let's see ... there is a population of 3 different items ... boxes, people,
colors, whatever ... right?
it appears to me that the problem you are presenting is the following:
let's say you take 3 elements, at random and WITH REPLACEMENT, from a
population (with 3 distinct elements)
you take one ... record it ... put it back, take another ... put it back
... take the 3rd
clearly, IF this is the case you are referring to, then ANY of the elements
could come up on ANY of the 3 draws
what are the distinct sets of 3 under this sampling plan?
now, i would say that this means ORDER is relevant ... that is, if you get
1 then 3 then 2, that is identical as a set ... as, 2, then 1, then 3
i think your enumeration below hits the possibilities ...
but, the normal combinations formula seems not to work since, the universe
is equal to the number in your sample ... it's not like have 10 things
taking 3 at a time ...
you have 3 things and want a sample of 3 ...
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