What Are the Probabilities of Matching Gloves in a Random Distribution?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the probabilities related to matching gloves (or "gants") in a random distribution among six people, each receiving one right and one left glove from six different pairs. Participants explore various scenarios regarding how many individuals end up with matching pairs, including cases where nobody, everyone, only one, or at least two have matching pairs.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a problem involving the distribution of six pairs of gloves and asks for the probabilities of different matching scenarios.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on whether "possibility" refers to the number of possibilities or the probability itself, and questions the term "gant."
  • One participant suggests using derangements to calculate the probability of no matches and provides a formula for it.
  • Another participant calculates the probability of exactly one match and discusses the implications of having at least two matches by considering the complementary probabilities.
  • There is a mention of the number of derangements and how they relate to the total number of outcomes.
  • One participant expresses doubt about the correctness of a proposed method involving derangements.
  • A later reply clarifies that "gant" likely refers to "glove," indicating a possible translation issue.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the methods for calculating probabilities, and there is no consensus on the correctness of all proposed approaches. Some calculations are presented without agreement on their validity.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference derangements and specific probabilities without fully resolving the mathematical steps or assumptions involved in their calculations.

evinda
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Hey again! (Wasntme)

We have $6$ pairs of gants,all of them have a different colour.
We share the $6$ right gants randomly to $6$ people,then we share the $6$ left gants randomly to the same people.
Find the possibility:
  • Nobody has a pair of the same colour
  • Everybody has a pair of the same colour
  • Only one gets a pair of the same colour
  • at least $2$ get a pair of the same colour
That's what I have tried (Blush):Let $D_n=|\{ \sigma \in S_n: \sigma(i) \neq i \forall i \in [n]\}|$

  • $6! \cdot D_6$
  • $6!$
  • $6! \cdot 5!$
  • $6!-D_2$

Could you tell me if it is right?
 
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evinda said:
Hey again! (Wasntme)

We have $6$ pairs of gants,all of them have a different colour.
We share the $6$ right gants randomly to $6$ people,then we share the $6$ left gants randomly to the same people.
Find the possibility:
  • Nobody has a pair of the same colour
  • Everybody has a pair of the same colour
  • Only one gets a pair of the same colour
  • at least $2$ get a pair of the same colour

Hey! (Mmm)

Hmm. What do you mean by "possibility"?
Do you mean the number of possibilities?
Or do you mean the probability? (Wondering)

And what is a "gant"? (Thinking)
That's what I have tried (Blush):Let $D_n=|\{ \sigma \in S_n: \sigma(i) \neq i \forall i \in [n]\}|$

Could you tell me if it is right?

  • $6! \cdot D_6$
  • $6!$

Right and right! (Sun)

  • $6! \cdot 5!$

Hmm... suppose the first person gets a pair.
How many possibilities to divide the remaining gants? (Thinking)
  • $6!-D_2$

Hmm... $D_2$ is the number of possibilities that 2 gants are divided differently... which is 1 possibility.
I don't think that will work! (Doh)
 
Hello, evinda!

We have 6 pairs of gants, each pair a different color.
We share the 6 right gants randomly to 6 people,
then we share the 6 left gants randomly to the same people.

Find the probability that:
(a) Nobody has a pair of the same color.
(b) Everyone has pair of the same color.
(c) Exactly one gets a pair of the same color.
(d) At least two get a pair of the same color.
A derangement is an distribution
in which no one has a matching pair.

Let d(n) = number of derangements of n objects.

There are: 6! = 720 possible outcomes.

(a) P(\text{No matches}) \:=\:\frac{d(6)}{6!} \:=\:\frac{265}{720} \:=\:\frac{53}{144}(b) There is one way in which there are 6 matches.
P(\text{6 matches}) \:=\:\frac{1}{720}(c) There are 6 choices for the person with the match.
The other 5 gants must be deranged.
P(\text{1 match}) \:=\;\frac{6\cdot d(5)}{6!} \:=\:\frac{6\cdot 44}{720} \:=\:\frac{11}{30}(d) The opposite of "at least two" is "0 or 1".
We already know: P(0) =\tfrac{265}{720},\;P(1) = \tfrac{264}{720}
Hence: P(\text{0 or 1}) \:=\:\tfrac{265}{720}+\tfrac{264}{720} \:=\:\tfrac{529}{720}
Therefore: .P(\text{2 or more}) \:=\:1 - \frac{529}{720} \:=\:\frac{191}{720}
 
Also I think "gant" means "glove" here. Probably translation error :p
 

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