Math Problem Statement
Suppose a lock has three numbers in the combination. The first number has to be between 0 and 39. The second number has to be between 9 and 27. The third number has to be between 9 and 37. How long would it take to try all possible combinations if each combination takes 5 seconds to try?
Solution
To determine how long it would take to try all possible combinations, we need to calculate the total number of combinations and then multiply that by the time taken to try each one.
Step 1: Total number of combinations
The number of choices for each number in the combination is:
- First number: This has to be between 0 and 39, so there are 40 possible choices (0 to 39 inclusive).
- Second number: This has to be between 9 and 27, so there are possible choices (inclusive).
- Third number: This has to be between 9 and 37, so there are possible choices (inclusive).
The total number of combinations is:
Step 2: Time to try all combinations
Each combination takes 5 seconds, so the total time to try all combinations is:
Step 3: Convert time into hours
To convert from seconds to hours:
Thus, it would take approximately 30.61 hours to try all possible combinations.
Would you like further details or have any questions?
Here are some related questions:
- How would the total time change if the second number had 10 more choices?
- What if the time to try each combination was reduced to 3 seconds?
- How many combinations would there be if the range of the first number changed to 0-49?
- Can we reduce the number of combinations if there are restrictions on repeating numbers?
- What happens to the total time if the second and third ranges overlap?
Tip: When dealing with large numbers, converting units like seconds to minutes or hours can give a clearer understanding of the scale.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Combinatorics
Multiplication
Unit Conversion
Formulas
Total combinations = (number of choices for first number) × (number of choices for second number) × (number of choices for third number)
Total time = total combinations × time per combination
Conversion from seconds to hours = total seconds ÷ 3600
Theorems
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Suitable Grade Level
Grades 7-9