List every result

The idea

The result of each random trial is called an outcome, and the set of all possible outcomes is the sample space, listed within brackets and separated by commas.

Results of a trial

Toss a coin: it shows H or T. Each result of a trial is an outcome. What if we collect all the outcomes into one list?

How many outcomes does one toss of a coin have?

• 1
• 2
• 6

Collect the outcomes

For each experiment, tap every chip that is a possible outcome, then Check. Leave out chips that cannot happen.

The sample space

The result of one trial is an outcome. The set of all possible outcomes is the sample space, written in brackets with commas: coin {H, T}, die {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.

Notes

An outcome is the result of one trial. The sample space is the set of all possible outcomes, written in brackets, such as {H, T}.

Check yourself

Which is the sample space for tossing a coin once?

How many outcomes are in the sample space {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} of a die?

Answer: 6

The sample space has the numbers 1 to 6, so 6 outcomes.

A bag has one red, one blue and one green ball. One ball is drawn. What is the sample space?

What do we call the set of all possible outcomes?

• {H, T} — correct. Yes. The two possible outcomes are heads and tails.
• {H}. Tails can come up too.
• {H, T, HT}. HT is not a result of one toss.
• {red, blue}. Green can also be drawn.
• {red, blue, green} — correct. Yes. Each ball colour is a possible outcome.
• {red, blue, green, yellow}. There is no yellow ball in the bag.
• An outcome. An outcome is just one result of one trial.
• A probability. A probability is a number from 0 to 1.
• The sample space — correct. Yes.