Topic: Statistics & Probability, Geometry & Trigonometry

1. Probability of Simple Event and Complementary Event

1.1 General Definition
a. Probability
Probability in mathematical likehood of events is the likelihood that an event
will occur, expressed as the ratio of the number of favourable outcomes in the
set of outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes.

Number of favourable outcomes

Number of possible outcomes

b. Probability Events

In probability, every experiment has a set of possible outcomes called

the sample space. When we are calculating probability, we are
concerned with the chance of one particular event from that sample
space occurring.
Events can be simple or compound. A simple event results in just one
outcome. For instance, if we flip one coin, it will result in just one
outcome. The coin could either land on heads, or it could land on tails. A
compound event is an event containing more than one outcome. For
example: rolling a 2 followed by rolling an odd number with a die.
Events can sometimes be labelled as complementary events. Two
events are complementary events, or complements of each other, if
they have no outcomes in common and if together they contain all the
outcomes of the experiment. The probability of an event plus the
probability of its complement equals 1.

1.2 How to Calculate

Probability of a simple event

The probability of a simple event will always be

1
2

Probability of a complementary event

Example: You randomly chose a marble from a bag of 2 blue, 3 yellow, 4
green, and 3 red marbles. What is the probability that you will not choose a
blue marble?

Solution: Choosing a blue marble and not choosing a blue marble are
complements, so the sum of their probabilities is 1. The probability of choosing

a blue marble is

marble is

2
12 , or

1
6

, so the probability of not choosing a blue

1 5
1 =
6 6

Answer: The probability of not choosing a blue marble is

5
6 .

1.3 Everyday Meanings

Probability is used to estimate and calculate the posibility of something by
numbers.
For example when we want to estimate what color of marble will we get if
we take one marble randomly from a pocket of 10 black and blue marbles.
Or when we have to select a student in random with different hobbies to
follow a competition, learning and understanding about probability can be
very useful.
1.4 Sources
http://www.nelson.com/school/elementary/mathK8/quebec/0176237879/
documents/NM8SB_12B.pdf
http://www.clickandclimb.com/content/mathcontent/prealgebra/pacomplementary-events.php
Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All
rights reserved.

2. Congruency and Similarity of Shapes

2.1 General Definition

Congruence is the relationship between geometrical forms having the

same shape and size. It is generally considered in relation to twodimensional geometrical figures, especially triangles.
o Same angles
o Same side lengths
o Can be rotated or a mirror image
o A cut-out of one shape will always fit exactly over the other
Similarity, in mathematics, is the relationship between two- or threedimensional figures having the same shape but not necessarily the
same size. The angles of two similar polygons or solids are equal, but
the lengths of the sides are only proportional.

Same angles
Sides in the same proportion
Can be rotated or reflected
One is an enlargement of the other

Scale

factor gives degree of enlargement:

Scale factor 2 size is doubled
Scale factor 0.5 size is halved
Scale factor 1 size doesnt change congruent too

The concept of congruence is related to similarity. Any two

figures that are congruent are also similar.

2.2 How to Calculate

Congruency of Shapes:

Similarity of 2 Shapes:

new
SFold

2.3 Everyday Meanings

We can understand that the reflection we see when we look in a flat
mirror is always congruent to the real image.
We can understand the usage of scale in a map.
We can estimate the shape of a structure and can make the miniature of
it.
2.4 Sources
Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All
rights reserved.