Final answer:
The probability that the maid of honor is in the leftmost position in a random lineup of eight people is 1/8 or 0.125, which is a 12.5% chance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks about the probability that the maid of honor is in the leftmost position in a random lineup of eight people at a wedding party. To find this probability, we apply the principles of counting and probability.
Step 1: There are eight possible positions in which the maid of honor can be placed. The leftmost position is just one of these possibilities.
Step 2: Since every way of lining up people is equally likely and no further constraints are given, the probability of the maid of honor being in any specific position (including the leftmost position) is the same. Therefore, the maid of honor has a 1 in 8 chance of being in the leftmost position, as there is only one leftmost position out of eight total positions.
Step 3: The probability is calculated by taking the number of favorable outcomes (maid of honor in the leftmost position, which is 1) and dividing it by the total number of possible outcomes (all possible positions for the maid of honor, which is 8).
The probability is 1/8 or 0.125. This means there is a 12.5% chance that the maid of honor will be in the leftmost position in this random arrangement.