independent events

This is the term used to describe events which have no connection to each other, but it’s possible to calculate their probability.

Two events are independent when the outcome of the first event does not affect the outcome of the second event.

For example, for two independent events A a B, the probability (P) that A and B will happen is P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B).

Let’s think about this in the context of throwing a dice twice.

Here’s the probability that six will be thrown the first time and the second time:

       P(two sixes)

    = P(six and six)

    = P(six) × P(six)

    =\dfrac{1}{6} × \dfrac{1}{6}

    =\dfrac{1}{36}