Q.State whether the following statement is True or False: If A and B are mutually exclusive events, then they will be independent also.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Event Independence
Event Independence
Two events are independent when the occurrence of one does not change the probability of the other. Toss a coin and roll a die: the coin landing heads tells you nothing about whether the die shows a six. Contrast this with drawing cards without replacement, where the first draw does change the odds for the second — those events are dependent.
From Conditional Probability to a Clean Test
"Knowing B doesn't change A" means P(A∣B)=P(A). Substituting the definition P(A∣B)=P(B)P(A∩B) and clearing the fraction gives the symmetric form used in practice:
P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B).
Events A and B are independent exactly when the probability of both occurring equals the product of their individual probabilities. This version is preferred because it needs no non-zero condition and treats A and B alike.
A Quick Check
Roll a fair die. Let A={2,4,6} (even) and B={4,5,6} (greater than 3). Then P(A)=P(B)=21, and A∩B={4,6} so P(A∩B)=31. Since 31=21⋅21=41, these events are not independent.
Three or More Events
Events A,B,C are mutually independent only if all four conditions hold: the three pairwise products and
P(A∩B∩C)=P(A)P(B)P(C).
Pairwise independence alone is not enough to guarantee mutual independence. …
Concept: Event Independence — Two events are independent if P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B). Mutually exclusive events have P(A∩B)=0.
Reasoning:
- For mutually exclusive events A and B, A∩B=∅, so P(A∩B)=0.
- For independence, we require P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B). …
Mutually exclusive events cannot be independent (unless one has zero probability). The statement is False.
Why this question trips students up
The confusion here comes from mixing up two different kinds of "relationship" between events. Mutually exclusive events cannot happen together — they share no outcomes. Independent events can happen together, and the occurrence of one tells you nothing about the other. These are fundamentally opposite ideas.
Let's make this concrete. Suppose you roll a fair die. Let A be "roll a 1" and B be "roll a 2". These are mutually exclusive — you can't get both on a single roll. But are they independent? If you know A happened, does that change the probability of B? Absolutely — it drops it to zero. So they are dependent.
The only exception is when one event has probability zero — then it's both mutually exclusive and independent, but that's a degenerate case, not the general rule.
Step-by-step reasoning
1. Recall the definitions precisely.
Two events A and B are:
- Mutually exclusive if A∩B=∅, so P(A∩B)=0.
- Independent if P(A∩B)=P(A)⋅P(B).
P(A∩B)=P(A)⋅P(B)(independence)
P(A∩B)=0(mutual exclusivity)
2. Assume both conditions hold.
If A and B are both mutually exclusive and independent, then we must have:
0=P(A)⋅P(B)
3. Interpret the equation.
The product P(A)⋅P(B)=0 means at least one of P(A) or P(B) is zero. So the only way mutual exclusivity and independence can coexist is if one of the events has zero probability.
4. Apply to the general case. …
Method: Testing an implication between event properties
To judge "if A,B are mutually exclusive then they are independent," treat it as: does the first equation force the second?
Steps
Step 1: Assume the hypothesis as an equation.
Mutually exclusive means P(A∩B)=0.
Step 2: Write the target property as an equation.
Independence would require P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B).
Step 3: Combine and check whether it is forced. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Believing mutual exclusivity implies independence.
Why it's wrong: if A∩B=∅ then knowing A occurred makes B impossible — that is maximal dependence, not independence. Formally P(A∩B)=0=P(A)P(B) when both are positive. Correct ap …
Showing the 12 most recent of 16 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.Let E1,E2 and E3 be mutually independent events Statement I: E1 and E2∪E3 are independent Statement II: E1 and E2∩E3 are independent Which one of the following options is correct? (A) Both I and II are true (B) Only I is true (C) Only II is true (D) Both I and II are false
›Reveal solutionSolution
Mutual independence of E1,E2,E3 guarantees E1 is independent of every Boolean combination of E2,E3 (unions, intersections, complements). Both statements are true — option (A).
