Ok, well I am working with probability, and I hope one of you will be able to answer my question. My textbook states that complimentary events are mutually exclusive, yet mutually exclusive events are not necessarily complementary. Is this statement true? If so, why? Any help would be much appreciated --BioagentX

Yes, it''s true. What part of it is giving you trouble?

Rolling a 1 and rolling a 6 are mutually exclusive, yet not complementary -- does this help?

Just take a look at the definitions. Complementary means that these are the only two events. It can only be one or the other, but not both. Thus they are mutually exclusive.

Now extend on the dice example. You have 6 different outcomes. Yet you can only get one of them at a time. Thus, they all all mutually exclusive, yet there are more than two outcomes.

Wow, both of your examples helped me. Thanks a lot (Seriously).