Mutually Exclusive Events
Related Pages
More Lessons On Probability
Probability Tree Diagrams
Independent Events
Dependent Events
In these lessons, we will learn how to find the probability of mutually exclusive events. We will also compare mutually exclusive events and independent events.
Mutually Exclusive Events
In probability, mutually exclusive events (also called disjoint events) are events that cannot happen at the same time. If one event occurs, the other cannot. They have no outcomes in common.
The following diagrams show the formulas for the probability of mutually exclusive events and non-mutually exclusive events. Scroll down the page for examples and solutions.
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Probability Of Mutually Exclusive Events
Two events are said to be 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)
Example:
The probabilities of three teams A, B and C winning a badminton competition
are 1/3, 1/5 and 1/9 respectively.
Calculate the probability that
a) either A or B will win
b) either A or B or C will win
c) none of these teams will win
d) neither A nor B will win
Solution:
c) P(none will win) = 1 – P(A or B or C will win) 
d) P(neither A nor B will win) = 1 – P(either A or B will win) 
Mutually Exclusive Events
Probabilities of Mutually Exclusive Events
If two events are ‘mutually exclusive’ they cannot occur at the same time.
Learn all about mutually exclusive events in this video.
For mutually exclusive events the total probabilities must add up to 1.
Probability - P(A ∪ B) and Mutually Exclusive Events
P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A ∩ B)
For mutually exclusive events, P(A ∩ B) = 0.
Mutually Exclusive Events And Non-Mutually Exclusive Events
The following video shows how to calculate the probability of mutually exclusive events and non-mutually exclusive events.
Examples:
- Find the probability of drawing a yellow ball or drawing a three.
- Find the probability of drawing a red ball or drawing an odd number ball.
Mutually Exclusive Events - Introduction
Examples:
- What is the probability of drawing a heart and a black card?
- What is the probability of drawing a heart or a black card?
- What is the probability of drawing a heart and a face card?
- What is the probability of drawing a heart or a face card?
Mutually Exclusive Events Vs Independent Events
Example:
The figure shows how 25 people travelled to work: B for bicycle, T for Train and W for Walk.
a) Write down two of these events that are mutually exclusive. Give a reason for your answer.
b) Determine whether or not B and T are independent events.
Independence And Mutually Exclusive
Mutually exclusive events cannot be independent events.
Independent events cannot be mutually exclusive events.
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