1. How many PINs can be made if digits can be repeated?

2. How many PINs can be made if digits cannot be repeated?

3. If a PIN is made by selecting four digits at random, and digits can be repeated,
what is the probability that the PIN contains at least one eight?
4. If a PIN is made by selecting four digits at random, and digits cannot be repeated,
what is the probability that the PIN contains at least one eight?
SOLUTION
1. If digits can be repeated: you have 10 digits to choose from and you have to
choose four times, therefore the number of possible PINs = 10
4
= 10 000.
2. If digits cannot be repeated: you have 10 digits for your rst choice, nine for your
second, eight for your third and seven for your fourth. Therefore,
the number of possible PINs = 10 9 8 7 = 5040
3. Let B be the event that at least one eight is chosen. Therefore the complement
of B is the event that no eights are chosen.
If no eights are chosen, there are only nine digits to choose from. Therefore,
n(not B) = 9
4
= 6561.
The total number of arrangements in the set, as calculated in Question 1, is
10 000. Therefore:
P(B) = 1 P(not B)
= 1
n(not B)
n(S)
= 1
6561
10 000
= 0,3439
4. Let B be the event that at least one eight is chosen. Therefore the complement
of B, is the event that no eights are chosen.
If no eights are chosen, there are only 9 then 8 then 7 then 6 digits to choose
from as we cannot repeat a digit once it is chosen. Therefore,
n(not B) = 9 8 7 6 = 3024
The total number of arrangements in the set, as calculated in Question 1, is
10 000. Therefore:
P(B) = 1 P(not B)
1
n(not B)
n(S)
= 1
3024
10 000
= 0,6976
437 Chapter 10. Probability