Level up your permutation & combination skills with this entry level practice. 20 beginner-level problems await in Worksheet 4 of 30. Focus area: tricky variations. Learn practice tests, exam preparation, competitive exams through systematic practice. Designed for entry-level learners seeking foundational concepts and basic patterns.
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Worksheet 4 of 30 (13% complete)
Question 1
How many distinct necklaces can be made with beads: 3 of color 1, 3 of color 2, 2 of color 3? (Rotations and reflections considered same)
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: For necklaces with identical beads, we use Burnside's Lemma.
Given distribution: [3, 3, 2]
Result: 2520 distinct necklaces.
Note: Full calculation requires summing over all rotation and reflection symmetries, which is complex for general cases.
Question 2
How many distinct necklaces can be made with beads: 3 of color 1, 4 of color 2, 2 of color 3? (Rotations and reflections considered same)
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: For necklaces with identical beads, we use Burnside's Lemma.
Given distribution: [3, 4, 2]
Result: 20160 distinct necklaces.
Note: Full calculation requires summing over all rotation and reflection symmetries, which is complex for general cases.
Question 3
How many numbers from 1 to 12 are divisible by 3 or 2?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Inclusion-Exclusion Principle - when counting elements in the union of sets, add individual counts and subtract overcounted intersections.
Formula: |A ∪ B| = |A| + |B| - |A ∩ B|
Given: - Range: 1 to 12 - Divisors: 3 and 2
Step 1 - Count numbers divisible by 3: Numbers divisible by 3 = ⌊12/3⌋ = 4 These are: 3, 6, 9, ..., 12
Step 2 - Count numbers divisible by 2: Numbers divisible by 2 = ⌊12/2⌋ = 6 These are: 2, 4, 6, ..., 12
Step 3 - Count numbers divisible by BOTH 3 AND 2: Numbers divisible by LCM(3,2) = 6 Count = ⌊12/6⌋ = 2 (These are counted twice in steps 1 and 2)
Step 4 - Apply Inclusion-Exclusion: Total = (divisible by 3) + (divisible by 2) - (divisible by both) = 4 + 6 - 2 = 8
Visualization (Venn Diagram concept): - Circle A: divisible by 3 (4 numbers) - Circle B: divisible by 2 (6 numbers) - Intersection: divisible by both (2 numbers) - Union: 8 numbers
Key Principle: Subtract the intersection to avoid double counting.
Extension to Three Sets: |A ∪ B ∪ C| = |A| + |B| + |C| - |A ∩ B| - |B ∩ C| - |A ∩ C| + |A ∩ B ∩ C|
Common Application: Finding numbers NOT divisible by either = 12 - 8 = 4
Question 4
In how many ways can 5 consonants and 2 vowels be arranged in a row such that no two vowels are together?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Gap Method - used when certain items must be separated.
Strategy: 1. Arrange the items that don't have restrictions 2. Identify gaps where restricted items can be placed 3. Place restricted items in available gaps
Given: - Consonants: 5 - Vowels: 2 - Constraint: No two vowels together
Alternative Verification: - Smallest 6-digit number: 100000 = 100000 - Largest 6-digit number: 999999 = 999999 - Total count: 999999 - 100000 + 1 = 900000
Related Problems: 1. No repetition: 9 × P(9,5) = 9 × 9!/4! 2. Odd numbers only: 9 × 10^4 × 5 (last digit: 1,3,5,7,9) 3. Even numbers only: - If last digit 0: 9 × 10^4 × 1 - If last digit 2,4,6,8: 8 × 10^4 × 4 - Total: 9 × 10^4 + 8 × 4 × 10^4
Key Principle: When forming numbers: - First digit has special restriction (can't be 0) - Handle positional constraints carefully - Use multiplication principle for independent choices
Question 7
There are 4 gifts and 4 people. In how many ways can the gifts be placed such that no gift goes into its correct intended recipient?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Derangement - permutation where no element appears in its original position. Denoted as D(n) or !n.
Given: - Number of items: 4 - Constraint: No item in its correct position
Intuitive Understanding: Total arrangements = 4! = 24 Derangements = 9 Probability of derangement ≈ 1/e ≈ 0.368 (for large n)
Real-World Application: - Secret Santa where no one gets their own name - Permutation ciphers in cryptography - Hat-check problem in probability
Key Formula Memory Aid: D(n) ≈ n!/e for large n (within 1 unit) For 4: 24/e ≈ 9 ≈ 9
Common Error: Don't subtract n! - n, that's not derangement count.
Question 8
In how many ways can 8 people be divided into 2 equal teams of 4 each?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Group division where groups are indistinguishable (no labels like Team A, Team B).
Given: - Total people: 8 - Group size: 4 - Number of groups: 2
Key Question: Are the groups distinguishable? - If groups have labels (Team A, Team B): Groups are distinguishable - If groups have no labels: Groups are indistinguishable (our case)
Strategy for Indistinguishable Groups:
Step 1 - Select first group: Choose 4 people from 8: C(8,4) C(8,4) = 8!/[4! × 4!] = 70
Step 2 - Remaining people form second group: Remaining 4 people automatically form the other group: C(4,4) = 1
Step 3 - Remove overcounting: Since groups are indistinguishable, we've counted each division twice. (Selecting ABCD for group 1 and EFGH for group 2 is same as selecting EFGH for group 1 and ABCD for group 2)
General Formula: For dividing n items into k equal groups of size m each (where n = k×m): Ways = C(n,m) × C(n-m,m) × ... × C(m,m) / k! = n! / [(m!)^k × k!]
Contrast: - Distinguishable groups (labeled teams): 70 ways - Indistinguishable groups (unlabeled): 35 ways
Common Error: Forgetting to divide by k! when groups are indistinguishable.
Question 9
What is the rank of the word 'SMART' when all the letters are arranged in dictionary order?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Rank of a word in dictionary order - counting how many words come before it alphabetically.
Given word: SMART
Strategy: 1. For each position, count arrangements starting with letters smaller than the actual letter 2. Add these counts to find rank 3. The rank is 1 + (number of words before it)
Letters in alphabetical order: A M R S T
Step-by-Step Calculation:
Position 1 (current letter: S): Available letters: A M R S T If we place 'A' here: 24 arrangements possible If we place 'M' here: 24 arrangements possible If we place 'R' here: 24 arrangements possible Subtotal arrangements before 'S': 72 Position 2 (current letter: M): Available letters: A M R T If we place 'A' here: 6 arrangements possible Subtotal arrangements before 'M': 6 Position 3 (current letter: A): Available letters: A R T Position 4 (current letter: R): Available letters: R T Position 5 (current letter: T): Available letters: T
Final Rank: 79
Verification Strategy: 1. Rank starts at 1 (not 0) 2. We count all words that come alphabetically before our word 3. Our word's rank = 1 + count of words before it
Key Principle: - At each position, consider all possible smaller letters - For each smaller letter, count permutations of remaining letters - Account for repeated letters by dividing by their factorials
General Formula for Position Counting: At position i, add: Σ (arrangements with smaller letter at position i)
Common Errors: - Forgetting to start rank from 1 - Not accounting for repeated letters - Counting arrangements after the word instead of before
Question 10
In how many ways can 10 distinct people be divided into 3 groups of sizes 6, 3, 1 (groups are unlabeled but have different sizes)?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Partitioning into groups of specified sizes. When group sizes are different, groups are automatically distinguishable by size.
Given: - Total people: 10 - Group sizes: 6, 3, 1 - Groups are unlabeled (no names like Team A, Team B)
Strategy: Each item makes an independent choice of which box to go into.
