Question

The probabilities that a student will solve Question A and Question B are $0.4$ and $0.5$ respectively. What is the probability that he solves at least one of the two questions?
A.$0.6$
B.$0.7$
C.$0.8$
D.$0.9$

Answer 1

Hint : Consider an event which is not happening.

Given probabilities that a student will solve Question A and Question B are $0.4$ and $0.5$ respectively
Probability the student will not solve either question A or B are $1 - 0.4 = 0.6\;$and $1 - 0.5 = 0.5\;\,$respectively
And
Total probability the student will not solve any question is $0.6 \times 0.5 = 0.3$

Probability that he solves at least one of the two questions,
=(total probability) - (probability the student will not solve any question)=$\;1 - \left( {0.6 \times 0.5} \right) = 1 - 0.3 = 0.7$

Therefore, Correct answer is option B.

Note :- In these types of questions of probability we have to obtain the probability of not happening of an event then subtract with the total probability (which is 1 ) to get the probability of happening of that event.