The Determined Theif

I`ve been delving into the concept of the number of possible outcomes with some of my students. This exploration is a fantastic way to help us grasp the probability of selecting various items or events.

During our discussions, we pondered the security of a 4-digit passcode. Consider a bike lock with four dials, each featuring numbers 1 through 9. To determine the number of possible combinations, you can multiply 9 by 9 by 9 by 9 since there are 9 choices at each of the four positions. This results in a total of 6,561 different combinations.

Now, let`s entertain the idea of a determined individual who really wants your bike. If they take 10 seconds to try each combination, it could take them a substantial 18 hours, 13 minutes, and 30 seconds to test all possibilities. So, in most cases, your bike should be fairly secure, unless you happen to encounter an exceptionally persistent thief!