Need help with number of equiprobable outcomes

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SUMMARY

The probability of r passengers boarding n subway cars, with the condition that no two passengers enter the same car, is calculated using the formula P(A) = N(A)/N. The total number of equiprobable outcomes, N, is determined to be n^r, where n is the number of cars and r is the number of passengers. In the example discussed, with 3 cars and 2 passengers, the total outcomes are 3^2 = 9, while the restricted outcomes where no car has more than one passenger (N(A)) equals 6. This distinction clarifies the misunderstanding regarding the calculation of total versus restricted outcomes.

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Homework Statement



A subway train made up of n cars is boarded by r passengers (r < n),
each entering a car completely at random. What is the probability of the
passengers all ending up in different cars?

Homework Equations



P(A) = \frac{N(A)}{N}

A - no more than one passenger enters any car

The Attempt at a Solution



Part 1. Finding the total number of equiprobable outcomes N
The book says that the number of equiprobable outcomes N is n^r.
I've set up a table (included in the attachment) with 3 cars and 2
passengers and came up with only 6 equiprobable outcomes. What
I don't understand is that the passenger will not be in two cars at
once so why would the solution be N = n*n*...*n = n^r.

EDIT:
Another book with the same problem with the same solution.
 

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controlswhiz said:

Homework Statement



A subway train made up of n cars is boarded by r passengers (r < n),
each entering a car completely at random. What is the probability of the
passengers all ending up in different cars?

Homework Equations



P(A) = \frac{N(A)}{N}

A - no more than one passenger enters any car

The Attempt at a Solution



Part 1. Finding the total number of equiprobable outcomes N
The book says that the number of equiprobable outcomes N is n^r.
I've set up a table (included in the attachment) with 3 cars and 2
passengers and came up with only 6 equiprobable outcomes. What
I don't understand is that the passenger will not be in two cars at
once so why would the solution be N = n*n*...*n = n^r.

EDIT:
Another book with the same problem with the same solution.

The 6 you have there is the number of restricted outcomes where there aren't two passengers in any car N(A). The N in the problem is the number of total outcomes, where any number of passengers can be in a car. The N is 3^2=9. which is the n^r. The probability is the quotient. Got it? The N isn't the restricted outcomes. N(A) is the restricted outcomes.
 
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Oh yeah. That's very stupid of me. :redface: Thanks Dick.
 

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