SOLUTION: Please help me solve this in simple way. A quick quiz consists of 3 multiple choice problems, each of which has 5 answers, only one of which is correct. If you make random gues

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Question 1119912: Please help me solve this in simple way.
A quick quiz consists of 3 multiple choice problems, each of which has 5 answers, only one of which is correct. If you make random guesses on all 3 problems,
(a) What is the probability that all 3 of your answers are incorrect?
answer:
(b) What is the probability that all 3 of your answers are correct?
answer:

Answer by ikleyn(52790) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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A quick quiz consists of 3 multiple choice problems,  each of which has  5  answers,  only one of which is correct.
If you make random guesses on all  3  problems,
What is the probability that all  3  of your answers are incorrect ?
What is the probability that all  3  of your answers are correct ?


    Imagine that for each of the 3 multiple choice question the answers are labeled by 5 letters A, B, C, D and E  

    (5 possible answers to each question).

     By answering to each question, you mark your answer by one of the 5 letters.

     So, by answering to 3 questions, you write the word of the length 3, using one of 5 letters in each of the three positions.


     It is your model. The entire space of events consists of all 5%5E3 = 125 such words of the length 3, written in 5-letter alphabet.


         Now we are ready to answer the problem's questions.


(a)   What is the probability that all  3  of your answers are incorrect ?

     If all 3 of your answers are incorrect, it means that in each of the 3 positions you put one of 4 letters, distinct of correct.

     You can do it in  4%5E3 ways, therefore, the probability under the question is  4%5E3%2F5%5E3 = %284%2F5%29%5E3 = 0.8%5E3 = 0.512.


(b)   What is the probability that all  3  of your answers are correct ?

     If all 3 of your answers are correct, it means that in each of the 3 positions you guessed the correct letter.

     There is ONLY ONE way to do it; therefore, the probability under the question is  1%2F5%5E3 = 1%2F125 = 0.008.


All questions are answered.

The problem is solved.