PROBABILITY OF

MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

 PROBABILITY OF
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS
• Events are mutually exclusive if they
cannot happen at the same time. For
example, if we toss a coin, either heads or
tails might turn up, but not heads and tails
at the same time. Similarly, in a single throw
of a die, we can only have one number
shown at the top face. The numbers on the
face are mutually exclusive events
• If A and B are mutually exclusive
events then the probability of A
happening OR the probability of B
happening is P(A) + P(B).
• P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B)
 Independent Events
• Events are independent if the outcome of
one event does not affect the outcome of
another. For example, if you throw a die and
a coin, the number on the die does not affect
whether the result you get on the coin.
• If A and B are independent events, then the
probability of A happening AND the
probability of B happening is P(A) × P(B).
• P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B)
 DEPENDENT EVENTS
• Events are dependent if the outcome of
one event affects the outcome of
another. For example, if you draw two
colored balls from a bag and the first
ball is not replaced before you draw the
second ball then the outcome of the
second draw will be affected by the
outcome of the first draw.
• If A and B are dependent events, then the
probability of A happening AND the
probability of B happening, given A, is
P(A) × P(B after A).
• P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B after A)
• P(B after A) can also be written as P(B | A)
• then P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B | A)
 PROBABILITY OF
NON-MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE
EVENTS
 NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

 are events that can happen at the same

time. Examples include: driving and
listening to the radio, even numbers and
prime numbers on a die, losing a game and
scoring, or running and sweating.
Non-mutually exclusive events can make
calculating probability more complex.
 EQUATION FOR NON- MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

If two events A & B are not mutually exclusive

events,
• P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A and B)
• This is The General Addition Rule.
• P(A and B) is called a joint probability and can be
written P(A∩B).
• P(A∩B) is also called the intersection of events A
and B.
NON- MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

A B

The shaded region shows the intersection of

events A and B, where A and B can happen at
the same time.
 Example
• What is the probability of having an
even number or a prime number in
rolling a die.
 Example
• The probability of drawing a diamond
or a face card in a standard deck of
cards.
 Example
• Find the probability of drawing a pair
or two red cards when 2 cards are
drawn at random from a 52-card deck.
 Determine if the events are mutually
exclusive or non-mutually exclusive.
Then determine the probability of each.
1. Find the probability of choosing a penny or
a dime from 4 pennies, 3 nickels and 6 dimes.
 Determine if the events are mutually
exclusive or non-mutually exclusive.
Then determine the probability of each.

2. Find the probability of selecting a boy or a

blond-haired person from 12 girls, 5 of whom
have blond hair, and 15 boys, 6 of whom have
blond hair.
 Determine if the events are mutually
exclusive or non-mutually exclusive.
Then determine the probability of each.
• 3. Find the probability of drawing a king or
queen from a standard deck of cards.
 Determine if the events are mutually
exclusive or non-mutually exclusive.
Then determine the probability of each.
• 4. The probability for a driver’s license
applicant to pass the road test the first time
is 5/6. The probability of passing the written
test on the first attempt is 9/10. The
probability of passing both test the first time
is 4/5. Are the events mutually exclusive?
What is the probability of passing either test
on the first attempt?
 Determine if the events are mutually
exclusive or non-mutually exclusive.
Then determine the probability of each.
5.Find the probability of tossing two dice and
either one showing a 4.