Instructor: Conrad Perez

Student: Jennifer Tofan

Course: Math 21 Online (52031) - Spring Assignment: 8.3
Date: 05/04/23
2023

Each of the ten digits​(0 through​9) is written on a separate piece of paper and placed in a basket. A slip is pulled​out, and its digit is recorded
in the order in which the slip was drawn. The slip is not replaced after the digit is recorded. Find the probability that the number 123 is formed.

Let S be a sample space of equally likely​outcomes, and let event E be a subset of S. Then the probability that event E occurs is given as
n(E)
P(E) = .
n(S)

When counting with​replacement, the multiplication principle must be used. If replacement is not​involved, then permutations are used when
order matters and combinations are used when order​doesn't matter.

In this​problem, the slips are not being returned to the basket after being recorded. In other​words, the slips are being drawn without
replacement.

Also, in this problem the order​matters, because the same digits in a different order would form a different number.

Since the numbers on the slips are not replaced and order​matters, use permutations to calculate the probability.

There is only 1 way that 123 can be​formed, so n(E) = 1. The number of elements in the sample space is equal to the number of permutations
of the 10​digits, taken 3 at a time. Therefore n(s) = P(10,3).

Write an expression representing P(10,3).

10!
P(10,3) =
(10 − 3)!

Find the probability that 123 is chosen. Give the answer in scientific notation.

1
P(E) =
P(10,3)
1
= Substitute n(E) = 1 and n(s) = P(10,3)
P(10,3)
1 10!
= Compute P(10,3) using
720 (10 − 3)!
−3 Express in scientific notation.
= 1.389 × 10