P(B | A): probability of event B occurring, given that event A has already occurred.
P(A and B) = P(A) P(B | A)
Independent Events
If the events A, B are independent, then the knowledge that event A has occurred has no effect on the probably of the event B occurring, that is P(B | A) = P(B).
As a result, for independent events: P(A and B) = P(A) P(B | A)
= P(A) P(B)