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 Birthday Problem

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i am trying to get the function: 1-365!/((365-n)!*365^n) to graph itself properly; this function/formula is more commonly known as, "the birthday problem." I am looking in to this merely for curiosity, but I am also interested because I'm trying to continue exercising my math skills now that I am no longer in college. Could someone please show me what is wrong with my formula or, if nothing is wrong with it mathematically, why I cannot get it to display on a graph as anything but a line? As an added note, I have substituted "n" as "x" when using the website's graphing feature.

 Nov 14, 2014

Best Answer 

 #2
avatar+33614 
+10

Here's a way of tackling the problem (approximately):

Using Stirling's approximation

You could always improve on this by using the exact expression for small values of n, and switching to Stirlings approximation when you can no longer evaluate the exact expression.

.

 Nov 14, 2014

2+0 Answers

 #1
avatar+23246 
+5

When I try graphing your function using my TI-83+, I keep getting an error ... I think because may calculator can't handle 365!

I believe that your formula is correct; it's just that the numbers are larger than your calculator's ability to handle them.

 Nov 14, 2014
 #2
avatar+33614 
+10
Best Answer

Here's a way of tackling the problem (approximately):

Using Stirling's approximation

You could always improve on this by using the exact expression for small values of n, and switching to Stirlings approximation when you can no longer evaluate the exact expression.

.

Alan Nov 14, 2014

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