1.1. Independent Events http://www.ck12.org
Solution:
Probability(success) =number o f ways to get success
total number o f possible outcomesDie:P( 5 ) =^16
Coin:P(H) =^12
Die and Coin:
P( 5 AND H) =
1
6
×
1
2
P( 5 AND H) =
1
12
The previous question is an example of anINDEPENDENT EVENT. When two events occur in such a way that
the probability of one is independent of the probability of the other, the two are said to be independent. Can you
think of some examples of independent events? Roll two dice. If one die roll was a six (6), does this mean the other
die rolled cannot be a six? Of course not! The two dies are independent. Rolling one die is independent of the roll
of the second die. The same is true if you choose a red candy from a candy dish and flip a coin to get heads. The
probability of these two events occurring is also independent.
We often represent an independent event in a VENN DIAGRAM. Look at the diagrams below. AandBare two
events in a sample space.