Question

In 3-5 sentences, explain the difference between independent and dependent events when calculating conditional probability, and provide an example of a dependent event.

Answer 1

Independent events are those where the outcome of one event does not affect the outcome of another; knowing the result of one event provides no information about the other. In contrast, dependent events have outcomes that are influenced by each other, meaning the occurrence of one event changes the probability of the other occurring. For example, drawing two cards from a deck without replacement demonstrates a dependent event; the probability of drawing the second card changes based on the outcome of the first card drawn. If you draw an Ace and do not replace it, the probability of drawing a second Ace is now reduced from 4 out of 52 to 3 out of 51.