Adding and Multiplying Probabilities: Mutually Inclusive, and Mutually Exclusive Events. Dependent and Independent Events.

You have a deck of cards, and you want to know your probability of winning the game. You need to get a red ace; when you draw your first card, and a nine diamond when you pull the second. How may you know your mathematical possibilities? Are these inclusive, or exclusive events? Are they dependent, or independent? ... Should I add probabilities? Or should I multiply probabilities?

You are not by yourself. In this lesson we guide you to learn those concepts; their differences, and their similarities. We will use the standard deck of cards, and marbles, or even alphabet letters to illustrate the different cases. This will be a very enjoyable "event" for you!

Lesson's Content

Lesson's Glossary

Combination: Any arrangement in which order is not important.

Dependent events: The outcome of a dependent event is affected by the outcome of the previous event.

Independent Events: If an outcome doesn’t affect the outcome of a following event, then the two events are independent.

Factorial! n! represents the product of all the whole numbers from n to 1. n! is the product of all the whole numbers from n down to 1 - used in probability.

Mutually exclusive events: Events with no common outcomes.

Mutually inclusive events: Events with  common outcomes.

Outcomes: The possible results of a probability experiment.

Permutation: Any arrangement in which order is important.

Probability: The possibility of an event to happen. The probability of getting an even number when rolling a 6 sided dice is 50%.

Sample Space: All possible ways an event may happen.

Vocabulary Puzzle

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