Question icon
Grade 12Algebra

In a town with a population of n , a person sends 2 letters to two seperate people ,each of whom is asked to repeat the procedure . thus for each letter recieved ,two letters are sent to seperate persons chosen at random (irrespective of what happened in the past). what is the probablity that in the first k stages ,the person who started the chain-letter will not reciebe a letter.

Profile image of mohammed suhail
13 Years agoGrade 12
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of sudhir pal
12 Years ago
since what happens in does not affect further proceedings each process are independent
probability does not receive letter 1- (nc1/nc2) = (n-3)/(n-1)
theprobabilitythat in the first k stages person does notreceiveletter
((n-3)/(n-1))k since all events are independent




Thanks & Regards
Sudhir,
askIITians Faculty
Qualification.
IIT Delhi