MUTALLY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

 Occurs when two event CANNOT occur at same time for example a
blue marble and the red marble in the same bag.

Consider the Venn Diagram below

From set theory

𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝑛(𝐴) + (𝐵) − 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)
But in this case, the sets are
NOT overlapping hence no
intersection. This is called a
disjointed set.

Since it does
𝑷(𝑨 ∩ 𝑩) = 𝟎 not exist

The ADDITION
𝑷(𝑨 ∪ 𝑩) = 𝑷(𝑨) + 𝑷(𝑩) LAW:
use when both
events
𝑷(𝑨 𝑶𝑹 𝑩)
CANNOT occur
at same time

https://youtu.be/xLjBVHwQIcY
See video link to demonstrate the formula:
https://youtu.be/xLjBVHwQIcY

You can also use: https://youtu.be/X6usGgwXFyU

Example 1: The probabilities of three teams A,B and C winning a cricket match are
1 1 1
; ; respectively. Calculate
3 5 9

(i) the probability that team 𝐴 or 𝐶 will win the match?

1 1
𝐼𝑓 𝑃(𝐴 ) = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃(𝐶) =
3 9
1 1 3+1
𝑃(𝐴 𝑜𝑟 𝐶 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑛) = 𝑃(𝐴 ∪ 𝐶) = + =
3 9 9
𝟒
∴ 𝑷(𝑨 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒏) =
𝟗
With the word or
use the ∪ symbol
hence ADD
 (ii) the probability that team 𝐴, 𝐵 or 𝐶 will win the match?

1 1 1
𝑃(𝐴 𝑜𝑟 𝐵 𝑜𝑟 𝐶 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑛) = 𝑃(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 ∪ 𝐶) = + +
3 5 9
𝟐𝟗
∴ 𝑷(𝑨 𝒐𝒓 𝑩 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒏) =
𝟒𝟓
With the word or
This states that ALL wins use the ∪ symbol
hence ADD

(iii) the probability that NONE will win?

29
𝑃( 𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑠 ) = 1 − 𝑃( 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑠) = 1 −
45
𝟏𝟔
∴ 𝑷(𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒔) =
𝟒𝟓

Example 2: A spinner has 5 red, 3 green, 3 blue and 1 yellow sectors. What is the
probably that is tops on a red or a green?

Solution: The colours have NO

P(Red or Green) = P(Red) + P(Green) CONNECTION
5 3 between each other
= +
12 12 hence OR → 𝐴𝐷𝐷
𝟖
=
𝟏𝟐

See video link to demonstrate the example:

https://youtu.be/0Dl4wjrs9Tw