SOLUTION: A horse race has 11 entries and one person owns 4 of those horses. Assuming that there are no​ ties, What is the probability that those four horses finish first, second,

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: A horse race has 11 entries and one person owns 4 of those horses. Assuming that there are no​ ties, What is the probability that those four horses finish first, second,       Log On


   

Question 1045266: A horse race has 11 entries and one person owns 4 of those horses. Assuming that there are no​ ties,
What is the probability that those four horses finish first, second, third, and fourth?​(regardless of​ order)​(Round to four decimal places as​ needed.)
Found 2 solutions by robertb, ikleyn:
Answer by robertb(5830) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"Problems are best solved by those who created them." --robertb



Answer by ikleyn(52787) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
As I understand the condition (not very clear presented for those who is unfamiliar with the horse races),
the space of outcomes is the set of combinations of 4 horses of 11.

The number of such combinations is %2811%2A10%2A9%2A8%29%2F%281%2A2%2A3%2A4%29 = 11*10*3 = 330.

The probability to have one specific combination of 330 is 1%2F330%29.

For combinations, see the lesson
    - Introduction to Combinations
    - PROOF of the formula on the number of Combinations
    - Problems on Combinations
in this site.