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Suppose we have three random variables $X_1, X_2$ and $X_3$. For pairwise independence it is sufficient to show that $E[X_{1}X_{2}] =E[X_1]E[X_2]$, $E[X_{1}X_{3}] = E[X_1]E[X_3]$ and $E[X_{2}X_{3}] = E[X_{2}]E[X_{3}]$

For mutual independence would it be enough to show that $E[X_{1}X_{2}X_{3}] = E[X_{1}]E[X_{2}]E[X_{3}]$?

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    If $A_1$, $A_2$, and $A_3$ are _events_ (not random variables), then it is true that $A_1$, $A_2$, and $A_3$ are said to be _pairwise independent events_ if the three conditions $P(A_iA_j) = P(A_i)P(A_j), ~ i \neq j,$ hold. This looks sort of similar to your mistaken assertion about random variables. But even in this case, it is _not true_ that $A_1$, $A_2$, and $A_3$ are said to be _mutually independent_ events if $P(A_1A_2A_3) = P(A_1)P(A_2)P(A_3)$ holds. **All four** displayed equations must hold for $A_1$, $A_2$, and $A_3$ to be mutually independent _events_.2012-03-12

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