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📊 7th grade math · Data & Chance

Likely or unlikely?

Probability runs from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain). Less than 1/2 is unlikely, more than 1/2 is likely, exactly 1/2 is equally likely. A bag with 9 red and 1 blue: picking red is 9 out of 10, so it is likely. Picking green is impossible.

Worked example

A bag has 1 yellow and 5 black counters. One counter is picked at random. How likely is it that the counter is black?
Answer: likely
5 of the 6 outcomes fit, more than half, so it is likely. Impossible is probability 0, certain is 1, and equally likely is exactly 1/2.

For grown-ups: Likely / unlikely / certain / impossible language. Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

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🖨️ Printable sheet and key

Try three

  1. A bag has 1 red and 5 blue marbles. One marble is picked at random. How likely is it that the marble is blue?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: likely
    5 of the 6 outcomes fit, more than half, so it is likely. Impossible is probability 0, certain is 1, and equally likely is exactly 1/2.
  2. A spinner has 8 equal sections: 2 black and 6 purple. It is spun once. How likely is it that the spinner does not land on red?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: certain
    All 8 outcomes fit, so it is certain. Impossible is probability 0, certain is 1, and equally likely is exactly 1/2.
  3. A fair 8-sided die, numbered 1 to 8, is rolled. How likely is it that the die shows a multiple of 3?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: unlikely
    2 of the 8 outcomes fit, less than half, so it is unlikely. Impossible is probability 0, certain is 1, and equally likely is exactly 1/2.
Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Likely or unlikely? (7th grade)

  1. A fair six-sided die is rolled. How likely is it that the die shows a 6?
  2. A spinner has 6 equal sections: 1 red and 5 blue. It is spun once. How likely is it that the spinner does not land on purple?
  3. A fair six-sided die is rolled. How likely is it that the die shows a 7?
  4. A bag has 1 purple and 5 green cubes. One cube is picked at random. How likely is it that the cube is green?
  5. A fair six-sided die is rolled. How likely is it that the die shows a number greater than 0?
  6. A bag has 5 red and 1 black counters. One counter is picked at random. How likely is it that the counter is black?
  7. A spinner has 5 equal sections: 2 orange and 3 white. It is spun once. How likely is it that the spinner lands on blue?
  8. A spinner has 4 equal sections: 2 purple and 2 blue. It is spun once. How likely is it that the spinner does not land on white?
  9. A fair six-sided die is rolled. How likely is it that the die shows a 1?
  10. A fair six-sided die is rolled. How likely is it that the die shows a 3?
  11. A card is picked at random from 12 cards numbered 1 to 12, one number on each card. How likely is it that the card is a number greater than 0?
  12. A bag has 1 yellow, 7 red and 3 black marbles. One marble is picked at random. How likely is it that the marble is not yellow?

Answer key

  1. unlikely
  2. certain
  3. impossible
  4. likely
  5. certain
  6. unlikely
  7. impossible
  8. certain
  9. unlikely
  10. unlikely
  11. certain
  12. likely

More 7th grade skills: all 7th grade math skills, or every grade at math skills.