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rea and Bryan are auditioning for a part in the school play. There are 15 people auditioning, and the order of their auditions are chosen at random. Find the probability that Drea auditions last and Bryan auditions second to last.]

User Doin
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1 Answer

5 votes

Answer: 1/210

Step-by-step explanation:

The positions of Drea and Bryan are locked in as last, and 2nd to last respectively. This means the 15 slots drops to 15-2 = 13 slots.

There are 13 other people and 13 slots to fill.

That gives 13*12*11*10*9*8*7*6*5*4*3*2*1 = 6,227,020,800 different permutations where Drea is last and Bryan is 2nd to last. Order matters in a permutation.

This is out of 15*14*13*12*11*10*9*8*7*6*5*4*3*2*1 = 1,307,674,368,000 different ways to arrange the 15 people. This larger count will have Drea and Bryan move to other slots.

If you divide the smaller number over the larger, then the block "13*12*11*10*9*8*7*6*5*4*3*2*1" cancels out.

We'll be left with 1/(15*14) = 1/210 as the final answer

User Somum
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