If $P\left( A \right) = \dfrac{2}{3}$ , $P\left( B \right) = \dfrac{1}{2}$ and $P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = \dfrac{5}{6}$ , then events A and B are
A) Mutually exclusive
B) Independent as well as mutually exhaustive
C) Independent
D) Dependent only on A
Answer
302.1k+ views
Hint:For all such questions we must know the meaning and conditions of terms like mutually exclusive, independent events, etc. In this question we are given $P\left( A \right),\,P\left( B \right)$ and $P\left( {A \cup B} \right)$ . Using them we can find $P\left( {A \cap B} \right)$ from the identity: $P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right) - P\left( {A \cap B} \right)$ .
Then we check for the conditions of mutually exclusive, independent events, etc.
Complete step by step Solution:
Independent events are those events where the occurrence of one event is not dependent on the occurrence of any other event.
Condition for independent events is: \[{\text{P(A}} \cap {\text{B) = P(A)}} \times {\text{ P(B)}}\]
Whereas two events are said to be mutually exclusive or disjoint if they both cannot occur at the same time.
Condition for mutually exclusive events is: $P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right)$
From the identity $P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right) - P\left( {A \cap B} \right)$ we get that
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right) - P\left( {A \cup B} \right)$
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = \dfrac{2}{3} + \dfrac{1}{2} - \dfrac{5}{6}$
Solving this we get,
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = \dfrac{{7 - 5}}{6}$
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = \dfrac{1}{3}$
Checking for the condition of independent events i.e., \[{\text{P(A}} \cap {\text{B) = P(A)}} \times {\text{ P(B)}}\] ...(1)
[LHS = left hand side, RHS = right hand side]
LHS= \[{\text{P(A}} \cap {\text{B) }}\]
= $\dfrac{1}{3}$ ...(2)
RHS= \[{\text{ P(A)}} \times {\text{ P(B)}}\]
= $\dfrac{2}{3} \times \dfrac{1}{2}$
Solving further, we get
RHS = $\dfrac{1}{3}$ ...(3)
From equations (2) and (3), we can see that condition for independent events (equation (1)) is satisfied.
Hence, A and B are independent events.
Now we check for the condition of mutually exclusive events i.e.,
$P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right)$ ...(4)
LHS= \[{\text{P(A}} \cup {\text{B) }}\]
= $\dfrac{5}{6}$ ...(5)
RHS= \[P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right)\]
= $\dfrac{2}{3} + \dfrac{1}{2}$
Solving this, we get
RHS = $\dfrac{7}{6}$ ...(6)
From equations (5) and (6), we can see that condition for mutually exclusive events (equation (4)) is not satisfied.
Hence, A and B are not mutually exclusive events.
Therefore, the correct option is C.
Note:One can confuse the meanings and conditions of independent events and mutually exclusive events so this must be taken care of. In such questions, some values like $P\left( A \right),P\left( B \right)$, etc may not be given directly so the identities and concepts of probability should be known thoroughly to find those values and solve the question further.
Then we check for the conditions of mutually exclusive, independent events, etc.
Complete step by step Solution:
Independent events are those events where the occurrence of one event is not dependent on the occurrence of any other event.
Condition for independent events is: \[{\text{P(A}} \cap {\text{B) = P(A)}} \times {\text{ P(B)}}\]
Whereas two events are said to be mutually exclusive or disjoint if they both cannot occur at the same time.
Condition for mutually exclusive events is: $P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right)$
From the identity $P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right) - P\left( {A \cap B} \right)$ we get that
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right) - P\left( {A \cup B} \right)$
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = \dfrac{2}{3} + \dfrac{1}{2} - \dfrac{5}{6}$
Solving this we get,
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = \dfrac{{7 - 5}}{6}$
$P\left( {A \cap B} \right) = \dfrac{1}{3}$
Checking for the condition of independent events i.e., \[{\text{P(A}} \cap {\text{B) = P(A)}} \times {\text{ P(B)}}\] ...(1)
[LHS = left hand side, RHS = right hand side]
LHS= \[{\text{P(A}} \cap {\text{B) }}\]
= $\dfrac{1}{3}$ ...(2)
RHS= \[{\text{ P(A)}} \times {\text{ P(B)}}\]
= $\dfrac{2}{3} \times \dfrac{1}{2}$
Solving further, we get
RHS = $\dfrac{1}{3}$ ...(3)
From equations (2) and (3), we can see that condition for independent events (equation (1)) is satisfied.
Hence, A and B are independent events.
Now we check for the condition of mutually exclusive events i.e.,
$P\left( {A \cup B} \right) = P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right)$ ...(4)
LHS= \[{\text{P(A}} \cup {\text{B) }}\]
= $\dfrac{5}{6}$ ...(5)
RHS= \[P\left( A \right) + P\left( B \right)\]
= $\dfrac{2}{3} + \dfrac{1}{2}$
Solving this, we get
RHS = $\dfrac{7}{6}$ ...(6)
From equations (5) and (6), we can see that condition for mutually exclusive events (equation (4)) is not satisfied.
Hence, A and B are not mutually exclusive events.
Therefore, the correct option is C.
Note:One can confuse the meanings and conditions of independent events and mutually exclusive events so this must be taken care of. In such questions, some values like $P\left( A \right),P\left( B \right)$, etc may not be given directly so the identities and concepts of probability should be known thoroughly to find those values and solve the question further.
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