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A computer system uses passwords that are six characters, and each character is one of the 26 letters \((a-z)\) or 10 integers \((0-9)\). Uppercase letters are not used. Let \(A\) denote the event that a password begins with a vowel (either \(a, e, i, o,\) or \(u\) ), and let \(B\) denote the event that a password ends with an even number (either \(0,2,4,6,\) or 8 ). Suppose a hacker selects a password at random. Determine the following probabilities: a. \(P(A)\) b. \(P(B)\) c. \(P(A \cap B)\) d. \(P(A \cup B)\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. \(P(A) = \frac{5}{36}\); b. \(P(B) = \frac{5}{36}\); c. \(P(A \cap B) = \frac{25}{1296}\); d. \(P(A \cup B) = \frac{335}{1296}\).

Step by step solution

01

Determine the Total Number of Passwords

Each of the six characters in the password can be either one of 26 letters \((a-z)\) or one of 10 digits \((0-9)\). So, there are a total of \(26 + 10 = 36\) possible characters for each position in the password. The total number of possible passwords is then \(36^6\).
02

Calculate Probability of Event A

Event \(A\) occurs if a password begins with one of the 5 vowels \((a, e, i, o, u)\). There are 5 choices for the first character and 36 choices for each of the remaining 5 characters. Thus, the number of favorable outcomes for \(A\) is \(5 \cdot 36^5\). The probability \(P(A)\) is given by \(\frac{5 \cdot 36^5}{36^6}\).
03

Calculate Probability of Event B

Event \(B\) occurs if a password ends with an even digit \((0, 2, 4, 6, 8)\). There are 5 choices for the last character and 36 choices for each of the first 5 characters. Hence, the number of favorable outcomes for \(B\) is \(36^5 \cdot 5\). The probability \(P(B)\) is \(\frac{36^5 \cdot 5}{36^6}\).
04

Calculate Probability of Event A and B (Intersection)

\(P(A \cap B)\) represents passwords that begin with a vowel and end with an even number. There are 5 choices for the first character and 5 choices for the last character, with \(36\) choices for each of the 4 middle characters. The number of favorable outcomes for \(A \cap B\) is \(5 \cdot 36^4 \cdot 5\). Thus, \(P(A \cap B) = \frac{5 \cdot 36^4 \cdot 5}{36^6}\).
05

Calculate Probability of Event A or B (Union)

Using the formula \(P(A \cup B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A \cap B)\), we substitute the values from the previous steps. Calculate \(P(A)\), \(P(B)\), and \(P(A \cap B)\), then substitute these into the formula to get \(P(A \cup B)\).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Password Security
Password security is crucial for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of information systems. A strong password is critical in safeguarding against unauthorized access. In today's digital environment, this means choosing passwords that are both complex and unique. For the system in this exercise, passwords are made up of six characters chosen from lowercase letters or numbers. This setup provides a significant number of combinations, making it difficult for a hacker to guess the correct password. However, even with these combinations, it's important to regularly update passwords and employ additional security measures, such as two-factor authentication, to further enhance security.
Event Probability Calculation
In probability, an event is a set of outcomes to which a probability is assigned. Calculating the probability of an event involves determining how likely it is to occur when compared to the total number of possible outcomes. For example, to compute the probability that a password begins with a vowel, we first consider the total number of possible passwords. In this scenario, the password can have any of 36 characters (26 letters + 10 digits) in each of its six positions, totaling to 366 possible combinations. The event in question occurs when one of these positions meets a specific criteria, such as starting with a vowel. By evaluating the number of ways this can happen, we can find the probability of this event.
Union and Intersection of Events
The concepts of union and intersection help us understand the probability of combined events. The intersection of two events, denoted as \( A \cap B \), refers to the probability of both events occurring simultaneously. For instance, in this exercise, it is the event where a password starts with a vowel and ends with an even number. The union of two events, denoted as \( A \cup B \), represents the probability of either event occurring, or both. To calculate \( P(A \cup B) \), we add the probabilities of the individual events and then subtract the probability of their intersection to avoid overcounting. This formula provides a useful tool in combining probabilities into a cohesive solution.
Combinatorics in Probability
Combinatorics plays a vital role in calculating probabilities, especially when dealing with password security. It involves counting and arranging distinct objects into sets, a method we use extensively in determining the likelihood of specific events. For the example of our six-character password, combinatorics helps compute the total number of configurations a password can have. When determining the probability of a password beginning with a vowel or ending with an even digit, we use combinatorial methods to count the number of ways these specific conditions can be fulfilled. This approach allows us to understand the complexity and vastness of possibilities in password configuration, which is crucial for ensuring robust security measures.

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