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There are $D$ different kinds of candy, and $C$ children come to buy them. Each child purchases one package of candy. What is the probability that a given variety of candy is chosen by no child?

I am thinking of this as, there are $k$ locations(Candies) in which $n$ items(Children) are being hashed to. What is the probability that one of the locations have nothing hashed to it?

I also already know that the expected number of kinds of candy chosen by no child is $D(1-(1/D))^C$

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Metin Y.
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Jason10
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  • http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/174674/if-n-balls-are-thrown-into-k-bins-what-is-the-probability-that-every-bin-gets-a –  Apr 08 '13 at 20:11

1 Answers1

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If you know that the expected number of kinds chosen by no child is $D(1-\frac 1D)^C$ you can use the linearity of expectation to conclude that the chance one given candy is chosen by no child is $(1-\frac 1D)^C$ because each kind of candy has the same probability not to be chosen.

Usually the argument goes the other way. Pick a particular candy. The chance that one child doesn't pick it is $(1-\frac 1D)$ The chance that all the children don't pick it is the product of $C$ of these, $(1-\frac 1D)^C$.

Ross Millikan
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