Think of the number of ways each combination can be achieved:

M F
5 0 M M M M M
4 1 M M M M F - M M M F M - M M F M M - M F M M M - F M M M M
and so on. The probability of 2M 3F is a lot higher than 5F.

It's the same problem as the chance of snake eyes showing up when you roll a pair of dice.

That's not right!

the 1/32 is the best choice.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

OK, You lost me at .... M.F.

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Your 1/6 only works if it is a single trial e.g. 1 puppy or a single roll of a dice. In the puppy example there are 32 possible outcomes, because the order of the puppies makes that many combinations.

The answer is 1/2! (1 divided by 2 factorial) or 1/32

This works because you are sampling with replacement. Sampling without replacement is like a lottery where once a ball is picked it cannot be picked again. Of course with only 2 outcomes per trial, you cannot model something without replacement because you can only do 2 trials.

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MB-less

No it isn't. 2! is 2.

The answer is (1/2)^5.

You are correct! My bad, I meant to say 5!

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MB-less

It's not 5! either. That's 120.

You are right. Again. I hate it when I know how to do the math but totally botch the description.

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MB-less

That's what I was thinking but I have a feeling there's another factor that's more tricky.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

But the chances of having a 5 zip outcome are much smaller than having a 2 -3 outcome . . . . . I think.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

You're correct, Cmac. See my post #16.

Of course. Well done. It's sort of a bell curve thing. To reach the outside of the bell curve, every gate has to run to the outside whereas in the middle chutes, the balls can fall more flexibly, back and forth.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Well, the first thing you do, is ...

Hey WAIT!!!





BRB

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)