# Difference Between Mutually Exclusive and Independent Events

Get ready to know the difference between Mutually exclusive and independent events and also to know what mutually exclusive and independent events are!

### What are Mutually Exclusive Events?

• Two events let’s suppose event A and event B are said to be mutually exclusive if it is not possible that both of the events (A and B) occur at the same time.

•  For example, let’s consider the toss of a coin. When we toss a coin let A be the event that the coin lands on heads and let B be the event that the coin lands on tails.

• In a single fair coin toss, events A and B are mutually exclusive which means the outcome can be either tails or heads.  We cannot get both heads and tails at the same time.

•  Mutually exclusive events can be represented using a Venn diagram.

The following Venn diagram given below shows two mutually exclusive events A and B:

If event A occurs, then there is no possibility of the occurrence of event B.

### Examples of Mutually Exclusive Events:

There are 52 Cards in a deck:

• the probability of getting a King = 1/13, so we can say P(King)=1/13

• the probability of getting a Queen is = 1/13, so we can say P(Queen)=1/13

When we combine those two Events, we cannot get queen and king at the same time thus,

P (A and B ) = 0

Therefore, we can say the probability of a King OR a Queen is (1/13) + (1/13) = 2/13

### What are Independent Events?

• Events A and B are known as independent events if the probability of B occurring is unaffected by the occurrence of the event A happening

•  For example, let’s suppose that we are tossing a coin twice. Let A be the event that the first coin toss lands on heads and let B be the event that the second coin toss lands on heads.

•  Here, the Occurrence of event A does not affect event B in any manner.

• Independent events can be represented using a Venn diagram.

The following Venn diagram given below shows two independents events A and B:

### Formulas of Mutually Exclusive Events and Independent Events!

1. Probability of any event = Number of favorable outcomes / Total number of outcomes

2. For mutually exclusive events  = P(A or B) which can also be written as P(A∪B)

= P(A)+P(B)

And here P(A and B ) = 0

1. For independent events = P(A∩ B) = P(A).P(B)

### Difference Between Mutually Exclusive and Independent Event:

At first the definitions of mutually exclusive events and independent events may sound similar to you. The biggest difference between the two types of events is that mutually exclusive basically means that if one event happens, then the other events cannot happen.

Mutually exclusive and independent events

On the other hand, if the events are independent, then it means the occurrence and the outcome of any one event won’t have any effect on the occurrence and outcome of the other events.

### Mutually Exclusive vs Independent Events Examples

• Outcomes of rolling a die are mutually exclusive events. You can get either $5$ or $6$, but you can never get $5$ and $6$ at the same time.

• Outcomes of rolling a die two times are independent events. The number we get on the first roll on the die has no effect on the number we’ll get when we roll the die one more time.

Mutually exclusive and independent events can be differentiated on the basis of Definition, Dependency,  Occurrence of both events and Venn Diagrams.

## Difference Between Mutually Exclusive Event and Independent Event

 Comparison on the Basis of Mutually Exclusive Event Independent Event 1.Definition Here the events cannot happen simultaneously. The occurrence and outcome of one event doesn’t affect the occurrence and outcome of the other event. 2.Dependency Occurrence of event A results in non-occurrence of event B. Occurrence of event A does not affect event B in any manner. 3.Occurrence of both events The mathematical formula for the representation of mutually exclusive event is P(A∩B) = 0 The mathematical formula for the representation of mutually exclusive event is P(A∩B) = P(A).P(B) 4. Venn Diagram Representation (Image to be added soon)Here the events A and B do not overlap. (Image to be added soon)Here the events do overlap.

### Questions to Be Solved:

Question 1. If we throw a dice twice, then find the probability of getting two 5’s.

Solution Let’s find the probability of getting 5’s,

The formula for finding the probability is,

Probability=Favorable outcomes/Total possible outcomes.

Total possible outcomes when we throw a dice are 6.

Probability of getting 5 on the first throw = 1/6

Probability of getting 5 on the second throw is also = 1/6

Let’s find the probability (Getting two 5’s), since they are independent events ,

Formula: P(A∩B) = P(A).P(B)

Probability of getting two 5’s = 1/6 ×1/6

Therefore, Probability of getting two 5’s = 1/6 ×1/6 = 1/36