A probability model for a random phenomenon consists of a sample spaceS and an assignment of probabilities P.
The sample spaceS is the set of all possible outcomes of the random phenomenon. Sets of outcomes are called events.P assigns a number P(A) to an eventA as its probability.
The complementAc of an event A consists of exactly the outcomes that are not in A.
Events A and B are disjoint if they have no outcomes in common.
Events A and B are independent if knowing that one event occurs does not change the probability we would assign to the other event.
Any assignment of probability must obey the rules that state the basic properties of probability:
Rule 1.0≤P(A)≤1 for any event A.
Rule 2.P(S)=1.
Rule 3. Addition rule: If events A and B are disjoint, then P(A or B)=P(A)+P(B).
Rule 4. Complement rule: For any event A, P(Ac)=1-P(A).
Rule 5. Multiplication rule: If events A and B are independent, then P(A and B)=P(A)P(B).