Event

Definition

An event is a specific outcome or set of outcomes of a random experiment. It is a subset of the sample space.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Events can be simple (single outcome) or compound (multiple outcomes).
2. The probability of an event ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 means the event cannot happen and 1 means it will certainly happen.
3. Two events are mutually exclusive if they cannot occur at the same time.
4. The union of two events represents either one or both events occurring.
5. The intersection of two events represents both events occurring simultaneously.

Review Questions

• What is the difference between simple and compound events?
• Explain what it means for two events to be mutually exclusive.
• How do you calculate the probability of the union of two events?

Related terms

Sample Space: The set of all possible outcomes in a probability experiment.

Mutually Exclusive Events: Events that cannot occur at the same time.

Union: An event representing either one or both of two given events occurring.