Final answer:
The probability that the first softball hits zone 4, the second zone 1, the third zone 3, and the fourth zone 2, assuming each zone has an equal chance of being hit, is calculated by multiplying the individual probabilities resulting in 1/256.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is concerned with calculating a specific probability involving four softballs being thrown at a strike-zone target. Each zone on the target is presumed to be hit with equal likelihood. To find out the probability of hitting zones in a specific order (zone 4, then zone 1, then zone 3, and finally zone 2), we assume independence of events (each throw does not affect the other) and multiply the probabilities of hitting each zone individually.
Let's assume each zone has an equal chance of being hit. If there are 4 zones, the probability of hitting any given zone is 1/4. Since events are independent, we calculate the overall probability by multiplying the probabilities for each of the four hits in the specific order:
Probability = (1/4) * (1/4) * (1/4) * (1/4) = 1/256.
So, the probability that the first softball hits zone 4, the second softball hits zone 1, the third softball hits zone 3, and the fourth softball hits zone 2 is 1/256.