The concept of a mutually inclusive event is used in statistics to explain the probability of two events happening at the same time. It explains the possibility, for example, of a pregnant woman having a boy and girl instead of one or the other.
To calculate the probability of mutually inclusive events, use the mutually inclusive events equation. First, find the probability of each event. For example, calculate the probability of having a boy child. Then calculate the probability of having a girl child. Add the probability of a boy to a probability of a girl. Subtract the probability of having a girl and a boy (twins) and you will get the probability of having a girl or a boy.
The concept of mutually inclusive events allows us to consider options in decision-making. It not only forces you to think of one option as well as another, but also the probability of both occurring. Once those probabilities are figured, you can prepare for the most likely outcome to your decisions.
A mutually inclusive event requires that you have the possibility of multiple outcomes. If the answer is only either one option or the other, then you cannot call this a mutually inclusive event. The two variables must be independent of one another as well.
The mutually inclusive equation can be used to find the outcome of just about anything that has a probability and can occur at the same time as the other variable in the equation. This equation does not work on dependent variables, in which one event depends on another happening.