IB Mathematics · Standard Level

Sets, Probability
& Combinations

20 carefully crafted questions covering the most tested — and most missed — concepts. Pick an answer to get instant feedback & detailed explanations.

0 of 20

§1 · Set Theory
Q01 Sets ⭐ Easy
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Key Memory · Subset vs Element ∈ means "belongs to" (element). ⊆ means "is a subset of" (set inside set). 3 ∈ A  |  {3} ⊆ A
Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}. Which of the following is FALSE?
📖 Explanation

Option C is false. {1,2,3,4,5,6} contains the element 6, which is not in A. A subset must have every element inside the original set.

✅ A: 3 ∈ A — 3 is an element of A. TRUE.
✅ B: {2,4} ⊆ A — Both 2 and 4 are in A. TRUE.
❌ C: {1,2,3,4,5,6} ⊆ A — 6 is not in A. FALSE.
✅ D: The empty set ∅ is a subset of every set. TRUE.

Q02 Sets ⭐ Easy
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Key Memory · Union & Intersection A ∪ B = "in A or B (or both)"  |  A ∩ B = "in A and B (both)"
A = {2, 4, 6, 8} and B = {4, 8, 12}. Find A ∩ B.
📖 Explanation

A ∩ B = elements that appear in both A and B.

Check each element of A: 2 (not in B), 4 ✓, 6 (not in B), 8 ✓.
A ∩ B = {4, 8} Option A is A ∪ B (union). Option C is neither union nor intersection. Option D has duplicates — sets never repeat elements.

Q03 Sets ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Complement A' = everything in Universal set (U) that is NOT in A. n(A') = n(U) − n(A)
Universal set U = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}, A = {2,4,6,8,10}. What is A' (complement of A)?
📖 Explanation

The complement A' = U minus A = all elements in U that are NOT in A.

U = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}, A = even numbers = {2,4,6,8,10}.
A' = {1,3,5,7,9} (the odd numbers) ❌ B = A itself. ❌ C = ∅ would only be true if A = U. ❌ D includes 0, which is not in U.

Q04 Sets ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Inclusion-Exclusion n(A ∪ B) = n(A) + n(B) − n(A ∩ B)   ← Don't double-count the middle!
In a class of 30 students, 18 play football, 15 play basketball, and 7 play both. How many students play at least one sport?
Formula Reminder n(F ∪ B) = n(F) + n(B) − n(F ∩ B) = 18 + 15 − 7 = ?
📖 Explanation

Apply the Inclusion-Exclusion Principle: n(F ∪ B) = n(F) + n(B) − n(F ∩ B) = 18 + 15 − 7 = 26 ❌ A (33): forgot to subtract the overlap — you counted "both" people twice.
❌ B (25): common arithmetic slip.
❌ D (30): that's the total class size, not the answer.

Q05 Sets ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Power Set The number of subsets of a set with n elements = 2ⁿ  (including ∅ and the set itself)
How many subsets does the set S = {a, b, c} have?
Quick Check List them: ∅, {a}, {b}, {c}, {a,b}, {a,c}, {b,c}, {a,b,c} → count = ?
📖 Explanation

For a set with n = 3 elements, the number of subsets = 2³ = 8. ∅, {a}, {b}, {c}, {a,b}, {a,c}, {b,c}, {a,b,c} ❌ B (7): forgot to count the empty set ∅ — it's always a subset!
❌ A (6): forgot both ∅ and the full set.
Rule: each element has 2 choices (in or out) → 2 × 2 × 2 = 8.


§2 · Probability
Q06 Probability ⭐ Easy
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Key Memory · Basic Probability P(event) = (favorable outcomes) ÷ (total equally likely outcomes) Always: 0 ≤ P ≤ 1
A bag contains 3 red, 4 blue, and 5 green marbles. A marble is drawn at random. What is the probability of drawing a blue marble?
📖 Explanation

Total marbles = 3 + 4 + 5 = 12. Blue marbles = 4. P(blue) = 4/12 = 1/3 ❌ A (1/4): incorrectly used 3 in the denominator instead of 12.
❌ C (4/8): wrong total.
❌ D (5/12): that's the probability of green.

Q07 Probability ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Complement Rule P(not A) = 1 − P(A)  ← When "at least one" → use complement: P(at least 1) = 1 − P(none)
A fair die is rolled twice. What is the probability of getting at least one 6?
Hint — Use Complement P(at least one 6) = 1 − P(no 6 at all) = 1 − (5/6) × (5/6) = ?
📖 Explanation

Method: complement. P(no 6 on first roll) = 5/6 P(no 6 on second roll) = 5/6 P(no 6 on either) = 5/6 × 5/6 = 25/36 P(at least one 6) = 1 − 25/36 = 11/36 ❌ A: P(6 on both rolls) = 1/36 — that's "exactly two 6s".
❌ B: 2/6 = 12/36 — double-counted the case (6,6).

