 configuration). bc = 0 ⇒ (b, c) in (0,0), (0,1), (1,0) (3 configurations).

Ways = 1 × 3 = 3 matrices
  • Case II: ad = 0 and bc = 1 .
  • bc = 1 ⇒ b = 1, c = 1 (1 configuration). ad = 0 ⇒ (a, d) in (0,0), (0,1), (1,0) (3 configurations).

Ways = 1 × 3 = 3 matrices Total Favorable Matrices = 3 + 3 = 6
Step 3: Calculate Probability

Divide the favorable count by the total sample size :

P(E) = (6)/(16) = (3)/(8)
Pattern Recognition

For low-order matrix configuration spaces with binary inputs, directly analyzing the product outcomes (1-0=1 or 0-1=-1) prevents long manual lists of all 16 matrices.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Probability Class 12 Mathematics: Matrices and Determinants

Q61 jee_main_2025_24_jan_morning Infinite Geometric Series in Probability
A and B alternately throw a pair of dice. A wins if he throws a sum of 5 before B throws a sum of 8, and B wins if he throws a sum of 8 before A throws a sum of 5. The probability, that A wins if A makes the first throw, is :
  • A. (9)/(17)
  • B. (9)/(19)
  • C. (8)/(17)
  • D. (8)/(19)

Solution

Related Formula

For alternating multi-stage games continuing indefinitely, the total probability of winning is modeled as an infinite geometric series summation:

S∞ = (a)/(1 - r)
Core Logic

First, analyze the total sample outcomes for a pair of standard dice (n(S) = 36):

  • Outcomes giving a sum of 5: (1,4), (2,3), (3,2), (4,1) 4 outcomes.
p(A) = (4)/(36) = (1)/(9) p(A') = 1 - (1)/(9) = (8)/(9)
  • Outcomes giving a sum of 8: (2,6), (3,5), (4,4), (5,3), (6,2) 5 outcomes.
p(B) = (5)/(36) p(B') = 1 - (5)/(36) = (31)/(36)
Step 1: Setup Infinite Game Series Path

For player A to win on the first throw, third throw, fifth throw, etc., the probability sequence expands as follows:

P(A wins) = p(A) + p(A') · p(B') · p(A) + [p(A') · p(B')]² · p(A) + ∞

This is a geometric progression where the first term a = p(A) = (1)/(9) and the common ratio is:

r = p(A') · p(B') = (8)/(9) · (31)/(36) = (62)/(81)
Step 2: Calculate Invariant Sum

Apply the infinite GP sum formula directly:

P(A wins) = ((1)/(9))/(1 - (62)/(81)) = ((1)/(9))/((19)/(81)) = (1)/(9) · (81)/(19) = (9)/(19)
Pattern Recognition

In infinite alternating games, player A's net probability can always be abbreviated shortcut-style to (p₁)/(1 - (1-p₁)(1-p₂)), where p₁ is A's success probability and p₂ is B's success probability.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Probability

Q51 jee_main_2025_28_jan_evening Bayes Theorem
Bag B₁ contains 6 white and 4 blue balls, Bag B₂ contains 4 white and 6 blue balls, and Bag B₃ contains 5 white and 5 blue balls. One of the bags is selected at random and a ball is drawn from it. If the ball is white, then the probability, that the ball is drawn from Bag B₂, is:
  • A. (1)/(3)
  • B. (4)/(15)
  • C. (2)/(3)
  • D. (2)/(5)

Solution

Related Formula

Bayes' Theorem formula:

P(E₂|A) = (P(E₂) · P(A|E₂))/(P(E₁) · P(A|E₁) + P(E₂) · P(A|E₂) + P(E₃) · P(A|E₃))
Core Logic

Let the events be defined as: E₁: Bag B₁ is selected E₂: Bag B₂ is selected E₃: Bag B₃ is selected A: The drawn ball is white

Since a bag is selected at random:

P(E₁) = P(E₂) = P(E₃) = (1)/(3)

Conditional probabilities of drawing a white ball from each bag:

P(A|E₁) = (6)/(10), P(A|E₂) = (4)/(10), P(A|E₃) = (5)/(10)
Step 1: Substitute and Calculate

Substituting the values into Bayes' theorem:

P(E₂|A) = ((1)/(3) × (4)/(10))/((1)/(3) × (6)/(10) + (1)/(3) × (4)/(10) + (1)/(3) × (5)/(10)) P(E₂|A) = (4)/(6 + 4 + 5) = (4)/(15)
Pattern Recognition

When bags have equal selection probability, the required conditional probability is simply the number of favorable white balls divided by the total number of white balls across all bags: 4 / (6 + 4 + 5) = 4/15.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Mathematics: Probability

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