# This really is urgent (1 question)

• September 8th 2008, 03:49 PM
UsainBolt
This really is urgent (1 question)
okay , I have no idea how to work this out.

This is the question.....

There is a class who are having a competition, they have to guess the right combination of numbers.

The combination is ten numbers long, however the only numbers used are 1 2 and 3

The numbers are drawn from a giant basket, which contains 1 thousand no.1 balls ... 1 thousand no.2 balls and 1 thousand no.3 balls.. (stupid i know ahaha). NOTE : when a number is drawn it is put back in the basket with the other balls SO THERE IS ALWAYS THE SAME CHANCE OF DRAWING 1 2 OR 3 AND THE BALLS WILL NEVER RUN OUT

What is the total number of possible combinations?

examples of possible combinations

3131223132
1111111111
2121212121
3122212132

You get the idea......

the actual answer i need is

What is the total number of possible combinations
• September 8th 2008, 03:59 PM
Plato
$3^{10}$
• September 8th 2008, 04:01 PM
UsainBolt
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
$3^{10}$

Thank you so much for the fast reply, but I do not understand you.. I was looking for more of a number like 1846 or something

what does 3^{10} mean?
• September 8th 2008, 04:18 PM
Plato
Go to bed.
• September 8th 2008, 04:19 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by UsainBolt
$3^{10}$ means $3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3$.