3

CHAPTER

The Addition Rules

Introduction
In this chapter, the theory of probability is extended by using what are called
the addition rules. Here one is interested in finding the probability of one
event or another event occurring. In these situations, one must consider
whether or not both events have common outcomes. For example, if you are
asked to find the probability that you will get three oranges or three cherries
on a slot machine, you know that these two events cannot occur at the same
time if the machine has only three windows. In another situation you may be
asked to find the probability of getting an odd number or a number less than
500 on a daily three-digit lottery drawing. Here the events have common
outcomes. For example, the number 451 is an odd number and a number less
than 500. The two addition rules will enable you to solve these kinds of
problems as well as many other probability problems.

43
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 44 CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules

Mutually Exclusive Events

Many problems in probability involve finding the probability of two or more
events. For example, when a card is selected at random from a deck, what is
the probability that the card is a king or a queen? In this case, there are two
situations to consider. They are:
1. The card selected is a king
2. The card selected is a queen
Now consider another example. When a card is selected from a deck, find
the probability that the card is a king or a diamond.
In this case, there are three situations to consider:
1. The card is a king
2. The card is a diamond
3. The card is a king and a diamond. That is, the card is the king of
diamonds.
The dierence is that in the first example, a card cannot be both a king and
a queen at the same time, whereas in the second example, it is possible for the
card selected to be a king and a diamond at the same time. In the first
example, we say the two events are mutually exclusive. In the second example,
we say the two events are not mutually exclusive. Two events then are
mutually exclusive if they cannot occur at the same time. In other words, the
events have no common outcomes.

EXAMPLE: Which of these events are mutually exclusive?

a. Selecting a card at random from a deck and getting an ace or a club
b. Rolling a die and getting an odd number or a number less than 4
c. Rolling two dice and getting a sum of 7 or 11
d. Selecting a student at random who is full-time or part-time
e. Selecting a student who is a female or a junior

SOLUTION:
a. No. The ace of clubs is an outcome of both events.
b. No. One and three are common outcomes.
c. Yes
d. Yes
e. No. A female student who is a junior is a common outcome.
CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules 45

Addition Rule I
The probability of two or more events occurring can be determined by using
the addition rules. The first rule is used when the events are mutually
exclusive.
Addition Rule I: When two events are mutually exclusive,
PA or B PA PB

EXAMPLE: When a die is rolled, find the probability of getting a 2 or a 3.

SOLUTION:
As shown in Chapter 1, the problem can be solved by looking at the sample
space, which is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Since there are 2 favorable outcomes from
6 outcomes, P(2 or 3) 26 13. Since the events are mutually exclusive,
addition rule 1 also can be used:
1 1 2 1
P2 or 3 P2 P3
6 6 6 3

EXAMPLE: In a committee meeting, there were 5 freshmen, 6 sophomores,

3 juniors, and 2 seniors. If a student is selected at random to be the
chairperson, find the probability that the chairperson is a sophomore or a
junior.

SOLUTION:
There are 6 sophomores and 3 juniors and a total of 16 students.
6 3 9
P(sophomore or junior) Psophomore P junior
16 16 16

EXAMPLE: A card is selected at random from a deck. Find the probability

that the card is an ace or a king.

SOLUTION:
4 4 8 2
P(ace or king) Pace Pking
52 52 52 13
The word or is the key word, and it means one event occurs or the other
event occurs.
46 CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules

PRACTICE
1. In a box there are 3 red pens, 5 blue pens, and 2 black pens. If a
person selects a pen at random, find the probability that the pen is
a. A blue or a red pen.
b. A red or a black pen.
2. A small automobile dealer has 4 Buicks, 7 Fords, 3 Chryslers, and
6 Chevrolets. If a car is selected at random, find the probability
that it is
a. A Buick or a Chevrolet.
b. A Chrysler or a Chevrolet.
3. In a model railroader club, 23 members model HO scale, 15 members
model N scale, 10 members model G scale, and 5 members model
O scale. If a member is selected at random, find the probability that
the member models
a. N or G scale.
b. HO or O scale.
4. A package of candy contains 8 red pieces, 6 white pieces, 2 blue
pieces, and 4 green pieces. If a piece is selected at random, find the
probability that it is
a. White or green.
b. Blue or red.
5. On a bookshelf in a classroom there are 6 mathematics books,
5 reading books, 4 science books, and 10 history books. If a student
selects a book at random, find the probability that the book is
a. A history book or a mathematics book.
b. A reading book or a science book.

