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Probability Question?

There are five addressed envelopes and 5 paychecks. If I randomly put the checks in the envelopes then

a) What is the probability that exactly one paycheck and envelope match

b) What is the probability that no paychecks and envelopes match

1 Answer

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  • M3
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    this is a problem of derangement/partial derangement

    a derangement is an arrangement where no object is in its proper place,

    e.g. if alphabetical arrangement ABCDE is "proper" , DCAEB would be a derangement

    although a formula exists, (see source cited),

    you may like to remember it as a recursive method

    objects // derangements

    2// BA :: D2 = 1

    3// BCA, CAB :: D3 = 2 = 3*D2 - 1

    4// BADC, BCDA, BDAC, CADB, CDAB, CDBA, DABC, DCAB, DCBA: D4=9=4D3 +1

    continuing recursively, D5 = 5D4 -1 = 44

    qa

    exactly 1 match means exactly 4 deranged,

    but any 4 of 5 may be deranged,

    ie 5c4 = 5 ways for D4

    so 5*9 = 45

    -----------------

    qb

    D5 = 44

    -----------

    .

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