Formulas & tables/Mathematics/Probability/Probability of the union of events

Probability of the union of events

P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B)P(A\cup B)=P(A)+P(B)-P(A\cap B)

Result unit: — ($\langle 0,1\rangle$)

What it describes

The probability of the union of events with the intersection subtracted.

Symbols

P(A),P(B)P(A), P(B)
probabilities of the events
P(A∩B)P(A\cap B)
probability of the intersection

Where it comes from

When adding the probabilities of two events, the intersection is counted twice — so we subtract it. For disjoint events P(A∩B)=0P(A\cap B)=0.

When to use it

The probability of "A or B".

Example

P(A)=0.5P(A)=0.5, P(B)=0.4P(B)=0.4, P(A∩B)=0.2P(A\cap B)=0.2. Find P(A∪B)P(A\cup B).
Substitution0.5+0.4−0.20.5+0.4-0.2.
ResultP(A∪B)=0.7P(A\cup B)=0.7.

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