ANSWERS
5 3 8 4
1. a. P(blue or red) P(blue) P(red)
10 10 10 5

3 2 5 1
b. P(red or black) P(red) P(black)
10 10 10 2
CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules 47

2. a. P(Buick or Chevrolet) P(Buick) P(Chevrolet)

4 6 10 1

20 20 20 2

b. P(Chrysler or Chevrolet) P(Chrysler) P(Chevrolet)

3 6 9

20 20 20

15 10 25
3. a. P(N or G) P(N) P(G)
53 53 53
23 5 28
b. P(HO or O) P(HO) P(O)
53 53 53

6 4 10 1
4. a. P(white or green) P(white) P(green)
20 20 20 2
2 8 10 1
b. P(blue or red) P(blue) P(red)
20 20 20 2

10 6 16
5. a. P(history or math) P(history) P(math)
25 25 25
5 4 9
b. P(reading or science) P(reading) P(science)
25 25 25

Addition Rule II
When two events are not mutually exclusive, you need to add the probabilities
of each of the two events and subtract the probability of the outcomes that
are common to both events. In this case, addition rule II can be used.

Addition Rule II: If A and B are two events that are not mutually exclusive,
then PA or B PA PB % PA and B, where A and B means the num-
ber of outcomes that event A and event B have in common.
48 CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules

EXAMPLE: A card is selected at random from a deck of 52 cards. Find the

probability that it is a 6 or a diamond.

SOLUTION:
4
Let A the event of getting a 6; then PA 52 since there are four 6s.
Let B the event of getting a diamond; then PB 13 52 since there are
13 diamonds. Since there is one card that is both a 6 and a diamond (i.e., the
1
6 of diamonds), PA and B 52 . Hence,
4 13 1 16 4
PA or B PA PB % PA and B %
52 52 52 52 13

EXAMPLE: A die is rolled. Find the probability of getting an even number

or a number less than 4.

SOLUTION:
Let A an even number; then PA 36 since there are 3 even numbers2, 4,
and 6. Let B a number less than 4; then PB 36 since there are 3 numbers
less than 41, 2, and 3. Let (A and B) even numbers less than 4 and
PA and B 16 since there is one even number less than 4namely 2. Hence,
3 3 1 5
PA or B PA PB % PA and B %
6 6 6 6
The results of both these examples can be verified by using sample spaces
and classical probability.

EXAMPLE: Two dice are rolled; find the probability of getting doubles or a
sum of 8.

SOLUTION:
6
Let A getting doubles; then PA 36 since there are 6 ways to get doubles
5
and let B getting a sum of 8. Then PB 36 since there are 5 ways to get a
sum of 8(6, 2), (5, 3), (4, 4), (3, 5), and (2, 6). Let (A and B) the number of
ways to get a double and a sum of 8. There is only one way for this event to
1
occur(4, 4); then PA and B 36 . Hence,
6 5 1 10 5
PA or B PA PB % PA and B %
36 36 36 36 18
CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules 49

EXAMPLE: At a political rally, there are 8 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

Six of the Democrats are females and 5 of the Republicans are females. If a
person is selected at random, find the probability that the person is a female
or a Democrat.

SOLUTION:
5
There are 18 people at the rally. Let Pfemale 6 18 11
18 since there are
8
11 females, and PDemocrat 18 since there are 8 Democrats. Pfemale and
6
Democrat 18 since 6 of the Democrats are females. Hence,

Pfemale or Democrat Pfemale PDemocrat

% Pfemale and Democrat
11 8 6 13
%
18 18 18 18

EXAMPLE: The probability that a student owns a computer is 0.92, and

the probability that a student owns an automobile is 0.53. If the probability
that a student owns both a computer and an automobile is 0.49, find
the probability that the student owns a computer or an automobile.

SOLUTION:
Since P(computer) 0.92, P(automobile) 0.53, and P(computer and auto-
mobile) 0.49, P(computer or automobile) 0.92 0.53 % 0.49 0.96.
The key word for addition is or, and it means that one event or the other
occurs. If the events are not mutually exclusive, the probability of the
outcomes that the two events have in common must be subtracted from the
sum of the probabilities of the two events. For the mathematical purist, only
one addition rule is necessary, and that is

PA or B PA PB % PA and B

The reason is that when the events are mutually exclusive, P(A and B)
is equal to zero because mutually exclusive events have no outcomes in
common.
50 CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules

PRACTICE
1. When a card is selected at random from a 52-card deck, find the
probability that the card is a face card or a spade.
2. A die is rolled. Find the probability that the result is an even number
or a number less than 3.
3. Two dice are rolled. Find the probability that a number on one die is
a six or the sum of the spots is eight.
4. A coin is tossed and a die is rolled. Find the probability that the coin
falls heads up or that there is a 4 on the die.
5. In a psychology class, there are 15 sophomores and 18 juniors. Six of
the sophomores are males and 10 of the juniors are males. If a student
is selected at random, find the probability that the student is
a. A junior or a male.
b. A sophomore or a female.
c. A junior.

