Analyzing the Setup
To determine the total number of ways to form a 6-digit number using the set {0,1,2,3,4,5,6}, we must respect the constraint that the first digit cannot be 0.
For the first slot, we have 6 choices (digits 1 through 6). Once the first digit is placed, we have 6 remaining digits (including 0) to fill the remaining 5 slots.
The number of ways to arrange these is given by 6P5. Thus, the total sample space n(S) is:
The Divisibility Insight
A number is divisible by 3 if and only if the sum of its digits is a multiple of 3. The sum of all available digits is 0+1+2+3+4+5+6=21.
Since we are choosing 6 digits out of 7, we are effectively excluding exactly one digit, which we denote as x. The sum of the chosen digits is 21−x.
For the sum to be divisible by 3, x must be a multiple of 3. Within our set, the possible values for x are 0,3, or 6.
Evaluating the Cases
We must analyze these three scenarios separately because the presence of 0 affects the restriction on the first digit.
Case 1: Exclude 0
The set of digits is {1,2,3,4,5,6}. Since 0 is not present, there are no restrictions on the first digit. The number of arrangements is:
Case 2: Exclude 3
The set of digits is {0,1,2,4,5,6}. Here, 0 is present, so the first slot cannot be 0. We have 5 choices for the first slot and 5! ways to arrange the remaining digits:
Case 3: Exclude 6
The set of digits is {0,1,2,3,4,5}. The logic is identical to Case 2, as 0 is present and the first slot cannot be 0. This yields:
Final Calculation
The total number of favorable outcomes n(A) is the sum of the valid arrangements from all three cases:
The probability P(A) is the ratio of favorable outcomes to the total sample space:
By simplifying this fraction, we arrive at the final result: