Addition Rule of Probability

There are many rules associated with solving probability problems. This lesson deals with the addition rule. The addition rule helps you solve probabilityproblems that involve two events. Even though we discuss two events (usually labeled A and B), were really talking about performing one task (rolling dice, drawing cards, spinning a spinner, etc.) and finding about the probability of two things happening in that one task. When asked to find the probability of A or B, we mean that A can happen, or B can happen, or both can happen together. This is what is stated in the addition rule. The Addition Rule: Consider events A and B. P(A What The Rule Means: Suppose we roll two dice and want to find the probability of rolling a sum of 6 or 8. This can be written in words as P(6 or 8) or more mathematically is P(6 8). Remember that OR (the union symbol ) means that one or the other or both events can happen. So what is theprobability of getting a 6 or an 8 or both? You may want to refer to the dice chart in introductory lesson on basic probability if you need to familiarize yourself with the outcomes of rolling two dice. P(6) = 5/36 P(8) = 5/36 P(6 and 8 together) is impossible so the probability is 0. So P(6 8) = 5/36 + 5/36 - 0 = 10/36 = 5/18 B)= P(A) + P(B) - P(A B)

Since rolling a sum of 6 and 8 cannot happen together at the same time, we say that they are disjoint or mutually exclusive. When two events are disjoint, you do not have to worry about subtracting the probability of both events happening together since that probability will always be 0. Since it can sometimes save a step, a lot of students like to determine if events are disjoint before finding individual probabilities Let's Practice:

i.

You are going to pull one card out of a deck. Find P(Ace

King).

The addition rule says we need to find P(Ace) + P(King) - P(both). If you need to familiarize yourself with the features of a deck of cards, refer tointroductory lesson on basic probability for more information. P(Ace) = 4/52 P(King) = 4/52 P(both at the same time) = 0 P(Ace King) = 4/52 + 4/52 = 8/52 = 2/13

Notice that the final answer is always simplified. However, most of the time it is best to NOT simplify along the way so that youll have easy common denominators.

ii.

You are going to roll two dice. Find P(sum that is even or sum that is a multiple of 3).

The addition rule says we need to find P(even) + P(multiple of 3) - P(both). If you need to familiarize yourself with the possible combinations of rolling two dice, refer to introductory lesson on basic probability for a chartshowing all 36 possibilities. P(even) means how many ways to roll 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12. P(even) = 18/36 P(multiple of 3) means how many ways to roll 3, 6, 9 or 12. P(multiple of 3) = 12/36 P(both) means what is the overlap. Notice that 6 and 12 occur in both places and have been counted twice. We need to subtract those out. P(both) = 6/36 So P(sum that is even or a multiple of 3) = 18/36 + 12/36 - 6/36 = 24/36 = 2/3.