document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1119153>Question 1119153</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 2.	What would be the probability that randomly choosing four states from the top 7 murder states would actually be the top 4 states for murders in the United States in exact correct decreasing order?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "       (1. CA, 2. TX, 3. PA, 4. NY) Simplify all fraction answers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #734644 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=734644\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "One nice thing about probability problems is that you can usually solve them by several different methods.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The solution by tutor @ikleyn shows (and explains) one method for this problem: there are 7*6*5*4 = 840 different orders in which you can choose 4 of the 7 states; only one of those orders has the top four in the right order, so the probability is 1/840.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can also look at solving the problem by considering the probability that each choice made is the correct choice:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The probability of choosing the right state for 1st place is 1/7;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the probability of choosing the right state for 2nd place is 1/6;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the probability of choosing the right state for 3rd place is 1/5;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the probability of choosing the right state for 4th place is 1/4;<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then the probability of making all the right choices is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1/7)(1/6)(1/5)(1/4) = 1/840. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );