1.

4: INDEPENDENT EVENTS
For certain pairs of events, the occurrence of one of them may or may not change the probability
of the occurrence of the other. In the latter case, they are said to be independent events.
If & are two independent events, then

Otherwise, & are called dependent events.

Events that are independent are sometimes called statistically independent, stochastically
independent, or independent in a probabilistic sense, but in most instances we use
independent without a modifier if there is no possibility of misunderstanding.

Problems:
1. A bag contains white and black balls. Two balls are drawn in succession with
replacement. What is the probability that first is white and second is black.
Solution: Total no. of balls

So,
2. Two persons & appear in an interview for vacancies for the same post. The
probability of ’s selection is and that of ’s selection is . What is the probability that,
i) both of them will be selected, ii) none of them will be selected.
Solution: Given that, and
So, and

i)
ii)
3. A problem in mathematics is given to students A, B and C whose chances of solving it
are respectively. What is the probability that the problem will be solved?
Solution: Here, ,
and
.
So,

4. What is the chance of getting two sixes in two rolling of a single die?
Sol: and
Since two rolling are independent, so
 5. An article manufactured by a company consists of two parts A & B. In the process of
manufacture of part A, out of are likely to be defective. Similarly, 0ut of
are likely to be defective in the manufacture of part B. Calculate the probability that the
assembled article will not be defective.
Solution: Here, and
So, and

6. What is the probability of at least one “H” in four tosses of a coin?

Sol: For a coin, and
Now,

7. A person is known to hit the target in out of shots, whereas another person is known
to hit the target in out of shots. Find the probability of the targets being hit at all
when they both person try.
Sol: The probability that the first person hit the target =
The probability that the second person hit the target =
The two events are not mutually exclusive, since both persons hit the same target.
So, –

8. From a bag containing white and black balls, two balls are drawn at random. If the
balls are drawn one after the other without replacement, find the probability that
i) both balls are white.
ii) both balls are black.
iii) the first ball is white and the second ball is black.
iv) one ball is white and the other is black.
Solution: Total no. of balls
i) and

ii) and

iii) and
 iv) and

Hence both events are mutually exclusive,

9. Find the probability in each of the below four cases, if the balls are drawn one after the
other with replacement. A bag containing white & black balls, balls are drawn at
random.
i) both balls are white.
ii) both balls are black.
iii) the first ball is white and the second ball is black.
iv) one ball is white and the other is black.

Answer: i) , ii) , iii) and iv) (Try yourself)

Examples: 1.4-1 to 1.4-9 (See yourself)

Exercises: 1.4-1 to 1.4-9.& 1.4-12 to 1.4-16 (Try yourself)