Outcomes are the possible results that can occur from a probabilistic experiment. Each outcome is a single realization of what could happen when the experiment is conducted.
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In probability, outcomes must be distinct and mutually exclusive.
The set of all possible outcomes is called the sample space.
For a fair six-sided die, there are 6 possible outcomes: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
In an event involving multiple trials or stages (like flipping two coins), each combination of results counts as a unique outcome.
The probability of any single outcome occurring in a uniform probability model is calculated as $\frac{1}{\text{number of possible outcomes}}$.
Review Questions
What is an outcome in the context of a probabilistic experiment?
How many possible outcomes are there when flipping three coins?
Explain how the concept of sample space relates to outcomes.
Related terms
Sample Space: The set of all possible outcomes in a probabilistic experiment.
Event: A subset of the sample space; it consists of one or more outcomes.
Probability: A measure quantifying the likelihood that an event will occur; calculated as the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes.