ACT Math · Probability and counting

Events A and B are mutually exclusive, with P(A) = 0.3 and P(B) = 0.45. What is P(A or B)?

Events AA and BB are mutually exclusive, with P(A)=0.3P(A) = 0.3 and P(B)=0.45P(B) = 0.45. What is P(A or B)P(A \text{ or } B)?

Answer and explanation

Answer: G: 0.75

Mutually exclusive events cannot occur together, so P(A and B)=0P(A\text{ and }B)=0. The addition rule simplifies to P(A or B)=P(A)+P(B)=0.3+0.45=0.75P(A\text{ or }B)=P(A)+P(B)=0.3+0.45=0.75, choice G. Choice F (0.1350.135) multiplies the probabilities, which applies to independent events and would give P(A and B)P(A\text{ and }B). Choice H (0.150.15) subtracts them. Choice J (1.01.0) would mean the two events together cover every outcome, which is not stated. The probability of either event must be at least as large as each single probability, and 0.750.75 is larger than both 0.30.3 and 0.450.45.

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