Math Probability question...

[Excelsior]

There are 5 people, 5 seats, what is the chance that they sit down in alphabetical order.

 

[shiner]

Are any of them from Istanbul?

 

[Chaotic42]

1/120

 

[z0mb13]

what do u mean by alphabetical??

 

[jtusa]

yay!

 

[KLin]

what if they all have the same name?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: KLin
what if they all have the same name?

Obviously we are assuming that they have different names.

Already tried 1/120

 

[ZeroNine8]

1 in 5^5, or 1 in 3125. (2 in 3125 if you count reverse alphabetic order)

If that's not right, 1 in 42.

 

[Furyline]

how about 1/60 it could be reverse alphabetical, too.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Obviously we are assuming that they have different names.

Already tried 1/120

You already tried 1/120?

Already tried what?

The chance that A will sit in the 1st is 1/5. The chance that B will sit in the next seat is 1/4. The chance that C will sit in the next seat is 1/3. The chance that D will sit in the next seat is 1/2.

5*4*3*2=120

Edit: Can they all sit down at the same time?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

If its not 1/120, then 1/60 (to account for them sitting down in reverse alphabetical order)

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Obviously we are assuming that they have different names.

Already tried 1/120

You already tried 1/120?

Already tried what?

The chance that A will sit in the 1st is 1/5. The chance that B will sit in the next seat is 1/4. The chance that C will sit in the next seat is 1/3. The chance that D will sit in the next seat is 1/2.

5*4*3*2=120

Edit: Can they all sit down at the same time?

No, it IS 120, you are right. The girl wasn't putting it in right. I thought it was 120 too (she was doing decimal form instead of fractions).

 

[glen]

1/3125 ?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
No, it IS 120, you are right. The girl wasn't putting it in right. I thought it was 120 too (she was doing decimal form instead of fractions).

Ok, cool. I was wondering what I was doing wrong!

:beer:

 

[chuckywang]

If they are sitting around a round table, then it's 1/24.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
If they are sitting around a round table, then it's 1/24.

You know, I didn't even think to consider that.
:beer:

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: chuckywang
If they are sitting around a round table, then it's 1/24.

You know, I didn't even think to consider that.
:beer:

or it might be 1/12 considering reverse alphabetical order.

 

[wfbberzerker]

1/3125

 

[jspeicher]

well what if the first guy/girl farts as he/she is sitting down first...and then immediately stands back up?

 

[hans007]

assuming their names are all different its just 5 factorial ways.


i suppose if the chairs are in a row, there are two ways they can sit in order


like

abcde

or edcba


so thats 2/5! 1/60