What is the smallest value of n that assures at least a 50% chance that at least two students select the same integer?

  • MHB
  • Thread starter Jameson
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In summary, the smallest value of n in this scenario represents the minimum group size needed to ensure a 50% chance of at least two students selecting the same integer. This probability can be calculated using the formula P = 1 - (n!/n^n), where n is the number of students and n! is the factorial of n. As n increases, the probability also increases due to the greater number of possible combinations. This scenario assumes equal chances for each student and selection without replacement. This concept can be applied to other scenarios in fields such as probability, statistics, and engineering to determine the minimum number of individuals needed for a desired outcome.
  • #1
Jameson
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MHB
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Each individual in a group of n students is asked to pick an integer at random between 1 and 10 (inclusive). What is the smallest value of n that assures at least a 50% chance that at least two students select the same integer?

Show your work! Intuition is not enough for this problem and might be wrong. :)

Hint: [sp]This problem is based off of the Birthday problem. You can use the same method to solve it.[/sp]
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  • #2
Congratulations to the following members for their correct solutions:

1) MarkFL
2) anemone

Solution (from anemone):
$\displaystyle \text{ P(at least two students select the same integer)} \ge 0.5$

$\displaystyle1-\text{P(all of the students select different integer)} \ge 0.5$

$\displaystyle 1-0.5 \ge \text{P(all of the students select different integer)}$

$\displaystyle 0.5\ge \text{P(all of the students select different integer)}$

$\displaystyle 0.5 \ge \frac{10!}{(10-n)!(10^n)} $

Now, by making a two-column table for both the values for $n$ and $\displaystyle \frac{10!}{(10-n)!(10^n)} $ and start calculating from $n=1$, we find that the smallest value of n that assures at least a 50% chance that at least two students select the same integer occurs when $n=5$.
 

Related to What is the smallest value of n that assures at least a 50% chance that at least two students select the same integer?

1. What is the significance of finding the smallest value of n in this scenario?

The smallest value of n represents the minimum number of students needed in a group to ensure a 50% chance that at least two students will select the same integer. This value is important because it determines the minimum group size required for the desired outcome.

2. How is this probability calculated?

The probability of at least two students selecting the same integer can be calculated using the formula P = 1 - (n!/n^n), where n is the number of students and n! is the factorial of n. This formula assumes that each student has an equal chance of selecting any integer between 1 and n.

3. What is the relationship between n and the probability of at least two students selecting the same integer?

As the value of n increases, the probability of at least two students selecting the same integer also increases. This is because as the group size increases, there are more possible combinations of selected integers, making it more likely for at least two students to select the same one.

4. Are there any assumptions made in this scenario?

Yes, this scenario assumes that each student has an equal chance of selecting any integer between 1 and n, and that students are selecting integers without replacement (meaning a student cannot select an integer that has already been chosen by another student).

5. Can this concept be applied to other scenarios?

Yes, this concept of calculating the minimum number of individuals needed for a desired outcome can be applied to various scenarios in fields such as probability, statistics, and engineering. For example, it can be used to determine the minimum sample size needed for a survey or experiment to accurately represent a population.

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