Three numbers are to be selected at random without replacement from the set of numbers {1,2,3,4..n}.
The conditional probability that the third number lies between the first two,if the first number is known to be smaller than the second is:
options:
1/3
5/6
2/3
7/12
My Approach:
I only got this
Total no of ways the number can be chosen is nC3*3!=nP3=total outcomes
A: event that the first No is smaller than second
B: event that the third No lies between first two.
p(B/A)=p(A intersection B)/p(A)
Now,I am unable to determine the the above quantities.
Best Answer
There are $6$ equally-probable orders:
In $3$ of them, the first number is smaller than the second number:
In $1$ of them, the third number lies between the first number and the the second number:
Hence the probability is $\dfrac13$.