SOLUTION: If a computer code contains 2 letters and 3 numbers and none can repeat, how many combinations are possible? I am thinking: 26*25*24...*1*25 PLUS 9*8*7...*1*8*7. Would that

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: If a computer code contains 2 letters and 3 numbers and none can repeat, how many combinations are possible? I am thinking: 26*25*24...*1*25 PLUS 9*8*7...*1*8*7. Would that      Log On


   



Question 636456: If a computer code contains 2 letters and 3 numbers and none can repeat, how many combinations are possible?

I am thinking:
26*25*24...*1*25 PLUS 9*8*7...*1*8*7. Would that be correct for the formula?
Thank you!
Jama

Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your formula does not sound right. I cannot figure out how you derived it. My logic gives me different answers. (Disclaimer: I have been wrong at times)

I see two possible interpretations of the problem:

highlight%28IF%29 a computer code/password is made up of two letters together, followed by 3 numbers,
like highlight%28AB123%29,
you have 26 choices for the first character.
For each of those 26 choices, you have 25 choices for the second character.
That gives you 26*25 choices for the two beginning characters (letters).
For each of those 26*25 choices, you have 10 choices for the third character.
That results in 26*25*10 choices for the first three characters.
For each of those 26*25*10 choices, you have 9 choices for the fourth character.
You end up with 26*25*10*9 choices for the first four characters.
For each of those 26*25*10*9 choices, you have 8 choices for the fifth character.
That gives you highlight%2826%2A25%2A10%2A9%2A8%29 choices overall.

However, highlight%28IF%29 the letters and numbers could be scrambled into any order,
like highlight%28A1B23%29, or highlight%283A2B1%29,
there are more possibilities.
In that case, the 26*25 two letter codes, would be 26%2A25%2F2 two-letter sets,
because codes AB and BA use the same set {A, B}.
Similarly, the 10*9*8 three-digit codes represent 10%2A9%2A8%2F3%2F2 three three-digit sets.
Then, you would have %2826%2A25%2F2%29%2810%2A9%2A8%2F3%2F2%29 different sets made of 2 letters and three digits.
Each set could be re-arranged 5%2A4%2A3%2A2 different ways, giving you
different codes.