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MA35-01 Maths Coming soon

The complement rule: P(not A) = 1 - P(A)

MA35-01

This lesson is coming soon.

In this lesson

Find a missing probability from an exhaustive set of outcomes using P(not A) = 1 - P(A), and when critiquing a flawed probability diagram, name the specific incorrect values rather than stating the rule in the abstract.

What it covers

  • P(A') = 1 - P(A) for a two-outcome complement
  • Using 'a complete/exhaustive set of outcomes sums to 1' to find one missing probability from several known ones
  • Critiquing a flawed probability diagram by citing the specific numeric values involved, not a vague 'doesn't add up' statement

Key words

For: AQA GCSE 8300, Edexcel GCSE 1MA1, Eduqas GCSE C300, Edexcel IGCSE 4MA1, OCR GCSE J560, Cambridge IGCSE 0580

On the specification

BoardSpecStatement
AQA GCSE 8300P4Apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of outcomes sum to 1
Edexcel GCSE 1MA1P4Apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of outcomes sum to one; apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of mutually exclusive events sum to one
Eduqas GCSE C300FP4Apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of outcomes sum to one; apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of mutually exclusive events sum to one
Eduqas GCSE C300HP4Apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of outcomes sum to one; apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of mutually exclusive events sum to one
Edexcel IGCSE 4MA1F6.3HCalculate the probability of the complement of an event happening
OCR GCSE J56011.02eUse the addition law for mutually exclusive events. Use p(A) + p(not A) = 1
Cambridge IGCSE 0580C8.1Understand and use the probability scale from 0 to 1.
Cambridge IGCSE 0580E8.1Understand and use the probability scale from 0 to 1.
For teachers

This GCSE Maths lesson teaches the complement rule: P(not A) = 1 - P(A). By the end, students should be able to find a missing probability from an exhaustive set of outcomes using P(not A) = 1 - P(A), and when critiquing a flawed probability diagram, name the specific incorrect values rather than stating the rule in the abstract. It works through two worked examples and the mistakes examiners report.