What Is the Probability of Drawing Three Cards in Order from a Deck of Ten?

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SUMMARY

The probability of drawing three cards in strictly increasing order from a deck of ten cards without replacement is calculated by considering the total combinations of three cards and the valid increasing sequences. The correct approach involves recognizing that any selection of three distinct cards can be arranged in increasing order, leading to the formula P(A) = 1/120. The total number of ways to choose three cards from ten is given by the combination formula C(10, 3), which equals 120. Thus, the probability of selecting three cards in strictly increasing order is 1/120, not 1/90 as initially calculated.

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  • Understanding of combinatorial mathematics, specifically combinations.
  • Familiarity with probability theory and basic probability calculations.
  • Knowledge of the concept of drawing without replacement.
  • Ability to distinguish between sorted order and strictly increasing order.
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  • Study the concept of combinations in combinatorial mathematics, focusing on C(n, k).
  • Learn about probability calculations involving permutations and combinations.
  • Explore examples of drawing cards from a deck to solidify understanding of probability without replacement.
  • Investigate more complex probability scenarios involving multiple draws and different conditions.
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Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those focusing on probability and combinatorics, as well as anyone interested in card games and their underlying mathematical principles.

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So, there is a deck of 10 card and a player picks 3 cards one at a time without replacement. What is the probability that the three cards are selected in sorted (increasing) order?

I am not fully understand this question, for me there are two possibilities:
1. The final three cards are sorted in order. (e.g. 1st = 3, 2nd = 1, 3rd = 2)
2. Or, it is strictly increasing, 1st card < 2nd card < 3rd card.

I do favor the 2nd possibility but i can not convince my self, perhaps anyone can help me.

So, my approach is (for the 2nd possibility) to group those 10 cards to a group of 3 cards (in increasing order). Let's call it A, so

A = {(1,2,3),(2,3,4),(3,4,5),(4,5,6),(5,6,7),(6,7,8),(7,8,9),(8,9,10)}
and S is 10x9x8.

So P(A) = 8/(10x9x8) = 1/90

Is this the right thing to do??
 
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sputnik said:
So, there is a deck of 10 card and a player picks 3 cards one at a time without replacement. What is the probability that the three cards are selected in sorted (increasing) order?

I am not fully understand this question, for me there are two possibilities:
1. The final three cards are sorted in order. (e.g. 1st = 3, 2nd = 1, 3rd = 2)
No, that would be "consectutive numbers", not "in sorted order".

2. Or, it is strictly increasing, 1st card < 2nd card < 3rd card.
Yes, that is what they mean.

I do favor the 2nd possibility but i can not convince my self, perhaps anyone can help me.

So, my approach is (for the 2nd possibility) to group those 10 cards to a group of 3 cards (in increasing order). Let's call it A, so

A = {(1,2,3),(2,3,4),(3,4,5),(4,5,6),(5,6,7),(6,7,8),(7,8,9),(8,9,10)}
and S is 10x9x8.

So P(A) = 8/(10x9x8) = 1/90

Is this the right thing to do??
No, you are missing such "orders" as (1, 5, 8), (3, 6, 9), etc.
 

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