A combination lock should probably be called a permutation lock, because the order of the numbers does matter. How many different 3-number permutations are there on a lock with 36 digits?

Question

anonymous · Answer

If you mean that each dial has 36 digits, then the number of permutations is the total # on each dial to the third power.

anonymous · Answer

That is because each dial is independent of the other dials and you can have repeated numbers.

anonymous · Answer

36x36x36?

anonymous · Answer

Yes, that's it!  You got it!

anonymous · Answer

Such a dial has physical meaning.  Each dial could be a very large dial containing digits 0-9 and letters A-Z, while calling the letters "digits".