# Independent, Pairwise Independent and Mutually Independent events

I want to understand the difference between Independent, Pairwise Independent and Mutually Independent events. I have read multiple answers related to this like in here, here and here. Most of them talk with 3 events and explain the difference between pairwise independent and mutually independent. I understand that. But what happens when there are $n$ events?

Suppose, $A_1$, $A_2$,....$A_n$ are n events, if

$$P(A_1 \cap A_2 \cap .... A_n) = P(A_1)P(A_2)....P(A_n)$$ but they are neither pairwise independent nor mutually independent. Only the above statement holds. Now, are these events still called Independent Events? Or is there any separate nomenclature for that?

• For a silly example, consider what happens if $A_1=\emptyset$ in which case trivially $P(A_1\cap A_2\cap\dots A_n)=P(A_1)P(A_2)\dots P(A_n)=0$, regardless of the nature of the relationships between $A_2,\dots,A_n$ – JMoravitz Aug 22 '18 at 5:40
• Sorry, I didn't get how it answers my question? Or, are you just adding an example? How does it help? – Nagabhushan S N Aug 22 '18 at 5:41
• I'm saying if you allow one of the events to be impossible, then any and every choice of $A_2,\dots,A_n$, in particular those which are not mutually nor pairwise independent, will satisfy the condition you give. They are neither pairwise nor mutually independent, and we do not have much if any information as to anything else related to how they act, so it seems unnecessary to give such a situation a name. – JMoravitz Aug 22 '18 at 5:52
• Oh! Okay. Understood. But you're giving one situation where it doesn't make sense. That doesn't mean there aren't any situations where it makes sense. The equation might hold true for some situation. Right? – Nagabhushan S N Aug 22 '18 at 6:13

## 1 Answer

I got the below answer.

Mutual Independence and Pairwise Independence can be defined on a collection of events only. When it is said that a collection of events is independent, it means that all the events in the collection are mutually independent.

Suppose it is said that some events $A$, $B$, $C$, $D$ are independent, it means that $$P(A \cap B \cap C \cap D) = P(A) * P(B) * P(C) * P(D)$$ and nothing else. We cannot assume that these events are pairwise or mutually independent.