Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences · Problem 16.3.10

FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE — Mary Boas

Mathematics — Methods · probability-theorems-letters

Problem

(a) Three typed letters and their envelopes are piled on a desk. If someone puts the letters into the envelopes at random (one letter in each), what is the probability that each letter gets into its own envelope? Call the envelopes AA, BB, CC, and the corresponding letters aa, bb, cc, and set up the sample space. Note that ``aa in CC, bb in BB, cc in AA'' is one point in the sample space. (b) What is the probability that at least one letter gets into its own envelope? Hint: What is the probability that no letter gets into its own envelope? (c) Let AA mean that aa got into envelope AA, and so on. Find the probability P(A)P(A) that aa got into AA. Find P(B)P(B) and P(C)P(C). Find the probability P(A+B)P(A+B) that either aa or bb or both got into their correct envelopes, and the probability P(AB)P(AB) that both got into their correct envelopes. Verify equation (3.6).

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