[Math] Probability that there will be 2 passengers in each car

probability

12 persons get on a train that has six cars;each passenger may select with equal probability each of the cars.If $P_1$ be the probability that there will be 1 car without passenger,1 with one passenger,2 with two passengers each and the remaining 2 with three and four passengers respectively and $P_2$ be the probability that there will be 2 passengers in each car,then find the ratio $\frac{P_1}{P_2}$.

I found $P_2$ as $\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}$ but i could not find $P_1$.Please help me.

Best Answer

What you have computed as $P_2$ is actually $N_2$, the # of ways.

However, it won't matter if we are just to compute the ratio $\dfrac{P_1}{P_2}$

Making the same assumption as you, that the six cars are distinct,

$\dfrac{P_1}{P_2} = \dfrac{\dbinom{12}{0,1,2,2,3,4}}{\dbinom{12}{2,2,2,2,2,2,}}= \dfrac{(2!)^4}{3!4!}$

PS.

Since the cars are taken to be distinct, the numerator needs to be multiplied by $\dfrac{6!}{2!}$ to take care of permutations of the pattern of distribution. You will then get the answer of $40$.

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