An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Its Applications (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13411-421-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-13411-421-7

Chapter 2 Probability - 2.4 Conditional Probability - Questions - Page 41: 22

Answer

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Work Step by Step

The probability of opening the door with a randomly chosen key is $\frac{1}{n}$ and the probability of not opening the door with a randomly chosen key is $\frac{n-1}{n}$ The first key will not open the door, thus we have $p_1=\frac{n-1}{n}$ The second key will not open the door, thus we have $p_2=\frac{n-2}{n-1}$ The third key will open the door, thus we have $p_3=\frac{1}{n-2}$ The total would be $p=p_1\times p_2\times p_3=\frac{n-1}{n}\times\frac{n-2}{n-1}\times\frac{1}{n-2}=\frac{1}{n}$ In order to get to the third key, the first two keys should not open the door.
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