What is an event in probability?

In probability, an event is defined as a subset of the sample space. The sample space represents all possible outcomes of a particular experiment or random trial. Since an event consists of one or more outcomes from this sample space, it provides a way to analyze and quantify the likelihood of certain scenarios occurring.

For example, if you are rolling a six-sided die, the sample space includes all possible outcomes: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. An event could be defined as rolling an even number, which would include the outcomes {2, 4, 6}. Here, the event is clearly a subset of the sample space.

This definition allows for a systematic approach to calculating probabilities. By understanding events as subsets, one can apply mathematical principles to compute the chances of various outcomes occurring within an experiment. This concept is fundamental in probability theory and helps inform decisions based on the likelihood of different scenarios.