ANSWERS
1. P(face card or spade) P(face card) P(spade) # P(face card and
12 13 3 22 11
spade) #
52 52 52 52 26
2. P(even or less than three) P(even) P(less than three) # P(even and
3 2 1 4 2
less than three) #
6 6 6 6 3
3. P(6 or a sum of 8) P(6) P(sum of 8) # P(6 and sum of 8)
11 5 2 14 7
#
36 36 36 36 18
1 1 1 7
4. P(heads or 4) P(heads) P(4) # P(heads and 4) #
2 6 12 12
5. a. P( junior or male) P( junior) P(male) # P( junior and male)
18 16 10 24 8
#
33 33 33 33 11
b. P(sophomore or female) P(sophomore) P(female) #
15 17 9 23
P(sophomore or female) #
33 33 33 33
18 6
c. P( junior)
33 11
CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules 51

Summary
Many times in probability, it is necessary to find the probability of two or
more events occurring. In these cases, the addition rules are used. When the
events are mutually exclusive, addition rule I is used, and when the events are
not mutually exclusive, addition rule II is used. If the events are mutually
exclusive, they have no outcomes in common. When the two events are not
mutually exclusive, they have some common outcomes. The key word in
these problems is or, and it means to add.

CHAPTER QUIZ
1. Which of the two events are not mutually exclusive?
a. Rolling a die and getting a 6 or a 3
b. Drawing a card from a deck and getting a club or an ace
c. Tossing a coin and getting a head or a tail
d. Tossing a coin and getting a head and rolling a die and getting an
odd number
2. Which of the two events are mutually exclusive?
a. Drawing a card from a deck and getting a king or a club
b. Rolling a die and getting an even number or a 6
c. Tossing two coins and getting two heads or two tails
d. Rolling two dice and getting doubles or getting a sum of eight
3. In a box there are 6 white marbles, 3 blue marbles, and 1 red marble.
If a marble is selected at random, what is the probability that it is red
or blue?

2
a.
5
1
b.
3
9
c.
10
1
d.
9
52 CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules

4. When a single die is rolled, what is the probability of getting a prime

number (2, 3, or 5)?
5
a.
6
2
b.
3
1
c.
2
1
d.
6

5. A storeowner plans to have his annual Going Out of Business Sale.

If each month has an equal chance of being selected, find the prob-
ability that the sale will be in a month that begins with the letter
J or M.

1
a.
4
1
b.
6
5
c.
8
5
d.
12

6. A card is selected from a deck of 52 cards. Find the probability that it

is a red queen or a black ace.

2
a.
13
1
b.
13
5
c.
13
8
d.
13
CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules 53

7. At a high school with 300 students, 62 play football, 33 play baseball,

and 14 play both sports. If a student is selected at random, find the
probability that the student plays football or baseball.

27
a.
100
109
b.
300
19
c.
60
14
d.
300

8. A card is selected from a deck. Find the probability that it is a face

card or a diamond.

25
a.
52
3
b.
52
11
c.
26
13
d.
52
9. A single card is selected from a deck. Find the probability that it is a
queen or a black card.

11
a.
26
7
b.
13
1
c.
13
15
d.
26
54 CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules

10. Two dice are rolled. What is the probability of getting doubles or a
sum of 10?

11
a.
18
2
b.
9
1
c.
4
11
d.
36

11. The probability that a family visits Safari Zoo is 0.65, and the prob-
ability that a family rides on the Mt. Pleasant Tourist Railroad is
0.55. The probability that a family does both is 0.43. Find the prob-
ability that the family visits the zoo or the railroad.

a. 0.77

b. 0.22

c. 0.12

d. 0.10

12. If a card is drawn from a deck, what is the probability that it is a king,
queen, or an ace?

5
a.
13
7
b.
13
6
c.
13
3
d.
13
CHAPTER 3 The Addition Rules 55

Probability Sidelight
WIN A MILLION OR BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?
Do you think you are more likely to win a large lottery and become a
millionaire or are you more likely to be struck by lightning?
Consider each probability. In a recent article, researchers estimated that
the chance of winning a million or more dollars in a lottery is about one in
2 million. In a recent Pennsylvania State Lottery, the chances of winning
a million dollars were 1 in 9.6 million. The chances of winning a $10 million
prize in Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes were 1 in 2 million. Now the
chances of being struck by lightning are about 1 in 600,000. Thus, a person is
at least three times more likely to be struck by lightning than win a million
dollars!
But wait a minute! Statisticians are critical of these types of comparisons,
since winning the lottery is a random occurrence. But being struck by
lightning depends on several factors. For example, if a person lives in a
region where there are a lot of thunderstorms, his or her chances of being
struck increase. Also, where a person is during a thunder storm influences his
or her chances of being struck by lightning. If the person is in a safe place
such as inside a building or in an automobile, the probability of being struck
is relatively small compared to a person standing out in a field or on a golf
course during a thunderstorm.
So be wary of such comparisons. As the old saying goes, you cannot
compare apples and oranges.