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A crazy passenger (Posted on 2002-04-18) Difficulty: 5 of 5
A line of 100 airline passengers is waiting to board the plain. They each hold a ticket to one of the 100 seats on that flight. (For convenience, let's say that the Nth passenger in line has a ticket for the seat number N.)

Unfortunately, the first person in line is crazy, and will ignore the seat number on their ticket, picking a random seat to occupy. All the other passengers are quite normal, and will go to their proper seat unless it is already occupied. If it is occupied, they will then find a free seat to sit in, at random.

What is the probability that the last (100th) person to board the plane will sit in their proper seat (#100)?

See The Solution Submitted by levik    
Rating: 4.5625 (16 votes)

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
simpler solutionSteven Lord2018-10-20 20:21:36
SolutionSolutionMath Man2018-10-20 14:36:32
ThanksJoan Smith2012-04-14 06:52:52
answer this topicCarolinaFloyd352011-12-25 00:36:30
some thoughts on the problemK Sengupta2007-04-29 01:01:52
SolutionAnd Anotherowl2005-08-18 02:33:43
SolutionSolutionowl2005-08-17 19:14:32
Other probabilitiesCharley2005-05-26 23:01:21
re: Simpler solutionGamer2004-08-16 22:34:46
Solutioncalm down read my answeromar2004-02-21 15:43:24
Simpler solutionRichard Briscoe2003-09-03 08:37:46
re(3): re SolutionCheradenine2002-06-25 01:05:30
re(2): re SolutionCheradenine2002-06-25 01:03:44
solution is wrongquddous behrouzi2002-06-21 09:59:32
re: re Solutionlevik2002-06-19 10:43:24
re SolutionCheradenine2002-06-13 03:45:35
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