If $A$ and $B$ are independent events of a random experiment such that $P(A \cap B)=\frac{1}{6}$ and…

If $A$ and $B$ are independent events of a random experiment such that $P(A \cap B)=\frac{1}{6}$ and $P(\bar{A} \cap \bar{B})=\frac{1}{3}$, then $P(A)$ is equal to (Here, $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{E}}$ is the complement of the event $E$ )
  1. $\frac{1}{4}$
  2. $\frac{1}{3}$
  3. $\frac{2}{3}$
  4. None of these

Solution

Given that, $P(A \cap B)=\frac{1}{6}$ and $P(\bar{A} \cap \bar{B})=\frac{1}{3}$ Since, $A$ and $B$ are independent. $ \begin{aligned} & \therefore \quad P(A) P(B)=\frac{1}{6} \text { and } P(\bar{A}) P(\bar{B})=\frac{1}{3} \\ & \Rightarrow \quad[1-P(A)][1-P(B)]=\frac{1}{3} \\ & \Rightarrow 1-[P(A)+P(B)]+P(A) P(B)=\frac{1}{3} \\ & \Rightarrow \quad 1+\frac{1}{6}-\frac{1}{3}=P(A)+P(B) \\ & \Rightarrow \quad P(A)+P(B)=\frac{5}{6} \\ & \Rightarrow \quad P(A)=\frac{1}{2}, P(B)=\frac{1}{3} \\ & \text { and } P(A)=\frac{1}{3}, P(B)=\frac{1}{2} \\ & \end{aligned} $ Hence, options (2) and (3) are correct

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2008

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