Concept and Intuition
Mutual independence of three events means every subset of them satisfies the product rule: P(Ei∩Ej)=P(Ei)P(Ej) for all pairs, and P(E1∩E2∩E3)=P(E1)P(E2)P(E3). A standard consequence is that any event generated from E2 and E3 alone (via ∪,∩,c) remains independent of E1, because independence of E1 from E2 and from E3 combines nicely through inclusion-exclusion and De Morgan's laws.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Statement I: Check P(E1∩(E2∪E3))=P(E1)P(E2∪E3).
P(E1∩(E2∪E3))=P((E1∩E2)∪(E1∩E3))=P(E1∩E2)+P(E1∩E3)−P(E1∩E2∩E3)
=P(E1)P(E2)+P(E1)P(E3)−P(E1)P(E2)P(E3)(using mutual independence)
=P(E1)[P(E2)+P(E3)−P(E2)P(E3)]=P(E1)P(E2∪E3).
So Statement I is true.
2. Statement II: Check P(E1∩(E2∩E3))=P(E1)P(E2∩E3).
P(E1∩E2∩E3)=P(E1)P(E2)P(E3)(mutual independence, directly) …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.A and B are independent events of a random experiment if and only if (A) P(A∣B)=P(A∩B) (B) P(A∣B)=P(B∣A) (C) P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc) (D) P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Independence means knowing whether B occurred (or didn't) doesn't affect A's probability — precisely captured by P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc).
Concept and Intuition
Two events A and B are independent exactly when P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B), equivalently P(A∣B)=P(A) (given P(B)>0). A useful equivalent characterization avoids referencing the unconditional P(A) directly: independence holds iff P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc). Intuitively, if learning "B happened" gives exactly the same probability for A as learning "B didn't happen," then knowledge of B carries no information about A — which is the essence of independence.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Suppose A, B independent: P(A∣B)=P(A). Also P(A∣Bc)=P(Bc)P(A∩Bc)=1−P(B)P(A)−P(A∩B)=1−P(B)P(A)−P(A)P(B)=1−P(B)P(A)(1−P(B))=P(A).
- So independence implies P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc)(=P(A)).
- Conversely, if P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc)=k for some constant k, then using the law of total probability, P(A)=P(A∣B)P(B)+P(A∣Bc)P(Bc)=kP(B)+kP(Bc)=k. So P(A∣B)=P(A)=k, which is exactly the definition of independence.
- Hence P(A∣B)=P(A∣Bc) is a necessary and sufficient condition for independence. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.A coin is tossed three times. Let A be the event of "getting three heads" and B be the event of "getting a head on the first toss". Then A and B are (A) Dependent events (B) Independent events (C) Impossible events (D) Certain events
›Reveal solutionSolution
P(A∩B)=81 but P(A)P(B)=161, so A and B are dependent.
Concept and Intuition
Two events are independent exactly when knowing one has occurred does not change the probability of the other — formally P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B), equivalently P(A∣B)=P(A).
Here B ("first toss is a head") is part of the requirement for A ("all three heads"). Learning that B happened is genuine good news for A: it eliminates half the sample space, all of it unfavourable to A. So A must depend on B. Note carefully: the three tosses are independent of one another, but these two events are not — they are defined on overlapping information.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Sample space of three tosses: {HHH,HHT,HTH,HTT,THH,THT,TTH,TTT} — 8 equally likely outcomes.
- A={HHH}⇒P(A)=81.
- B={HHH,HHT,HTH,HTT}⇒P(B)=84=21.
- A∩B={HHH}⇒P(A∩B)=81.
- Test independence: P(A)⋅P(B)=81×21=161, while P(A∩B)=81. Since 161=81, the events are dependent. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-AN1 markMCQQ.If A and B be independent events with P(A)=31 and P(B)=72, then the value of P(A/BC) is (A) 31 (B) 72 (C) 212 (D) 215
›Reveal solutionSolution
Independence of A and B implies independence of A and Bc too, so conditioning on Bc doesn't change P(A).
Concept and Intuition
If two events are independent, an event is also independent of the complement of the other — knowing B didn't happen carries no information about A either.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A,B independent ⇒P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B).
