Everyday Math Essentials
Cover quick calculations for percentages, fractions, averages, and ratios used in school, shopping, and spreadsheets.
Calculate probability, odds, and conditional probability
Probability is expressed as a fraction or decimal between 0 and 1, representing the likelihood of an event occurring. Odds compare the number of favorable outcomes to unfavorable outcomes, expressed as a ratio (e.g., 3:2). You can convert between them: if probability is p, then odds are p:(1-p).
Two events are mutually exclusive if they cannot occur at the same time. For example, when rolling a die, getting a 3 and getting a 5 are mutually exclusive. For mutually exclusive events, P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B). If events are not mutually exclusive, you must subtract P(A and B) to avoid double-counting.
Two events are independent if the occurrence of one does not affect the probability of the other. For example, flipping a coin twice - the first flip doesn't affect the second. For independent events, P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B). If events are dependent, you need to use conditional probability.
Conditional probability P(A|B) is the probability of event A occurring given that event B has already occurred. The formula is P(A|B) = P(A and B) / P(B). For example, if you draw a card from a deck and it's red, the probability it's a heart is P(Heart|Red) = P(Heart and Red) / P(Red) = 0.25 / 0.5 = 0.5.
The complement rule states that the probability of an event NOT occurring is 1 minus the probability that it does occur: P(not A) = 1 - P(A). This is useful when it's easier to calculate the probability of the opposite event. For example, it's easier to find the probability of at least one success by calculating 1 - P(all failures).
No, probability values must be between 0 and 1 (or 0% to 100%). A probability of 0 means the event is impossible, 1 means it's certain, and values in between represent varying degrees of likelihood. If you calculate a probability greater than 1, there's an error in your calculation or assumptions.
Bayes' Theorem is a formula for calculating conditional probabilities in reverse: P(A|B) = P(B|A) × P(A) / P(B). It's used to update probabilities based on new evidence and is fundamental in statistics, machine learning, and decision-making. It's particularly useful in medical testing, spam filtering, and risk assessment.
These grouped paths are designed to help you continue with the most common follow-up calculations in this category.
Cover quick calculations for percentages, fractions, averages, and ratios used in school, shopping, and spreadsheets.
Move from powers and logarithms into more advanced solving tools when the problem gets more complex.
Calculate dimensions, area, and triangle relationships using a connected geometry workflow.