Independent Events

Two events are said to be independent if the result of the second event is not
affected by the result of the first event. The probability of one event does not
change the probability of the other event.
If A and B are independent events, the probability of both events occurring is
the product of the probabilities of the individual events.
If A and B are independent events,

P(A∩B) = P(A and B) = P(A) • P(B).

(referred to as the "Probability Multiplication Rule")

Q1 What is the probability of tossing a head on a penny and then choosing
an ace from a standard deck of cards?
These are independent events as the second event is not affected by the first.
The probability of BOTH of these events is found by the Multiplication Rule.
The events are independent.
P(head then ace) = P(head) • P(ace) = 1/2 • 4/52 = 2/52 = 1/26.

Q 2 A drawer contains 3 red paper clips, 4 green paper clips, and 5

blue paper clips. One paper clip is taken from the drawer and then
replaced. Another paper clip is taken from the drawer. What is the
probability that the first paper clip is red and the second paper clip is blue?

Because the first paper clip is replaced, the sample space of 12 paper clips
does not change from the first event to the second event. The events are
independent.
P(red then blue) = P(red) • P(blue) = 3/12 • 5/12 = 15/144 = 5/48.
 Dependent Events
If the result of one event is affected by the result of another event,
the events are said to be dependent.
If A and B are dependent events, the probability of both events occurring
is the product of the probability of the first event and the probability of the
second event
once the first event has occurred.
If A and B are dependent events, and A occurs first,
P(A and B) = P(A) • P(B, once A has occurred)
... and is written as ...
P(A∩B) = P(A and B) = P(A) • P(B | A)
The notation P(B | A) is called a "conditional probability"
and is read "the probability of event B given that event A has occurred".

Q 1. There are 3 red, 6 white and 7 blue balls in a bag. If two balls are drawn one
by one, find the probability that the first ball is white and the second ball is blue
when the first ball drawn is not replaced.

A be the event of drawing a white ball and B be the event of drawing second a
blue ball. Since, the first ball is not replaced before drawing the second ball, the
two events are dependent.
Total number of balls = 3 + 6 + 7 = 16
Number of white balls = 6
Therefore,
Probability of drawing a white ball, P(A) = 6/16
The number of balls in the bag is now 16 - 1 = 15
Number of blue balls = 7
A blue ball is drawn given that a white ball is drawn. Therefore, conditional
probability of B given that A has occurred is,
P(B/A) = 7/15
Now, the probability that events A and B occur simultaneously is given by,
P(A∩B) = P(A) ×P(B/A)
Substituting the respective values,
P(A∩B) = (6/16) × (7/15)=7/40
Therefore, the probability that the first ball is white and the second ball is blue
when the first ball drawn is not replaced is 7/40.
Solve the following questions.
Q2 Two cards are drawn one by one from a pack of 52 cards without replacement.
What is the probability that the first card drawn is a king and second is queen?

Q3 There are 19 tickets in a bag numbered from 1 to 19. One ticket is dawn and
then a second ticket is drawn without replacement. What is the probability that
both the tickets will show even number?
Q4 A bag contains 3 green marbles and 2 red marbles. A marble is drawn,
not replaced, and then a second marble is drawn. What is the probability of
drawing a green marble followed by drawing a red marble?
Q5 A drawer contains 3 red paper clips, 4 green paper clips, and 5
blue paper clips. One paper clip is taken from the drawer and
is NOT replaced. Another paper clip is taken from the drawer. What is the
probability that the first paper clip is red, and the second paper clip is blue?
Q 6 Shareen has to select two students from a class of 23 girls and 25 boys. What
is the probability that both students chosen are boys?
Q4 A bag contains 6 red, 5 blue, and 4 yellow balls. 2 balls are drawn, but the
first ball is drawn without replacement. Find the following.
a) P (red, then blue)
b) P (blue, then blue)