---
title: "Likelihood Language"
description: "Use probability language to describe and compare the likelihood of everyday events using words such as certain, likely, even chance, unlikely, impossible"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/likelihood-language-mt_iFFKZd-Vgv
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/likelihood-language-mt_iFFKZd-Vgv.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Likelihood Language

Use probability language to describe and compare the likelihood of everyday events using words such as certain, likely, even chance, unlikely, impossible

Subject: Mathematics · Area: Probability · Ages 9 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/likelihood-language-mt_iFFKZd-Vgv

## Ready when they can

- Place five everyday events, such as rolling 8 on a normal die, picking 1 green ball from 5, a fair coin landing tails, picking red from 7 red and 3 blue balls, and picking red from a bag containing only red balls, from impossible to certain.
- Use 'likely', 'unlikely', 'certain', 'impossible', and 'even chance' correctly to describe different events
- Explain why pulling a red ball from a bag of mostly red balls is 'likely' but not 'certain'

## Lesson: How Likely Is It?

Some events always happen, some never happen, and others may happen. A normal six-sided die always shows 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Getting one of those numbers is certain. Getting 7 is impossible. Use likely, unlikely, and even chance for events between those ends.

*(drawing: This is the likelihood scale. Impossible sits on the far left, and certain sits on the far right.)*

**Example.** Mia has a bag with 8 red balls and 2 blue balls. She reaches in without looking. Pulling a red ball is likely, because most of the balls are red. But it is not certain, because the blue balls are still in there too.

**Example.** A fair coin can land heads or tails. Neither side has a bigger chance, so heads is an even chance. A bag with 3 red and 3 yellow balls is the same: half the balls are red, so red is an even chance. Likely needs more than half. On a fair die, a number above 4 can come up two ways: 5 or 6. Rolling a 1 has one way, so a number above 4 is more likely than a 1.

**Example.** Try placing five events from least likely to most likely. Rolling 8 on a normal die is impossible. Picking 1 green ball from a bag of 1 green and 4 yellow balls is unlikely. A fair coin landing tails is an even chance. Picking red from a bag with 7 red and 3 blue balls is likely. Picking red from a bag containing only red balls is certain.

**Recap.** Impossible never happens, certain always happens, and unlikely, even chance, and likely sit in between them.

## Practice

17 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Mathematical Precision](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/mathematical-precision-mt_mywsN77hGZ)

## Opens up

- [Simple Chance Experiments](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/simple-chance-experiments-mt_J4j7d3iAfg)
- [Ordering Likelihoods](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/ordering-likelihoods-mt_UcGn2hjhYU)