A letter lock consists of five rings each marked with three different letters. The number of distinct unsuccessful attempts to open the lock is at the most?
Choose one:
A) 277  B) 269  C) 242  D) 177  E) 123
Since each ring consists of three different letters, the total number of attempts possible with the five rings is   = 3 * 3 * 3 * 3 * 3 = 216. Of these attempts, one of them is a successful attempt.   Maximum number of unsuccessful attempts = 243 - 1= 
<gadget id="calculator">243 - 1</gadget>
<output>242</output>
242   Answer:242
<result>C</result>
A letter lock consists of five rings each marked with three different letters. The number of distinct unsuccessful attempts to open the lock is at the most?