Probability Question 50

Question: There are n different objects 1, 2, 3,……n distributed at random in n places marked 1, 2, 3, ……n. The probability that at least three of the objects occupy places corresponding to their number is

Options:

A) $ \frac{1}{6} $

B) $ \frac{5}{6} $

C) $ \frac{1}{3} $

D) None of these

Show Answer

Answer:

Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Let $ E_{i} $ denote the event that the $ i^{th} $ object goes to the $ i^{th} $ place, we have $ P(E_{i})=\frac{(n-1)!}{n!}=\frac{1}{n},\forall i $

and $ P(E_1\cap E_{j}\cap E_{l})=\frac{(n-3)!}{n!} $ for $ i<j<k $

Since we can choose 3 places out of n in $ {}^{n}C_3 $ ways.

The probability of the required event is $ {}^{n}C_3.\frac{(n-3)!}{n!}=\frac{1}{6} $ .