Probability question (1 Viewer)

wiz g 99

New Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
2
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
A box contains six cards, two of which are identical. From this box, three cards are drawn in order without replacement and put on a table in a row. How many different arrangements can be made?

The answer is 72. I've answered 6P3-4C1*3P3*2P2 to eliminate the repetitions, but 48 repetitions seems too much. Correct me if I'm wrong but 48 repetitions means that 96/120 of the original with-repetitions arrangements contain both identical cards.
 
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
883
Location
Freezer aisle
Gender
Female
HSC
2015
hey can you do up a probability tree?
6 cards- I labelled A B C D E(x2)
A= 2 x 3 x 4 (times that by 5 instead of 6)
B
C
D
E
(only did one e as the other is repeating) so I got 120 but I'm not sure how your probability tree turned out
better be safe by drawing all the results


*wait I realised my mistake. E has a special exception. I suggest drawing up all the possibilities
 
Last edited:

InteGrand

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
6,109
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
A box contains six cards, two of which are identical. From this box, three cards are drawn in order without replacement and put on a table in a row. How many different arrangements can be made?

The answer is 72. I've answered 6P3-4C1*3P3*2P2 to eliminate the repetitions, but 48 repetitions seems too much. Correct me if I'm wrong but 48 repetitions means that 96/120 of the original with-repetitions arrangements contain both identical cards.
Let the cards be X, X, A, B, C, D, so X and X are identical cards.

There are three cases: have no X's in the three picked, have exactly one X, or have exactly two X's.

If you have no X's, you're making an ordered trio from A, B, C, D, and number of ways to do this is 4P3 = 24.

If you have exactly one X, you need to pick two cards from A, B, C, D (which can be done in 4C2 = 6 ways), and then order X and the other two cards (which can be done is 3! = 6 ways), so total no. of ways if you have exactly one X is 6×6 = 36.

If you have two X's, you pick the last card from A, B, C, D (4 ways to do this), then order the two X's and the last letter (3 ways to do this), so 4×3 = 12 ways for this case.

So total no. of ways is 24 + 36 + 12 = 72.
 

Kaido

be.
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Messages
823
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
yeah, the lesson is to never jump into permutation/comb questions without a game plan :p

How did you get "6P3-4C1*3P3*2P2"??
 

dan964

what
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
3,473
Location
South of here
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Uni Grad
2019
Consider A, B, C, D, E, E

Possibility one, I pick 3 out of A, B, C, D = 4P3 = 24
Possibility two, I pick 2 out of A, B, C, D and an E
= 4P2*3P1 (the 3P1 here is to account for the E)
(or 4C2 * 3!)
=36
Possibility three, I pick one out of A, B, C, D and both Es.
= 4P1*3P1 (the 3P1 here is the placement of the non E)
=12


Total = 72 which is the correct answer
 
Last edited:

Kaido

be.
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Messages
823
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
You choose 2 of the four then permutate it 3! times.
likewise for the last last part: you choose 1 of four then permutate it 3! times and divide it by 2! due to repetition
 

dan964

what
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
3,473
Location
South of here
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Uni Grad
2019
^
what if you pick 2 that are identical. you didn't consider that case.
I have amended my answer above.
and no I didn't look at Integrand's answer - couldn't be bothered scrolling up.
 
Last edited:

Kaido

be.
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Messages
823
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
you choose 1 of four then permutate it 3! times and divide it by 2! due to repetition
this refers to the two identical case (since you choose 1 of A,B,C,D and 2 E's)

but you got it anyways >.>
 

wiz g 99

New Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
2
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
yeah, the lesson is to never jump into permutation/comb questions without a game plan :p

How did you get "6P3-4C1*3P3*2P2"??
Hmm, I thought the way you solve it would be total-repetitions and somehow I got 6P3-4C1*3P3*2P2.
 

Kaido

be.
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Messages
823
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
lol no wonder, had a red line under it while i was typing

still, permutate sounds pro
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
lol no wonder, had a red line under it while i was typing

still, permutate sounds pro
"Permutate" is an example of a 'back-formation".

Another example is "coronate". I wonder how many people think it is correct to say "Queen Elizabeth was coronated in 1953" ?
Then there is fragmentate and spectate.

However there are many back-formations that have (unfortunately) become acceptable - like commentate, elocute, notate, orientate and surveil.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top