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Exercise 1713Combinatorics › Inclusion-exclusionL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Application to probability

#IE#probability#events

Statement

State the IE formula for the probability of a union of events.

Hint

Divide the set-IE by ∣Ω∣|\Omega|.

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Solution

Formula. For events A1,…,AnA_1,\ldots,A_n in a probability space:
P(⋃iAi)=∑iP(Ai)−∑i<jP(Ai∩Aj)+⋯+(−1)n+1P(A1∩⋯∩An).P\left(\bigcup_i A_i\right)=\sum_iP(A_i)-\sum_{i<j}P(A_i\cap A_j)+\cdots+(-1)^{n+1}P(A_1\cap\cdots\cap A_n).

Conclusion. The formula follows from the set version by dividing by ∣Ω∣|\Omega| (or P(Ω)P(\Omega)).