Final answer:
To calculate the number of different simple random samples of size 5 that can be drawn from a population of 46, the combination formula C(46, 5) = 46! / (5! * 41!) is used, resulting in the total number of possible samples.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of how many different simple random samples of size 5 can be obtained from a population of size 46 is a problem of combinatorics, specifically concerning combinations in mathematics. The formula for calculating combinations is given by C(n, k) = n! / (k! * (n - k)!), where 'n' is the total number of items in the population, 'k' is the size of each sample, and '!' denotes factorial.
To find the number of possible simple random samples of size 5 from a population of 46, we would plug in the values into the combination formula:
C(46, 5) = 46! / (5! * (46 - 5)!) = 46! / (5! * 41!)
Once calculated, this would give the total number of different simple random samples that can be drawn from the population of 46.