Final answer:
To find the probability of mutually exclusive events A, B, or C occurring, we add the individual probabilities of each event, since there is no overlap between them.
Step-by-step explanation:
When events A, B, and C are mutually exclusive, it means they cannot occur at the same time. Therefore, the probability of A and B, A and C, or B and C occurring at the same time is zero. To find the probability of A, B, or C occurring, denoted as P(A ∪ B ∪ C), we simply add the probabilities of each event happening independently, since there is no overlap between them.
Thus, the formula to find the union of three mutually exclusive events is:
P(A ∪ B ∪ C) = P(A) + P(B) + P(C)
This formula applies because there is no need to subtract any intersecting probabilities, as there are none for mutually exclusive events.