
Hamid H. answered 04/01/20
PhD student in CS
Consider the first number, on a single table of 5x5, if that number is placed on the inner 3x3 grid, then for each cell, there are 9 possible ways the other number can be next to this number (i assume diagonal neighbors are valid neighbors). if it is located on the border but not corners, then there will be 5 possibilities and if it is on the corner then only 3, hence the total possible ways will be 9*9 + 12*5+ 4*3 = 153. Now, in how many ways do those 2 numbers end up on the same table? the answer is C(298, 23) and in each case, the probably of having the two next to each other will be 153*298!/300!, and since we have 12 tables, the overall probability will be 153*298!*12/300! = 153*12/(300*299)=0.02

Hamid H.
sure. Also, one small mistake, note that inside a 3x3 inner square there are 8 neighbors not 9, so fix the rest accordingly.04/01/20
Bill Z.
Ok great, thanks. So 9*8, correct? And at the end, 300*298(not 299), right?04/02/20

Hamid H.
no, just 9*8, the latter should be 300*29904/02/20
Bill Z.
Got it, awesome. Thank you again04/02/20
Bill Z.
As much you explained, that’s how much is in this “thank you!”. As big as your solve, is as big this “amazing!”. Thank you! Amazing!04/01/20