Analysis: - Item 1 can go into any of 4 boxes: 4 choices - Item 2 can go into any of 4 boxes: 4 choices - Item 3 can go into any of 4 boxes: 4 choices - ...and so on for all 6 items
Formula: (number of boxes)^(number of items) = 4^6
Calculation: Total ways = 4^6 = 4096
Key Distinction: This is NOT a permutation or combination problem! It's a direct application of the multiplication principle.
Related Scenarios: 1. No empty boxes allowed (Surjection): Use Inclusion-Exclusion: 4! × S(6,4) where S(n,k) is the Stirling number of second kind
2. Identical items, distinct boxes: This becomes a "stars and bars" problem: C(6+4-1, 4-1)
3. Distinct items, identical boxes (Partition): Use Stirling numbers: Σ S(6,k) for k=1 to 4
Verification: - With 1 box: answer should be 1 (all items in one box) - With 6 boxes, one item: answer should be 6 - Our answer 4096 is reasonable: each item independently chooses from 4 options
Common Error: Don't use factorial or combination formulas here - items are making independent simultaneous choices.
Question 12
What is the rank of the word 'TIGER' when all the letters are arranged in dictionary order?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Rank of a word in dictionary order - counting how many words come before it alphabetically.
Given word: TIGER
Strategy: 1. For each position, count arrangements starting with letters smaller than the actual letter 2. Add these counts to find rank 3. The rank is 1 + (number of words before it)
Letters in alphabetical order: E G I R T
Step-by-Step Calculation:
Position 1 (current letter: T): Available letters: E G I R T If we place 'E' here: 24 arrangements possible If we place 'G' here: 24 arrangements possible If we place 'I' here: 24 arrangements possible If we place 'R' here: 24 arrangements possible Subtotal arrangements before 'T': 96 Position 2 (current letter: I): Available letters: E G I R If we place 'E' here: 6 arrangements possible If we place 'G' here: 6 arrangements possible Subtotal arrangements before 'I': 12 Position 3 (current letter: G): Available letters: E G R If we place 'E' here: 2 arrangements possible Subtotal arrangements before 'G': 2 Position 4 (current letter: E): Available letters: E R Position 5 (current letter: R): Available letters: R
Final Rank: 111
Verification Strategy: 1. Rank starts at 1 (not 0) 2. We count all words that come alphabetically before our word 3. Our word's rank = 1 + count of words before it
Key Principle: - At each position, consider all possible smaller letters - For each smaller letter, count permutations of remaining letters - Account for repeated letters by dividing by their factorials
General Formula for Position Counting: At position i, add: Σ (arrangements with smaller letter at position i)
Common Errors: - Forgetting to start rank from 1 - Not accounting for repeated letters - Counting arrangements after the word instead of before
Question 13
In how many ways can books be arranged on a shelf?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Linear permutation of n distinct objects = n! (n factorial)
Analysis: - We need to arrange 6 distinct objects in a line - For the first position: 6 choices - For the second position: 5 choices (one already placed) - For the third position: 4 choices - And so on...
Formula Application: Number of arrangements = 6! = 6 × 5 × 4 × ... × 2 × 1
Calculation: 6! = 720
Key Concept: The factorial function represents the number of ways to arrange n distinct objects in a sequence.
Common Mistake: Don't confuse permutation (arrangement matters) with combination (arrangement doesn't matter).
Question 14
In how many ways can 8 people be divided into 2 equal teams of 4 each?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Group division where groups are indistinguishable (no labels like Team A, Team B).
Given: - Total people: 8 - Group size: 4 - Number of groups: 2
Key Question: Are the groups distinguishable? - If groups have labels (Team A, Team B): Groups are distinguishable - If groups have no labels: Groups are indistinguishable (our case)
Strategy for Indistinguishable Groups:
Step 1 - Select first group: Choose 4 people from 8: C(8,4) C(8,4) = 8!/[4! × 4!] = 70
Step 2 - Remaining people form second group: Remaining 4 people automatically form the other group: C(4,4) = 1
Step 3 - Remove overcounting: Since groups are indistinguishable, we've counted each division twice. (Selecting ABCD for group 1 and EFGH for group 2 is same as selecting EFGH for group 1 and ABCD for group 2)
General Formula: For dividing n items into k equal groups of size m each (where n = k×m): Ways = C(n,m) × C(n-m,m) × ... × C(m,m) / k! = n! / [(m!)^k × k!]
