A new secretary has been given n computer passwords, only one of which will permit access to a computer file. Because the secretary has no idea which password is correct, he chooses one of the passwords at random and tries it. If the password is incorrect, he discards it and randomly selects another password from among those remaining, proceeding in this manner until he finds the correct password. What is the probability that he obtains the correct password on the second try? The third try?

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Answer:

The answer is "[tex]\bold{\frac{1}{n}}[/tex]"

Step-by-step explanation:

Although n passwords were available and any time a wrong password is deactivated. Throughout the second try, if the secretary finds the right password, its input during the first attempt should be incorrect. Therefore, the likelihood is:

[tex]\to Pr= \frac{n-1}{n} \times \frac{1}{n-1} =\frac{1}{n}[/tex]

If n passwords were accessible and any time the wrong password is deactivated. Unless the delegate finds the right password on the three trials, the input should be incorrect during the first and second trials. Consequently, the likelihood is:

[tex]\to Pr= \frac{n-1}{n} \times \frac{n-2}{n-1} \times \frac{1}{n-2} =\frac{1}{n}[/tex]