Since the Kentucky Derby is coming up what is the probability of somebody betting on and getting the first, second and third place horses in the correct order?

Question

anonymous · Answer

How many total horses are involved?

anonymous · Answer

as today 24

anonymous · Answer

So for this problem you'll use the nCr application on your calculator.

kropot72 · Answer

There are 24P3 permutations of the 24 runners taken 3 at a time. Only one of these permutations has first second and third in the correct order. Therefore the required probability is:
$$P(first\ 3\ having\  correct\ order)=\frac{1}{24P3}=\frac{1}{24\times23\times22}=you\ can\ calculate$$