Contrast: - Distinguishable groups (labeled teams): 70 ways - Indistinguishable groups (unlabeled): 35 ways
Common Error: Forgetting to divide by k! when groups are indistinguishable.
Question 15
In how many ways can 8 people be divided into 2 equal teams of 4 each?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Group division where groups are indistinguishable (no labels like Team A, Team B).
Given: - Total people: 8 - Group size: 4 - Number of groups: 2
Key Question: Are the groups distinguishable? - If groups have labels (Team A, Team B): Groups are distinguishable - If groups have no labels: Groups are indistinguishable (our case)
Strategy for Indistinguishable Groups:
Step 1 - Select first group: Choose 4 people from 8: C(8,4) C(8,4) = 8!/[4! × 4!] = 70
Step 2 - Remaining people form second group: Remaining 4 people automatically form the other group: C(4,4) = 1
Step 3 - Remove overcounting: Since groups are indistinguishable, we've counted each division twice. (Selecting ABCD for group 1 and EFGH for group 2 is same as selecting EFGH for group 1 and ABCD for group 2)
General Formula: For dividing n items into k equal groups of size m each (where n = k×m): Ways = C(n,m) × C(n-m,m) × ... × C(m,m) / k! = n! / [(m!)^k × k!]
Contrast: - Distinguishable groups (labeled teams): 70 ways - Indistinguishable groups (unlabeled): 35 ways
Common Error: Forgetting to divide by k! when groups are indistinguishable.
Question 16
A committee of 5 members is to be formed from 7 men and 5 women. In how many ways can this be done if the committee must have exactly 3 men and 2 women?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Combination with constraints - selection from multiple groups with specific requirements.
Given: - Men available: 7 - Women available: 5 - Committee size: 5 - Required: 3 men and 2 women
Strategy: Select from each group independently, then multiply (Multiplication Principle).
Step 1 - Select Men: Choose 3 men from 7 men = C(7,3) C(7,3) = 7! / [3! × 4!] = 35
Step 2 - Select Women: Choose 2 women from 5 women = C(5,2) C(5,2) = 5! / [2! × 3!] = 10
Key Principle: When selecting from different independent groups with specific requirements from each: - Calculate selections from each group separately - Multiply the results
Common Error: Don't add the combinations - multiply them! Each selection from one group can be paired with each selection from the other.
Question 17
In how many ways can 8 people be divided into 2 equal teams of 4 each?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Group division where groups are indistinguishable (no labels like Team A, Team B).
Given: - Total people: 8 - Group size: 4 - Number of groups: 2
Key Question: Are the groups distinguishable? - If groups have labels (Team A, Team B): Groups are distinguishable - If groups have no labels: Groups are indistinguishable (our case)
Strategy for Indistinguishable Groups:
Step 1 - Select first group: Choose 4 people from 8: C(8,4) C(8,4) = 8!/[4! × 4!] = 70
Step 2 - Remaining people form second group: Remaining 4 people automatically form the other group: C(4,4) = 1
Step 3 - Remove overcounting: Since groups are indistinguishable, we've counted each division twice. (Selecting ABCD for group 1 and EFGH for group 2 is same as selecting EFGH for group 1 and ABCD for group 2)
General Formula: For dividing n items into k equal groups of size m each (where n = k×m): Ways = C(n,m) × C(n-m,m) × ... × C(m,m) / k! = n! / [(m!)^k × k!]
Strategy: Each item makes an independent choice of which box to go into.
