A statistics question

[GSD4ME]

Can someone verify my mathematics here please.

If I have 8 groups of each of 8 (different coloured) items and have to select 1 item from each group, what is the probability of picking all 8 of the same colour.

By my calculations it is 1 in 8-to-the-power-8.

Is this correct?

[jenstar]

Assuming each group is made up of the same eight colours, it would be 1 in 8-to-the-power-7, or if you prefer, 1 in 8-to-the-power-8, divided by eight.

[jenstar]

...because you can achieve it with any one of the eight colours.

[Space]

( same as jenstar )

[Loosehead]

Yes those above are correct 1/(8**7) because your first choice can be any colour so the uncertainty starts with the second choice.

[Peter Pedant]

Concur - by the way it is probability and not statistics. i wouldnt know the answer if it were stats

[MargeB]

I've been sitting here for half an hour picking up marbles, I think the chances are probably very slim.

[Brugel]

Yes,it is one-eighth to the power of seven. But it would be to the power of eight if it were a particular colour you wanted - say, eight reds.

[brachiopod]

... or different colours in a pre-defined order.

[Gef]

Trying to put an actual value on this. If the colour is specified then I think there are 16,777,216 combinations but if the colour not specified (ie 8 of any colour) then I think there are 2,097,152 combinations. Anyone agree?

[bernardo]

Yea, indeed, verily, it is so:  1 in 2,097,152.