No Correct Letter

Combinatorics
Permutations
Easy
Four letters are randomly placed into four addressed envelopes, one letter per envelope. What is the probability that no letter reaches the correct recipient?
Hint 1

This is the derangement problem for .

Hint 2

Use .

Show worked solution
  1. 1. Count derangements

    The number of derangements of 4 objects is .

  2. 2. Total permutations

    There are total permutations.

  3. 3. Probability

    Probability is .

Answer: 3/8

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