EDEXCEL GCSE FOUNDATION MATHS - What are Listing Outcomes

Edexcel GCSE Foundation Maths: Listing Outcomes

Listing outcomes is a key skill in probability. It helps us understand all the possible results of an event. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Identify the Event:

• What is the activity or situation you're interested in?
• Example: Tossing a coin twice.

2. Determine the Possible Outcomes for Each Part:

• For each individual part of the event, list all the possible outcomes.
• Example:
  • Toss 1: Heads (H), Tails (T)
  • Toss 2: Heads (H), Tails (T)

3. Create a Systematic List:

• Use a table, diagram, or tree diagram to organize the possible combinations of outcomes.
• Example: | Toss 1 | Toss 2 | Outcome | |---|---|---| | H | H | HH | | H | T | HT | | T | H | TH | | T | T | TT |

4. Verify Completeness:

• Ensure you have accounted for all possible outcomes.
• Check if there are any overlaps or repeated outcomes.

Example: Rolling a Dice and Flipping a Coin

• Event: Rolling a dice and flipping a coin.

• Outcomes:

  • Dice: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Coin: Heads (H), Tails (T)

• Systematic List (using a tree diagram):

  Dice Coin Outcome / \ / \ / \ 1 2 H T 1H 1T | | | | | | 3 4 H T 3H 3T | | | | | | 5 6 H T 5H 5T | | | | 6H 6T

Key Points:

• The order of outcomes matters in some cases (e.g., rolling a dice and flipping a coin).
• Ensure you list all the possible outcomes without any duplicates.
• Listing outcomes helps us calculate probabilities more effectively.