When applying the special rule of addition for mutually exclusive events, the joint probability is:
A) 1
B) 5
C) 0
D) 0.25
E) unknown

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When two events are mutually exclusive, it means they cannot occur at the same time. Therefore, the joint probability of them occurring together is 0. The special rule of addition states that to find the probability of either event occurring, you simply add their individual probabilities. Since the joint probability is 0, the only possibility is for one event or the other to occur, so the probability of either event is the sum of their individual probabilities, which may be less than or equal to 1 depending on the context. Option A is incorrect because a joint probability of 1 implies that the events are not mutually exclusive, and both events occurring together is the only possibility. Option B is incorrect because it does not make sense to have a joint probability of 5. Option D is incorrect because it does not provide enough information to determine the probabilities of the individual events. Option E is incorrect because the question provides enough information to determine the answer.

When Applying the Special Rule of Addition for Mutually Exclusive