Last visit was: 24 Apr 2024, 14:50 It is currently 24 Apr 2024, 14:50

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 07 Jun 2014
Posts: 4810
Own Kudos [?]: 10616 [19]
Given Kudos: 0
GRE 1: Q167 V156
WE:Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
Most Helpful Community Reply
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 11680 [11]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
General Discussion
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 17 Feb 2017
Posts: 11
Own Kudos [?]: 11 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 10 Aug 2019
Posts: 19
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: GRE Math Challenge #12- Six people are asked to sit down in [#permalink]
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
sandy wrote:
Six people are asked to sit down in a circle consisting of eight chairs.How many different ways are there to distribute the six people on the eight chairs?

Show: :: Answer
8!/ (8 * 2!) = 2,520


The basic idea here is that, for each possible arrangement, if EVERYONE moves 1 seat to the right, we have the same configuration.
Likewise, if EVERYONE moves 2 seats to the right, we have the same configuration.
Likewise, if EVERYONE moves 3 seats to the right, we have the same configuration.
.
.
.
Likewise, if EVERYONE moves 7 seats to the right, we have the same configuration.
So, one seating arrangement has 8 equivalent arrangements


At this point, let's NUMBER the 8 chairs as follows: #1, #2, #3, ..... #7 and #8
We'll call the six people A, B, C, D, E and F

Now seat each person.
We can place person A in one of 8 chairs
After that, we can place person B in one of the 7 remaining chairs
After that, we can place person C in one of the 6 remaining chairs
After that, we can place person D in one of the 5 remaining chairs
After that, we can place person E in one of the 4 remaining chairs
After that, we can place person F in one of the 3 remaining chairs

So, the number of arrangements = (8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3)

HOWEVER, we're not quite done.
We have counted each equivalent seating 8 times
So, to account for this, we must divide (8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3) by 8 to get: (8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3)/8 = (7)(6)(5)(4)(3) = 2520

Cheers,
Brent


Hello Brent,

So, basically, when we apply the formula (n-1)! for n people to sit in n places in a circular arrangements, we are basically dividing the total arrangement n! by n?
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 11680 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: GRE Math Challenge #12- Six people are asked to sit down in [#permalink]
1
sj24 wrote:
Hello Brent,

So, basically, when we apply the formula (n-1)! for n people to sit in n places in a circular arrangements, we are basically dividing the total arrangement n! by n?


Yes, exactly!
n!/n = (n)(n-1)(n-2)...(3)(2)(1)/n = (n-1)(n-2)...(3)(2)(1) = (n-1)!
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 10 Aug 2019
Posts: 19
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: GRE Math Challenge #12- Six people are asked to sit down in [#permalink]
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
sj24 wrote:
Hello Brent,

So, basically, when we apply the formula (n-1)! for n people to sit in n places in a circular arrangements, we are basically dividing the total arrangement n! by n?


Yes, exactly!
n!/n = (n)(n-1)(n-2)...(3)(2)(1)/n = (n-1)(n-2)...(3)(2)(1) = (n-1)!


Awesome! Thank you for this explanation.
avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 22 Jan 2020
Posts: 120
Own Kudos [?]: 228 [2]
Given Kudos: 10
Send PM
Re: GRE Math Challenge #12- Six people are asked to sit down in [#permalink]
2
Why do we have to divide by 8 after getting 8*7*6*5*4*3 ?

B/C this type of question assumes that the only way of distinguishing where someone sits is by using the other chairs/people as reference points.

If that wasn't the case then we wouldn't have to divide by 8 at the end.

For example if we have 4 chairs and 4 people facing each other in a cross position where one chair faces north, the other south, east, and west. Then there would be 4! arrangement the 4 people could sit down b/c a person would be able to distinguish his sitting position based on what cardinal direction they are facing and not just based on using the other 3 people as reference points.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Aug 2022
Posts: 49
Own Kudos [?]: 33 [1]
Given Kudos: 98
Send PM
Re: GRE Math Challenge #12- Six people are asked to sit down in [#permalink]
1
chacinluis wrote:
Why do we have to divide by 8 after getting 8*7*6*5*4*3 ?

B/C this type of question assumes that the only way of distinguishing where someone sits is by using the other chairs/people as reference points.

If that wasn't the case then we wouldn't have to divide by 8 at the end.

For example if we have 4 chairs and 4 people facing each other in a cross position where one chair faces north, the other south, east, and west. Then there would be 4! arrangement the 4 people could sit down b/c a person would be able to distinguish his sitting position based on what cardinal direction they are facing and not just based on using the other 3 people as reference points.



I have the same question. Just because people are in a circle doesn't automatically imply to me that facing the West is the same as facing the North within the circle, even if the order going around the circle is the same. I think in a real GRE question, if they wanted us to make this assumption, they would specify they are asking only about the order of the people, but not the direction they are facing.
User avatar
GRE Prep Club Legend
GRE Prep Club Legend
Joined: 07 Jan 2021
Posts: 4414
Own Kudos [?]: 68 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: GRE Math Challenge #12- Six people are asked to sit down in [#permalink]
Hello from the GRE Prep Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GRE Prep Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Prep Club for GRE Bot
[#permalink]
Moderators:
Moderator
1085 posts
GRE Instructor
218 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne