Three-Digit Permutation Probability Word Problem

Published on August 15, 2026

Statistics

Calculate the probability of forming a three-digit number beginning with a specific digit using the numbers 7, 8, and 3 without repetition. The total number of outcomes is 6, and the favorable outcomes are 2, resulting in a probability of 1/3.

Question

Answer

To solve the math problems presented in the image, let’s go through them one by one.

Problem 2

Question: “I write down a three-digit number using each of the digits 7, 8 and 3 once only. What is the probability that the number I write begins with the digit 3?”
Step-by-step solution:
  1. Identify the total number of possible outcomes:
    We are forming a three-digit number using the digits without repetition. The total number of ways to arrange these three distinct digits is given by the number of permutations of 3 items, which is (3 factorial).
    The possible numbers are: .
  2. Identify the number of favorable outcomes:
    We want to find how many of these numbers begin with the digit . If the first digit is fixed as , we only need to arrange the remaining two digits ( and ) in the remaining two positions.
    The favorable numbers are: and .
  3. Calculate the probability:
    The probability is the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes to the total number of outcomes.
    Simplifying the fraction:
Answer for Problem 2: The correct option is .

Problem 3

Question: “How many eighths are there in 7?”
Step-by-step solution:
  1. Understand the question:
    An “eighth” is the fraction . The question asks how many times fits into the whole number . This is equivalent to solving for in the equation:
  2. Perform the calculation:
    To find , multiply both sides by :
Alternatively, you can think of it this way: there are eighths in whole. Therefore, in wholes, there are eighths.
Answer for Problem 3: There are eighths in .