GRADE 8 TO 12

1. Understanding Probability
CAPS-Aligned | Grades 8–12 |
Mathematics

2. What Is Probability?
• Probability is the chance or likelihood that
something will happen.
• It ranges from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).
• Examples: Tossing a coin, Rolling a die.

3. Key Terms
• • Certain – Will definitely happen
• • Likely – Will probably happen
• • Even Chance – 50/50 chance
• • Unlikely – Not probable
• • Impossible – Cannot happen

4. Basic Probability Formula
• Probability = Favourable Outcomes / Total
Possible Outcomes
• Example: Probability of rolling a 4 on a die =
1/6

5. Sample Space
• The set of all possible outcomes.
• Example: Tossing a coin → {Heads, Tails}
• Rolling a die → {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

6. Representing Outcomes
• • Lists and Tables
• • Tree Diagrams (basic)
• • Venn Diagrams (intro)

7. Simple Experiments
• • Tossing one or two coins
• • Rolling one die or two dice
• • Spinners and cards (basic probability)

8. Combined Events (Grade 9)
• Example: Tossing two coins → Outcomes: HH,
HT, TH, TT
• Two dice → Use tables to count outcomes
• Start discussing independent and dependent
events

9. Real-Life Examples
• • Weather forecasts
• • Drawing names from a hat
• • Sports predictions
• • Classroom games and spinners

10. Grade 10: Advanced Probability
Concepts
• • Mutually exclusive events
• • Venn diagrams with probabilities
• • Independent vs Dependent events
• • Addition Rule: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A
and B)

11. Grade 11: Compound Events
• • Tree diagrams for multiple events
• • Conditional probability (P(A|B))
• • Multiplication Rule: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B|
A)

12. Grade 12: Problem Solving &
Interpretation
• • Using probability in real data scenarios
• • Probability distributions (brief)
• • Exam-level questions and interpretation of
data

13. Activity Ideas
• • Classroom experiments (dice, coins,
spinners)
• • Group tasks to build tree diagrams
• • Card games to demonstrate randomness
• • Surveys and predictions from real data

14. Summary
• • Probability is all about measuring
uncertainty.
• • It evolves from simple experiments in Grade
8 to abstract reasoning in Grade 12.
• • Real-life application is key to understanding.
• • Practice with examples and activities is
essential.