- P(A∩Bc)=P(A)−P(A∩B)=P(A)−P(A)P(B)=P(A)(1−P(B))=P(A)P(Bc). …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.Let A and B be two independent events of a random experiment. If the probability that both A and B occur is 61 and the probability that neither of them occur is 31, then the probability of occurrence of A is (A) 0 or 1 (B) 21 or 41 (C) 21 or 31 (D) 21 or 71
›Reveal solutionSolution
From P(A)P(B)=61 and (1−P(A))(1−P(B))=31, we get P(A)+P(B)=65, and solving the resulting quadratic gives P(A)=21 or 31.
Concept and Intuition
Independence lets us write both given probabilities as simple products: P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B) and P(Aˉ∩Bˉ)=P(Aˉ)P(Bˉ) (since complements of independent events are also independent). This turns the problem into finding two numbers whose product and a related "complement product" are both known — a job for Vieta's formulas.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let p=P(A), q=P(B). Given: pq=61 (product rule for independent events).
- Also given: P(neither)=P(A′∩B′)=(1−p)(1−q)=31.
- Expand: 1−p−q+pq=31⇒1−(p+q)+61=31⇒p+q=1+61−31=65.
- So p,q are roots of t2−65t+61=0. Multiply by 6: 6t2−5t+1=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-10-05-FN1 markMCQQ.If E and F are independent events such that P(E)=112, P(F)=95 then P(E∩F)= (A) 113 (B) 114 (C) 115 (D) 112
›Reveal solutionSolution
Independence of E,F carries over to their complements, so the answer is simply the product of the complement probabilities: 114.
Concept and Intuition
A key fact about independent events is that if E and F are independent, their complements E and F are also independent. This means P(E∩F) can be computed as a simple product, without needing inclusion-exclusion or conditional probability.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(E)=112⇒P(E)=1−112=119.
- P(F)=95⇒P(F)=1−95=94.
- Since E,F independent ⇒E,F independent: P(E∩F)=P(E)⋅P(F). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.A and B are two independent events of a random experiment and P(A)>P(B). If the probability that both A and B occur is 61 and neither of them occurs is 31, then the probability of the occurance of B is (A) 41 (B) 31 (C) 21 (D) 83
›Reveal solutionSolution
Translate the two given probabilities into a sum and a product of P(A),P(B) using independence, then solve the resulting quadratic and pick the smaller root.
Concept and Intuition
For independent events, P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B) and P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B)=(1−P(A))(1−P(B)). These two equations in p=P(A) and q=P(B) can be converted into their sum and product, which is exactly what's needed to solve a quadratic for p,q.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let p=P(A), q=P(B), with p>q (given P(A)>P(B)).
- P(A∩B)=pq=61 (independence).
- P(A∩B)=(1−p)(1−q)=31.
- Expand: 1−p−q+pq=31. Substitute pq=61: 1−(p+q)+61=31⇒p+q=1+61−31=65.
- So p,q are roots of t2−65t+61=0, i.e. 6t2−5t+1=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-FN1 markMCQQ.If A and B are two independent events such that P(A)=0.3, P(B)=x and P(A∪B)=0.44, then x= (A) 0.1 (B) 0.4 (C) 0.3 (D) 0.2
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the union formula for independent events; solving 0.44=0.3+x−0.3x gives x=0.2.
Concept and Intuition
For any two events, P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B). When A and B are independent,
P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B), which turns the union formula into a single equation in the unknown
probability.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A)=0.3, P(B)=x, P(A∪B)=0.44, with A,B independent.
- P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A)P(B)=0.3+x−0.3x.
- Set equal to 0.44: 0.3+0.7x=0.44.
- 0.7x=0.14⇒x=0.2.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.A, B, C are three independent events of a random experiment such that P(C)=2/3. If probabilities of occurrence of only A, only B and only C are respectively 604,603 and 602, then the ratio of the probability of the occurrence of A to the occurrence of B is (A) 16:15 (B) 4:3 (C) 12:25 (D) 2:3
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests setting up "only-one-event" probabilities for independent events as products with complements, then solving the resulting system for P(A) and P(B).
