2.1.3.2.4 - Complements

The complement of an event is the probability that the event does not occur. The complement of  \(P(A)\) is written as \(P(A^C)\) or \(P(A')\).

In the diagram below, we can see that \(A^{C}\) is everything in the sample space that is not A.

Complement of A

Mathematically, if we know \(P(A)\), we can use that value to compute \(P(A^{C})\) using the following formula.

Complement of A
\(P(A^{C})=1−P(A)\)

Example: Coin Flip Section

When flipping a coin, one can flip heads or tails. Thus, \(P(Tails^{C})=P(Heads)\) and \(P(Heads^{C})=P(Tails)\)

Example: Hearts Section

If you randomly select a card from a standard 52-card deck, you could pull a heart, diamond, spade, or club. The complement of pulling a heart is the probability of pulling a diamond, spade, or club. In other words: \(P(Heart^{C})=P(Diamond,\; Spade,\;\;Club)\)

Example: Rain Section

Light Rain Showers

According to the weather report, there is a 30% chance of rain today: \(P(Rain) = .30\) 

Raining and not raining are complements.

\(P(Not \:rain)=P(Rain^{C})=1-P(Rain)=1-.30=.70\)

There is a 70% chance that it will not rain today.

The sum of all of the probabilities for possible events is equal to 1.

Example: Cards Section

In a standard 52-card deck there are 26 black cards and 26 red cards. All cards are either black or red.

\(P(red)+P(black)=\frac{26}{52}+\frac{26}{52}=1\)

Example: Dominant Hand Section

Of individuals with two hands, it is possible to be right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous. Assuming that these are the only three possibilities and that there is no overlap between any of these possibilities:

\(P(right\;handed)+P(left\;handed)+P(ambidextrous) = 1\)