Q08 Probability ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Mutually Exclusive Events A & B are mutually exclusive ↔ A ∩ B = ∅   Then: P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B)
A card is drawn from a standard 52-card deck. Event A = drawing a King. Event B = drawing a Queen. Are A and B mutually exclusive, and what is P(A ∪ B)?
📖 Explanation

A card cannot be both a King and a Queen simultaneously → A ∩ B = ∅ → Mutually exclusive. P(King) = 4/52   P(Queen) = 4/52 P(A ∪ B) = 4/52 + 4/52 = 8/52 = 2/13 ❌ B: wrong — they ARE mutually exclusive.
❌ C: 4/52 only counts Kings or only Queens, not both.

Q09 Probability ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Independent Events A and B are independent ↔ P(A ∩ B) = P(A) × P(B)   Knowing A happened doesn't change P(B)
A fair coin is flipped and a fair die is rolled. What is the probability of getting Heads AND a 4?
📖 Explanation

Coin flip and die roll are independent events. P(Heads) = 1/2 P(rolling a 4) = 1/6 P(Heads AND 4) = 1/2 × 1/6 = 1/12 ❌ A (1/4): used wrong denominator for the die.
❌ C (1/6): forgot to multiply by P(Heads).
❌ D: this would be an addition/union calculation, not "and".

Q10 Probability ⭐⭐⭐ Hard
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Key Memory · Conditional Probability P(A | B) = P(A ∩ B) ÷ P(B)  ← "Given B happened, what's P(A)?" — Reduce the sample space!
In a group, P(A) = 0.5, P(B) = 0.4, P(A ∩ B) = 0.2. Find P(A | B) — the probability of A given that B has occurred.
📖 Explanation

Conditional probability formula: P(A | B) = P(A ∩ B) ÷ P(B) = 0.2 ÷ 0.4 = 0.5 Notice: P(A|B) = P(A) = 0.5 → This means A and B are actually independent! (Knowing B happened doesn't change the probability of A.)

❌ A (0.2): that's P(A ∩ B), not the conditional probability.
❌ D (0.8): that would be P(B|A) formula applied incorrectly.


§3 · Counting & Combinations
Q11 Combinations ⭐ Easy
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Key Memory · Factorial n! = n × (n−1) × (n−2) × … × 2 × 1   Special: 0! = 1   1! = 1
Calculate 5! (5 factorial).
📖 Explanation

5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 20 × 6 = 120 ❌ A (60): stopped at 5 × 4 × 3 = 60 without multiplying by 2 × 1.
❌ C (25): just 5² — not factorial.
❌ D (720): that's 6! = 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1.

Q12 Combinations ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · nCr vs nPr ORDER matters → Permutation nPr = n!/(n−r)!   ORDER doesn't matter → Combination nCr = n!/[r!(n−r)!] "Choose a team" = Combination. "Arrange for a race" = Permutation.
How many ways can a committee of 3 people be chosen from a group of 7 people? (Order does NOT matter)
Formula C(7,3) = 7! / [3! × (7−3)!] = 7! / (3! × 4!) = ?
📖 Explanation

C(7,3) = 7! / (3! × 4!) = (7 × 6 × 5) / (3 × 2 × 1) = 210 / 6 = 35 ❌ A (21): that's C(7,2).
❌ B (42): arithmetic error (forgot to divide by 3!).
❌ D (210): that's the numerator only — 7 × 6 × 5 — didn't divide by 3!.

Q13 Combinations ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Permutation nPr = n! / (n−r)!   "Arrange r items from n" — ABC ≠ BAC, so order matters!
In how many ways can 3 students be arranged in a line from a group of 5 students? (Order DOES matter)
📖 Explanation

This is a permutation (order matters = arrangement). P(5,3) = 5! / (5−3)! = 5! / 2! = 120 / 2 = 60 Or think step by step: 1st position → 5 choices, 2nd → 4, 3rd → 3. 5 × 4 × 3 = 60 ❌ B (10): that's C(5,2). ❌ C (120) = 5! — that's arranging all 5. ❌ D (30): arithmetic error.

Q14 Combinations ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Fundamental Counting Principle If event 1 has m ways AND event 2 has n ways → total = m × n  (multiply independent choices)
A restaurant offers 4 starters, 6 main courses, and 3 desserts. How many different 3-course meals are possible?
📖 Explanation

By the Fundamental Counting Principle, multiply the number of choices at each stage: 4 × 6 × 3 = 72 ❌ A (13): added instead of multiplied (4 + 6 + 3).
❌ B (36): forgot starters (6 × 3 × 2).
❌ C (48): 4 × 6 × 2 — wrong dessert count.