Analysis: - Item 1 can go into any of 3 boxes: 3 choices - Item 2 can go into any of 3 boxes: 3 choices - Item 3 can go into any of 3 boxes: 3 choices - ...and so on for all 6 items
Formula: (number of boxes)^(number of items) = 3^6
Calculation: Total ways = 3^6 = 729
Key Distinction: This is NOT a permutation or combination problem! It's a direct application of the multiplication principle.
Related Scenarios: 1. No empty boxes allowed (Surjection): Use Inclusion-Exclusion: 3! × S(6,3) where S(n,k) is the Stirling number of second kind
2. Identical items, distinct boxes: This becomes a "stars and bars" problem: C(6+3-1, 3-1)
3. Distinct items, identical boxes (Partition): Use Stirling numbers: Σ S(6,k) for k=1 to 3
Verification: - With 1 box: answer should be 1 (all items in one box) - With 6 boxes, one item: answer should be 6 - Our answer 729 is reasonable: each item independently chooses from 3 options
Common Error: Don't use factorial or combination formulas here - items are making independent simultaneous choices.
Question 19
How many 5-digit numbers can be formed using the digits 0 to 9 (with repetition allowed)?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Number formation with positional restrictions. The first digit cannot be 0 (otherwise it wouldn't be an 5-digit number).
Given: - Number length: 5 digits - Available digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (10 digits) - Repetition: Allowed - Constraint: First digit cannot be 0
Position-by-Position Analysis:
First digit (leftmost): Cannot be 0 (would make it 4-digit number) Choices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Count: 9 choices
Second digit: Can be any digit including 0 Choices: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Count: 10 choices
Third digit through 5th digit: Each can be any digit including 0 Count: 10 choices each
Alternative Verification: - Smallest 5-digit number: 10000 = 10000 - Largest 5-digit number: 99999 = 99999 - Total count: 99999 - 10000 + 1 = 90000
Related Problems: 1. No repetition: 9 × P(9,4) = 9 × 9!/5! 2. Odd numbers only: 9 × 10^3 × 5 (last digit: 1,3,5,7,9) 3. Even numbers only: - If last digit 0: 9 × 10^3 × 1 - If last digit 2,4,6,8: 8 × 10^3 × 4 - Total: 9 × 10^3 + 8 × 4 × 10^3
Key Principle: When forming numbers: - First digit has special restriction (can't be 0) - Handle positional constraints carefully - Use multiplication principle for independent choices
Question 20
How many 7-digit numbers can be formed using the digits 0 to 9 (with repetition allowed)?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Number formation with positional restrictions. The first digit cannot be 0 (otherwise it wouldn't be an 7-digit number).
Given: - Number length: 7 digits - Available digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (10 digits) - Repetition: Allowed - Constraint: First digit cannot be 0
Position-by-Position Analysis:
First digit (leftmost): Cannot be 0 (would make it 6-digit number) Choices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Count: 9 choices
Second digit: Can be any digit including 0 Choices: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Count: 10 choices
Third digit through 7th digit: Each can be any digit including 0 Count: 10 choices each
Alternative Verification: - Smallest 7-digit number: 1000000 = 1000000 - Largest 7-digit number: 9999999 = 9999999 - Total count: 9999999 - 1000000 + 1 = 9000000
Related Problems: 1. No repetition: 9 × P(9,6) = 9 × 9!/3! 2. Odd numbers only: 9 × 10^5 × 5 (last digit: 1,3,5,7,9) 3. Even numbers only: - If last digit 0: 9 × 10^5 × 1 - If last digit 2,4,6,8: 8 × 10^5 × 4 - Total: 9 × 10^5 + 8 × 4 × 10^5
Key Principle: When forming numbers: - First digit has special restriction (can't be 0) - Handle positional constraints carefully - Use multiplication principle for independent choices
📈 Building expertise: Worksheet 4 of 30 in Permutation & Combination.