Question 8.73

42. Consider a typical combination lock on a locker or briefcase.

  1. If you ask for the three numbers in the combination needed to open the lock, and they are given to you in order from smallest to largest as 3–5–8, why is this not enough information to open the lock?
  2. What would be the probability that you could open the lock with one try?
  3. Is such a combination lock accurately named, or is it really a “permutation lock”?