IMPOSSIBLE EVENT

Impossible Event

Definition Of Impossible Event

An event that has no chance of occurring is called an Impossible Event.

More About Impossible Event

The probability of an impossible event is always zero (0).

Video Examples: iCoachMath Works

Example of Impossible Event

The probability of getting a number greater than 6, when a die is thrown once, is an impossible event, as the highest number in a die is 6.

Solved Example on Impossible Event

Ques: A bag contains 5 red balls and 3 green balls. If a ball is chosen at random from the bag, then which of the following is an impossible event?

Choices:

A. Choosing a red ball
B. Choosing a yellow ball
C. Choosing a green ball
D. None of these
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Step 1: An event that has no chance of occurring is called an Impossible event.
Step 2: Since the bag does not contain any yellow ball, it is impossible to choose a yellow ball.
Step 3: So, choosing a yellow ball is an impossible event.

Quick Summary

An impossible event cannot occur.
The probability of an impossible event is always 0.

\[ P(Impossible Event) = 0 \]

🍎 Teacher Insights

Use real-world examples to illustrate impossible events, such as drawing a blue ball from a bag containing only red balls. Emphasize the distinction between impossible events (probability 0) and highly unlikely events (probability close to 0).

🎓 Prerequisites

Basic set theory
Understanding of events
Concept of probability

Check Your Knowledge

Q1: A standard six-sided die is rolled. What is the probability of rolling a 7?

A. 1/6 B. 1/2 C. 0 D. 1

Q2: A bag contains 5 red balls and 3 green balls. What is the probability of randomly selecting a blue ball?

A. 5/8 B. 3/8 C. 0 D. 1

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can an event have a probability of zero and still be possible?
A: In some continuous probability distributions, an event can have a probability of zero but technically still be possible. However, in the context of discrete events like rolling a die or drawing balls from a bag, a probability of zero means the event is impossible.

Q: Is 'not getting heads' an impossible event when flipping a coin?
A: No, 'not getting heads' is not an impossible event because you can get tails. Therefore, the probability of getting tails is 1/2 or 50%.