Skill: Find probabilities from cards

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

Probability from cards is determined by identifying the equally likely outcomes in the deck and comparing the number of cards with the desired property—such as a color, suit, rank, or number—to the total number of cards: $P(\text{event})=\frac{\text{favorable outcomes}}{\text{total outcomes}}$ . The probability can be represented as a fraction, decimal, or percent and interpreted from 0 to 1; this scope concerns straightforward single-draw situations, not advanced dependent or conditional probability.

On this page:

Learn “Find probabilities from cards” with a detailed explanation of the concept
Master “Find probabilities from cards” with unlimited, free practice problems
Download (or modify) a free worksheet on Find probabilities from cards you can use at home or in class with practice problems that scaffold and explore “Find probabilities from cards” from different perspectives.
Start working on adaptive units like “Probability and Counting - Multiple Events - Intro” or “Probability and Counting - Single Event - Intro” that introduce, teach, or practice “Find probabilities from cards” to maximize your learning.

Detailed Explanation: Find probabilities from cards

When drawing one card from a standard deck, each card is equally likely to be chosen. To find a probability:

P(\text{event})=\frac{\text{number of favorable cards}}{\text{total number of cards}}

Example

What is the probability of drawing a heart from a standard 52-card deck?

Find the total number of cards.
A standard deck has $52$ cards.
Count the favorable cards.
There are $13$ hearts in the deck.
Write the probability.

P(\text{heart})=\frac{13}{52}

Simplify the fraction.
Divide the numerator and denominator by $13$ :

\frac{13}{52}=\frac{1}{4}

So, the probability of drawing a heart is:

\boxed{\frac{1}{4}}

This is also $0.25$ or $25\%$ .

Learn by doing: Find probabilities from cards

Click a topic below to practice the foundational skills you'll need, learn the steps, or master this skill

Your results

Practice with unlimited practice problems

Probability - Cards, From Hand, Pick One of Group, To Percent

Earned ?

Download/Modify Free Grade 6 'Find probabilities from cards' Worksheet

Print this free 'Find probabilities from cards' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.

Units Teaching This Skill

These adaptive units introduce, teach, or reinforce this skill (Find probabilities from cards) through scaffolded problems that grow in difficulty as concepts are understood.