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Previous Year Question (PYQs)



Out of 11 consecutive natural numbers if three numbers are selected at random (without repetition), then the probability that they are in A.P. with positive common difference, is :





Solution

Let the 11 consecutive natural numbers be $1, 2, 3, \dots, 11.$ Total ways to choose any 3 numbers = $\displaystyle \binom{11}{3} = 165.$
Now, we need to count the number of 3-number selections that can form an arithmetic progression (A.P.) with positive common difference.
For an A.P., let the middle term be $a$ and common difference be $d>0$. Then the three terms are: $(a-d,\ a,\ a+d)$ These must all lie between $1$ and $11$.
That means $1 \le a-d$ and $a+d \le 11$ ⟹ $d \le \min(a-1,\ 11-a)$
Now we count possible values of $d$ for each $a$:
$a$$\min(a-1,\ 11-a)$Possible $d$ values
10–
211
321,2
431,2,3
541,2,3,4
651,2,3,4,5
741,2,3,4
831,2,3
921,2
1011
110–
Total = $1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 25.$
Hence, number of favorable triplets = $25.$
Therefore, $\displaystyle P = \frac{25}{165} = \frac{5}{33}.$
Final Answer: $\boxed{\dfrac{5}{33}}$


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