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Ch. 4 - Probability
Triola - Elementary Statistics 14th Edition
Triola14th EditionElementary StatisticsISBN: 9780137366446Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 4, Problem 4.4.10

Radio Station Call Letters Radio and Television station call letters must begin with either K (for stations west of the Mississippi River) or W (for stations east of the Mississippi River) and must include either two or three additional letters. How many different possibilities are there?

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Step 1: Understand the structure of the call letters. Each call letter must begin with either 'K' or 'W', which gives us 2 choices for the first letter.
Step 2: Determine the number of additional letters. The problem states that there can be either 2 or 3 additional letters. Each additional letter can be any of the 26 letters in the English alphabet.
Step 3: Calculate the number of possibilities for 2 additional letters. For each of the 2 choices for the first letter ('K' or 'W'), there are 26 choices for the first additional letter and 26 choices for the second additional letter. The total number of possibilities for 2 additional letters is given by: 2×262
Step 4: Calculate the number of possibilities for 3 additional letters. Similarly, for each of the 2 choices for the first letter ('K' or 'W'), there are 26 choices for each of the 3 additional letters. The total number of possibilities for 3 additional letters is given by: 2×263
Step 5: Add the results from Step 3 and Step 4 to find the total number of possibilities. The total number of possibilities is: 226+226

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Combinatorics

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics dealing with counting, arrangement, and combination of objects. In this context, it helps determine the number of possible combinations of letters that can form the call signs for radio stations. Understanding basic combinatorial principles, such as permutations and combinations, is essential for solving problems involving selection and arrangement.

Permutations and Combinations

Permutations refer to the different ways of arranging a set of items where the order matters, while combinations refer to the selection of items where the order does not matter. In the case of radio station call letters, we need to consider how many ways we can arrange the additional letters after the initial 'K' or 'W', which directly impacts the total number of unique call signs possible.
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Alphabetical Constraints

In this scenario, the call letters are constrained to the English alphabet, which consists of 26 letters. This limitation affects the total number of combinations possible for the additional letters in the call signs. Understanding how to apply these constraints is crucial for accurately calculating the total number of valid call letter combinations.
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