How is the probability of independent events A and B calculated?

• A. P(A) + P(B)
• B. P(A) * P(B)
• C. P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B)
• D. P(A) - P(B)

Answer: (B)

The probability of independent events A and B is calculated by multiplying the probabilities of each event occurring individually. This is because the occurrence of one event does not affect the occurrence of the other.

For independent events, the formula P(A and B) = P(A) * P(B) applies. This means that to find the probability that both events occur together, you take the probability of event A occurring and multiply it by the probability of event B occurring. This reflects the fundamental principle of probability for independent events, where their combined probability is directly related to their individual probabilities without any influence from one another.

In scenarios where events are independent, understanding this multiplication rule is crucial for calculating probabilities accurately, especially in more complex situations involving multiple independent events.