Question

Someone steals your phone and is trying to gain access by guessing your phone's passcode. The passcode is 4 digits and each digit can be any number from 0-9. Assuming your passcode is completely random (not just your birthday), what is the probability the person will correctly guess your passcode on the first try?

Answer 1

The probability of correctly guessing a 4-digit passcode on the first try, assuming it is completely random, is 1 in 10,000.

This is because there are 10 possible digits for each of the four positions, so the total number of possible passcodes is 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000.

Therefore, the probability of guessing the correct passcode on the first try is 1/10,000 or 0.01%.

However, it is important to note that this probability may be higher or lower depending on the specific passcode and the context in which it is being guessed. For example, if the person trying to guess the passcode knows the individual well and is aware of their preferences or patterns, they may be able to increase their likelihood of guessing correctly. Additionally, if the person has unlimited attempts to guess the passcode, the probability of eventually guessing correctly will increase.