Transcript Clever Counting Inv 1.2

Problem 1.2 Checking Plate
Numbers
• The witness claimed that he saw the
license plate of the van. He said that
it was an instate plate containing
the letter sequence MTU.
• In the state in which the robbery
took place, license plates contain
three letters followed by three
numbers.
ABC123
• How might this information help the
detective solve her case?
Problem 1.2
• Detective Curious wants to run each possible
plate number through the computer to find out
whether the registered owner has a criminal
record.
• It takes about 20 seconds to check each plate
number.
1. How many possible plates start with MTU?
2. Do you think this is a reasonable number of
plates for the detective to check?
Problem 1.2 Follow-up
1.How many possible license plates start with
MT? How does this compare to the number of
plates starting with MTU?
2.In another state, the license plates have four
letters followed by two numbers.
ABCD12
3.How does the number of possible plates for this
state compare to the number of possible plates
for the state where the crime took place?