What is Likely Event?

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Grade Level:

Class 2

All STEM domains, Finance, Economics, Data Science, AI, Physics, Chemistry

Definition

What is it?

A 'Likely Event' is something that has a very good chance of happening. It means there is a high possibility or probability that the event will occur. We expect it to happen more often than not.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you have a box with 10 laddoos, and 9 of them are motichoor laddoos, and only 1 is a boondi laddoo. If you close your eyes and pick one laddoo, it is a likely event that you will pick a motichoor laddoo because there are many more of them.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's say a cricket team, India, has won 8 out of their last 10 matches against Sri Lanka. They are playing another match tomorrow. What is the likelihood of India winning?

Step 1: Count total matches played: 10 matches.
---Step 2: Count matches India won: 8 matches.
---Step 3: Compare wins to total matches. India won 8 out of 10, which is a big number.
---Step 4: Conclude if it's likely. Since India won most of the matches (80% of them), it is a likely event that India will win the next match too.
---Answer: It is a likely event that India will win the next cricket match.

Why It Matters

Understanding likely events helps us make smart decisions in life and in many important fields. Doctors use it to predict how well a medicine will work, and weather scientists use it to forecast if it will rain. It's also key for engineers designing safe structures and for financial experts managing money.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking 'likely' means 'certain to happen'. | CORRECTION: 'Likely' means 'has a good chance', not 'will definitely happen'. Even a very likely event can sometimes not happen.

MISTAKE: Confusing 'likely' with 'unlikely' or 'impossible'. | CORRECTION: 'Likely' means a high chance. 'Unlikely' means a low chance, and 'impossible' means it cannot happen at all.

MISTAKE: Not considering all possible outcomes when judging likelihood. | CORRECTION: Always think about all the ways an event can happen and all the ways it cannot happen to correctly judge if it's likely.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: You have a bag with 7 red marbles and 3 blue marbles. Is it a likely event to pick a red marble? | ANSWER: Yes, it is a likely event because there are more red marbles (7) than blue marbles (3).

QUESTION: A school bus arrives on time 9 out of 10 days. Is it a likely event that the bus will be on time tomorrow? | ANSWER: Yes, it is a likely event. Since it's on time 90% of the time, there's a very good chance it will be on time tomorrow.

QUESTION: Your favourite food stall usually sells out of samosas by 2 PM. Today, you are going there at 1 PM. Is it a likely event that you will get samosas? Explain why. | ANSWER: Yes, it is a likely event. Since the stall usually sells out by 2 PM, going at 1 PM means you are going before they typically run out, so there's a high chance you will get samosas.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these is a likely event?

The sun rising in the west tomorrow.

Getting a '6' when you roll a standard dice.

Flipping a coin and getting 'Heads'.

It will be day after night.

The Correct Answer Is:

The sun rising in the west is impossible. Getting a '6' on a dice or 'Heads' on a coin are equally likely (50/50 chance), not highly likely. It being day after night is a certainty, which is the highest form of 'likely'.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you use a weather app on your phone, it often tells you the 'chance of rain'. If it says '90% chance of rain', it means rain is a likely event. This helps you decide if you need to carry an umbrella for your commute to school or work.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

LIKELY: having a high chance of happening | PROBABILITY: the chance of something happening | OUTCOME: a possible result of an event | CERTAIN: something that will definitely happen

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job learning about 'Likely Events'! Next, you can explore 'Unlikely Events' and 'Impossible Events'. These concepts will help you understand the full range of possibilities for different situations.