Back

Question: 2018 Fall Final - 24

Author: Michiel Smid
Let $n \geq 2$ be an integer. There are $n$ students $S_1,S_2,\dots,S_n$ writing this exam. Each student has brought one backpack with them. Before the exam starts, all students have to leave their backpacks at the front of the examination room.
At the end of the exam, the proctor places the backpacks in a uniformly random order $b_1,b_2,\dots,b_n$, and, for each $i = 1, 2, ..., n$, gives backpack $b_i$ to student $S_i$.
Define the following random variable $X$:
  • X = the number of students who get their own backpack.
What is the expected value $\mathbb{E}(X)$ of the random variable $X$?
Hint: Use indicator random variables.
(a)
$\left. (n - 1) \middle/ n \right.$
(b)
2
(c)
$\left. (n + 1) \middle/ n \right.$
(d)
1