Q15 Combinations ⭐⭐⭐ Hard
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Key Memory · C(n,r) Symmetry C(n,r) = C(n, n−r)   e.g., C(8,3) = C(8,5)   Choosing 3 to include = choosing 5 to exclude!
Evaluate C(8,5) using the symmetry property without full calculation.
📖 Explanation

Symmetry: C(8,5) = C(8, 8−5) = C(8,3) — much easier to calculate! C(8,3) = (8 × 7 × 6) / (3 × 2 × 1) = 336 / 6 = 56 ❌ A (40): arithmetic error. ❌ C (28): that's C(8,2). ❌ D (336): numerator only, forgot to divide by 3! = 6.


§4 · Mixed & Applied Problems
Q16 Mixed ⭐⭐ Medium
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Key Memory · Probability from Combinations P(event) = C(favorable, choose r) / C(total, choose r)   Use combinations when drawing without replacement, order doesn't matter!
A bag contains 4 red and 6 blue balls. Two balls are drawn at random without replacement. What is the probability that both are red?
Setup P(both red) = C(4,2) / C(10,2) = ?   [Choose 2 red from 4] / [Choose any 2 from 10]
📖 Explanation

C(4,2) = 6   (ways to choose 2 red from 4) C(10,2) = 45   (ways to choose any 2 from 10) P = 6/45 = 2/15 ❌ B (4/25): used (4/10)² — that's WITH replacement, not without!
❌ C (1/5): 9/45 = 1/5 → arithmetic error in C(4,2).
❌ D (2/5): miscounted the combinations.

Q17 Mixed ⭐⭐⭐ Hard
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Key Memory · Venn Diagram Regions 3-set Venn: always fill in from the center outward! Start with A∩B∩C, then pairwise, then singles.
A survey of 100 people found: 60 like tea (T), 50 like coffee (C), 30 like both tea and coffee. How many people like neither?
📖 Explanation

n(T ∪ C) = n(T) + n(C) − n(T ∩ C) = 60 + 50 − 30 = 80 n(neither) = 100 − 80 = 20 ❌ A (10): forgot to subtract intersection when computing union.
❌ C (30): that's n(T ∩ C), the overlap.
❌ D (40): used 100 − 60 (only subtracted tea drinkers).

Q18 Mixed ⭐⭐⭐ Hard
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Key Memory · Pascal's Triangle Row Row n of Pascal's triangle gives C(n,0), C(n,1), …, C(n,n).   Each entry = sum of two above it.
Using Pascal's triangle, what is the coefficient of x²y³ in the expansion of (x + y)⁵?
Binomial Theorem (x+y)⁵ = Σ C(5,k) · x^(5−k) · y^k   For x²y³: k = 3, so coefficient = C(5,3) = ?
📖 Explanation

The term with x²y³ has k = 3 (the power of y). By the Binomial Theorem: coefficient = C(5,3) = C(5,2) = 10 Row 5 of Pascal's Triangle: 1, 5, 10, 10, 5, 1.
❌ A (5): that's C(5,1) — power of y would be 1. ❌ B (20): no such entry in row 5. ❌ D (15): that's C(6,2).

Q19 Mixed ⭐⭐⭐ Hard
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Key Memory · Arrangements with Restrictions "Must be together" → Treat them as ONE unit, then arrange. Final answer = (arrangements as unit) × (internal arrangements).
In how many ways can 5 people A, B, C, D, E be arranged in a row if A and B must always be next to each other?
📖 Explanation

Step 1: Treat AB as one unit → 4 units total: [AB], C, D, E. 4! = 24   arrangements of 4 units Step 2: Inside the unit, A and B can swap: AB or BA. 2! = 2   internal arrangements Total = 4! × 2! = 24 × 2 = 48 ❌ A (24): forgot that AB can also be arranged as BA.
❌ C (120): 5! — no restriction applied.
❌ D (72): over-counted.

Q20 Mixed ⭐⭐⭐ Hard
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Key Memory · Expected Value E(X) = Σ [x · P(x)]   Multiply each outcome by its probability, then add everything up. It's the long-run average!
A game pays $10 if you roll a 6 on a fair die, and $0 otherwise. Ticket cost is $2. What is the expected profit per game?
Formula E(profit) = [P(6) × $10 + P(not 6) × $0] − $2 (cost) = ?
📖 Explanation

E(winnings) = (1/6) × $10 + (5/6) × $0 = $10/6 ≈ $1.667 E(profit) = $1.667 − $2.00 = −$0.333 ≈ −$0.33 The game has a negative expected profit — you lose about $0.33 per play on average. This is why casinos make money!

❌ A ($1.67): forgot to subtract the $2 ticket cost.
❌ D ($8): $10 − $2 = $8 but forgot to multiply by probability 1/6.

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