Question:hard

Let \(A_{5\times5}\) be a matrix such that each of its elements follows \(Bernoulli(p=0.50)\) distribution independently.

The probability that the row-sum of the second row and the column-sum of the third column are both equal to 3 is __________. (Rounded off to two decimal places)

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Split the row-2 sum and column-3 sum around the one cell they share, \(A_{23}\). Condition on \(A_{23}\) being 0 or 1, then use \(Binomial(4,0.5)\) for the remaining four cells in each.
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
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Correct Answer: 0.1

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Since the matrix has 25 independent Bernoulli(0.5) entries, every one of the 25 cells is an independent fair coin flip. Only 9 of those cells actually affect the event we care about: the 4 remaining cells of row 2, the 4 remaining cells of column 3, and the single cell $A_{23}$ shared by both. The other 16 cells can be anything and do not change the probability.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Treat the 9 relevant cells as 9 independent fair coins, giving $2^9 = 512$ equally likely outcomes. Count how many of these 512 outcomes make the row-2 sum equal to 3 and the column-3 sum equal to 3 at the same time, then divide by 512.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Split the count by the value of the shared cell $A_{23}$.
If $A_{23}=0$: the other 4 cells of row 2 must add to 3, which can happen in $\binom{4}{3}=4$ ways, and the other 4 cells of column 3 must also add to 3, again $\binom{4}{3}=4$ ways. That gives $4 \times 4 = 16$ favorable outcomes for this branch.
If $A_{23}=1$: the other 4 cells of row 2 must now add to 2 (since $2+1=3$), which happens in $\binom{4}{2}=6$ ways, and the other 4 cells of column 3 must also add to 2, again $\binom{4}{2}=6$ ways. That gives $6 \times 6 = 36$ favorable outcomes for this branch.
Total favorable outcomes $= 16 + 36 = 52$.
Probability $= \dfrac{52}{512} = 0.1015625$.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Rounding 0.1015625 to two decimal places gives 0.10, which matches the value found from splitting on the shared cell's value directly.
\[ \boxed{0.10} \]
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