Concept and Intuition
For independent events, "only A occurs" means A happens and both B,C fail: P(A)(1−P(B))(1−P(C)). Writing this out for all three "only" events gives three equations in the two unknowns p=P(A) and q=P(B) (since P(C) is already known) — enough to solve completely, with the third equation serving as a consistency check.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let p=P(A), q=P(B), and P(C)=32 so 1−P(C)=31.
- Only A: p(1−q)⋅31=604=151⇒p(1−q)=51.
- Only B: (1−p)q⋅31=603=201⇒(1−p)q=203.
- Only C: (1−p)(1−q)⋅32=602=301⇒(1−p)(1−q)=201.
- From steps 2 and 3: p−pq=51 and q−pq=203; subtracting, p−q=51−203=201, so p=q+201.
- Expand step 4: 1−p−q+pq=201. Using pq=p−51 from step 2: 1−p−q+p−51=201⇒54−q=201⇒q=54−201=2015=43. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-FN1 markMCQQ.Two brothers X and Y appeared for an exam. Let A be the event that X has passed the exam and B is the event that Y has passed. The probability of A is 71 and of B is 92. Then, the probability that both of them pass the exam is (A) 631 (B) 352 (C) 632 (D) 149
›Reveal solutionSolution
Two brothers' exam outcomes are independent events, so their joint probability is the product; the answer is 632.
Concept and Intuition
When two events are independent (one brother's pass/fail doesn't affect the other's), the probability that both occur is the product of their individual probabilities: P(A∩B)=P(A)P(B).
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A)=71, P(B)=92.
- Both pass (independent events): P(A∩B)=P(A)×P(B)=71×92=632. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.If A,B,C are independent events of a random experiment such that P(A)=3/4, P(B)=5/6 and P(C)=2/3, then the probability that exactly one of the events occur is (A) 41 (B) 365 (C) 125 (D) 7271
›Reveal solutionSolution
Sum the three mutually exclusive ways exactly one of three independent events can occur. Answer: 365.
Concept and Intuition
For independent events, "exactly one occurs" means one event happens and the other two fail, and there are three such disjoint scenarios (which one occurs). Because the events are independent, each scenario's probability is simply the product of the individual (or complementary) probabilities, and we add the three scenarios since they can't happen simultaneously.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Complements: P(A′)=1−43=41, P(B′)=1−65=61, P(C′)=1−32=31.
- Scenario "only A": P(A)P(B′)P(C′)=43⋅61⋅31=723.
- Scenario "only B": P(A′)P(B)P(C′)=41⋅65⋅31=725. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If A,B and C are three independent events of a random experiment such that P(A∩Bc∩Cc)=41, P(Ac∩B∩Cc)=81 and P(Ac∩Bc∩Cc)=41, then P(A), P(B) and P(C) are respectively (A) 21,41,51 (B) 1,21,31 (C) 21,31,41 (D) 31,41,51
›Reveal solutionSolution
Comparing the equation for P(A∩Bc∩Cc) with the one for P(Ac∩Bc∩Cc) immediately forces P(A)=21; back-substitution then gives P(B)=31,P(C)=41.
Concept and Intuition
For independent events, P(A∩Bc∩Cc)=p(1−q)(1−r) and similar products for the other combinations. Since two of the given equations share the identical factor (1−q)(1−r), equating them directly isolates p without solving a full system.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(A∩Bc∩Cc)=p(1−q)(1−r)=41 ... (i)
- P(Ac∩B∩Cc)=(1−p)q(1−r)=81 ... (ii)
- P(Ac∩Bc∩Cc)=(1−p)(1−q)(1−r)=41 ... (iii)
- From (i) and (iii): p(1−q)(1−r)=(1−p)(1−q)(1−r); since (1−q)(1−r)=0, this gives p=1−p⇒p=21.
- Substitute into (i): 21(1−q)(1−r)=41⇒(1−q)(1−r)=21.
- Substitute into (ii): 21q(1−r)=81⇒q(1−r)=41. …
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