8.

The addition rule

International-

mindedness

Investigation 4
The Dutch scientist

Christian Huygens,
Let’s return to the Venn diagram of the ar t and biology students.

a teacher of Leibniz,

1 Write down the following probabilities again:

published the rst book

P(A), P(B), P(A ∩ B) and P(A ∪ B)

on probability in 1657.

2 Explain why the probability that a randomly chosen student who studies

both ar t and biology, P(A ∪ B), does not equal the probability of a

student studying ar t plus the probability of a student studying biology,

P(A) + P(B)

3 Factual Use the values of P(A), P(B), P(A ∩ B) and P(A ∪ B) to

determine the correct rule for P(A ∪ B) in terms of P(A), P(B) and

P(A ∩ B)

4 Explain this rule using Venn diagrams.

5 Conceptual Why might rules such as this be useful?

The addition rule states that P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A ∩ B).

Example 4

9 3

A and B are two events such that P  A  and P B  . It is known that

20 10

P(A ∪ B) = 2P(A ∩ B).

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Find:

a P(A ∪ B)

b P(A ∪ B)′

c P(A ∩ B′)

a Let x = P(A ∩ B). Use P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A ∩ B).

9 3

2x    x

20 10

15

3x 

20

x   3

x   P(A  B)

P( A  B)  Since P( A ∪ B) = 2P(A ∩ B)

1 1 1

b If P  A  B  then P  A  B  1  
Since P(A′) = 1 − P(A)

2 2 2

9 1 1

c If P  A  B  P  A  P  A  B   
Using the result from part a
20 4 5

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8 QUANTIF Y ING R A N D OM N E SS : P R OB A BILI T Y

In some of the previous examples the question could have been

HINT
answered by use of the Venn diagram alone.

The probability, P(A)

and the probability

Reect When might a formula or a diagram be more appropriate? Which is P(B) each include the

the most ecient method? What do we mean by ecient here? probability of both

A and B, P(A ∩ B).

For P(A ∪ B) we only

In the following questions, consider whether to use the formula or a

wish to include this

diagram (or perhaps a combination of both).

probability once so we

subtract one of these

TOK
probabilities.

Do ethics play a role in the use of mathematics?

Exercise 8D

1 A ten-sided dice, numbered 1 to 10, is 4 Arnav goes to the library. The probability

rolled. Calculate the probability that: that he takes out a ction book is 0.4, a

non-ction book is 0.3 and both a ction

a The number rolled is a prime number.

and a non-ction book is 0.2.

b The number rolled is a prime number or

a What is the probability that Arnav takes out

a multiple of 3.

a ction book, a non-ction book or both?

c The number rolled is a multiple of 3 or a

b What is the probability that Arnav does

multiple of 4.

not check out a book?

2 In a group of 55 tourists, 30 have cameras,

5 If X and Y are two events such that

25 are female and 18 are females with 1 1 1

P  X   and P Y   and P  X Y   ,

cameras. Find the probability that a tourist 4 8 8

picked at random from this group is either nd:

a camera owner or a female.

a P(X ∪ Y) b P(X ∪ Y)′

3 A letter is chosen at random from the

6 If P(A) = 0.2 and P(B) = 0.4 and

26-letter English alphabet. Find the

P(A ∪ B) = 0.5, nd:

probability that the letter is:

a P(A ∩ B) b P(A′ ∪ B)

3
a in the word MATHEMATICS

7 A and B are two events such that P  A 

16

b in the word TRIGONOMETRY 3

and P(B)  and it is known that

8
c in the word MATHEMATICS and in the

P(A ∪ B) = 3P(A ∩ B).

word TRIGONOMETRY

Find:

d in the word MATHEMATICS or in the

word TRIGONOMETRY.
a P(A ∪ B) b P(A ∪ B)′ c P(A ∩ B′)

Mutually exclusive events

Of the 100 students , it is found tha t 28 s t ud e nt s st u dy c h em is t r y.

It is not possible to study both chemistry and art as the classes are at

the same time.

The events A, studying art, and C, studying chemistry, are said to be

mutually exclusive events.

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 8. 2

Mutually exclusive (or disjoint) events are events whose outcomes cannot

occur at the same time.

In general, if two events A and B are mutually exclusive then it follows that

P(A ∩ B) = 0 and the addition rule in these cases is P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B).

Mutually exclusive events do not intersect U

A B

if represented on a Venn diagram.

Example 5

Arthur has a drawer which contains ties. He picks a tie at random from the drawer. The

5 1

probability that the tie is blue is and the probability it is red is .

12 3

What is the probability of Arthur picking out a tie that is neither red nor blue?

Let B = blue tie selected First dene your sets.

R = red tie selected

5 1 9 3

P B and R are mutually exclusive since you

B  R  P  B  P  R     

12 3 12 4

cannot select both a red and blue tie.

3 1

P Since P(A′) = 1 − P(A).
B  R  1 P B  R  1  

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Exercise 8E

1 Here are some events relating to throwing 2 Two events N and M are such that P N  

two dice:
1 3

and P  M   and P N  M   . Are N

10 10
A: Both dice show a 4.

and M mutually exclusive?

B: The total is 7 or more.

3 In an inter-school quiz, the probability of

C: There is at least one 6.

1

School A winning the competition is , the

D: The two dice show the same number.

probability of school B winning is and

E: Both dice are odd. 4

the probability of school C winning is .

Which of these pairs of events are mutually

exclusive? Find the probability that:

a A and B b A and C c A and D

a A or B wins the competition.

d A and E e B and E f C and D

b A, B or C wins the competition.

g B and C
c Are there any other schools in the

competition? How do you know?

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