Child B: Yeah, what IS the password?
David: I changed it to an 8-letter word. A word you don't know, by the way.
Child A: Well, can you enter it for me?
David: Okay, here's a question for all of you. If the password is made up of 8 letters, how would you calculate the your odds of guessing it correctly?
Child C: I would multiply 26 by 25 by 24 in descending order eight times.
David: That would work if the letters weren't repeating, but they aren't unique.
Child D: Then you would multiply 26x26x26x26x26x26x26x26.
David: Correct!
Child A: Dad, can you enter the passcode on the iPad for me?
David: Here's an even better question! If the password was 8 letters OR numbers that could repeat, what are your chances of getting it THEN?
Child D: I'd go with 36 times itself eight times.....
Child C: But are your chances any better since he gave us a clue? Remember, it's "a word we don't know"!
Child A: (bows head, wanders away to play)
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| Better start him early. |
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