Events A and B are Mutually Exclusive. Which of the Following Statements is Also True?

Mutually exclusive events refer to two outcomes that cannot happen at the same time. This means that if Event A takes place, Event B cannot and if Event B takes place, Event A cannot. When events are mutually exclusive, the probability of both events happening together is 0. The following statement is also true:

• The probability of either Event A or Event B occurring is the sum of the individual probabilities of each event.

This statement can be stated mathematically as follows:

P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B)

This is because the occurrence of either Event A or Event B means that either one or the other has happened. Therefore, the probability of either Event A or Event B occurring is the sum of the individual probabilities.

For example, if Event A has a probability of 0.2 and Event B has a probability of 0.3, then the probability of either Event A or Event B occurring together is 0.5. This is because the sum of 0.2 and 0.3 is 0.5.

In conclusion, the statement “The probability of either Event A or Event B occurring is the sum of the individual probabilities of each event” is true when the events are mutually exclusive.