Use the permutations formula to find the number of ways an item can be arranged (r) from the total number of items (n).
Remember that order is important in Permutations.
Permutation Formula if (n=r)
nPn=n!
Solve the number of arrangements if the three cats are treated as one entity and the number of arrangements for those 3 cats, then multiply them.
First, treat the 3 cats as one. This leaves us with 6 animals (r) to be seated in 6 places in the straight line (n)
n=r=4
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
6P6
=
6!
Substitute the value of n
=
6⋅5⋅4⋅3⋅2⋅1
=
720
There are 720 ways to arrange 6 animals.
Next, arrange the 3 cats (r) in 3 positions (n)
n=r=3
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
3P3
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
3⋅2⋅1
=
6
There are 6 ways to arrange three cats
Finally, multiply the two solved permutations
6P6=720
3P3=6
720⋅6
=
4320
Therefore, there are 4320 ways of arranging 3 cats and 5 dogs if the cats should be seated together
4320
Question 2 of 7
2. Question
A bakery has a section for Muffins, Donuts and Cookies. How many ways can 6 muffins, 3 donuts, and 2 cookies be arranged if they must stay in their respective sections?
Use the permutations formula to find the number of ways an item can be arranged (r) from the total number of items (n).
Remember that order is important in Permutations.
Permutation Formula if (n=r)
nPn=n!
Solve and multiply four permutations for: the sections, muffins, donuts and cookies.
First, arrange 3 sections (r) in 3 positions (n)
n=r=3
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
3P3
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
3⋅2⋅1
=
6
There are 6 ways to arrange 3 sections.
Next, arrange 6 muffins (r) in 6 positions (n)
n=r=6
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
6P6
=
6!
Substitute the value of n
=
6⋅5⋅4⋅3⋅2⋅1
=
720
There are 720 ways to arrange 6 muffins
Then, arrange 3 donuts (r) in 3 positions (n)
n=r=3
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
3P3
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
3⋅2⋅1
=
6
There are 6 ways to arrange 3 donuts
Now, arrange 2 cookies (r) in 2 positions (n)
n=r=2
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
2P2
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
2⋅1
=
2
There are 2 ways to arrange 2 cookies
Finally, multiply the four solved permutations
sections=6
muffins=720
donuts=6
cookies=2
6⋅720⋅6⋅2
=
51840
Therefore, there are 51840 ways of arranging 6 muffins, 3 donuts and 2 cookies in their respective sections
51840
Question 3 of 7
3. Question
A music playlist has a section for Rock, Jazz and Pop music. How many ways can 4 rock songs, 3 jazz songs, and 2 pop songs be arranged if they must stay in their respective genres?
Use the permutations formula to find the number of ways an item can be arranged (r) from the total number of items (n).
Remember that order is important in Permutations.
Permutation Formula if (n=r)
nPn=n!
Solve and multiply four permutations for: the genres, rock songs, jazz songs and pop songs.
First, arrange 3 genres (r) in 3 positions (n)
n=r=3
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
3P3
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
3⋅2⋅1
=
6
There are 6 ways to arrange 3 genres.
Next, arrange 4 rock songs (r) in 4 positions (n)
n=r=4
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
4P4
=
4!
Substitute the value of n
=
4⋅3⋅2⋅1
=
24
There are 24 ways to arrange 4 rock songs
Then, arrange 3 jazz songs (r) in 3 positions (n)
n=r=3
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
3P3
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
3⋅2⋅1
=
6
There are 6 ways to arrange 3 jazz songs
Now, arrange 2 pop songs (r) in 2 positions (n)
n=r=2
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
2P2
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
2⋅1
=
2
There are 2 ways to arrange 2 pop songs
Finally, multiply the four solved permutations
genres=6
rock songs=24
jazz songs=6
pop songs=2
6⋅24⋅6⋅2
=
1728
Therefore, there are 1728 ways of arranging 4 rock songs, 3 jazz songs and 2 pop songs in their respective sections
1728
Question 4 of 7
4. Question
A music playlist has a section for Rock, Jazz and Pop music. Given that the rock genre must be placed last, how many ways can 4 rock songs, 3 jazz songs, and 2 pop songs be arranged?
Use the permutations formula to find the number of ways an item can be arranged (r) from the total number of items (n).
Remember that order is important in Permutations.
Permutation Formula if (n=r)
nPn=n!
Solve and multiply four permutations for: the genres, rock songs, jazz songs and pop songs.
First, remember that the rock genre must stay last. This means we are left to arrange 2 genres (r) in 2 positions (n)
n=r=2
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
2P2
=
2!
Substitute the value of n
=
2⋅1
=
2
There are 2 ways to arrange 3 genres if rock must stay last.
Next, arrange 4 rock songs (r) in 4 positions (n)
n=r=4
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
4P4
=
4!
Substitute the value of n
=
4⋅3⋅2⋅1
=
24
There are 24 ways to arrange 4 rock songs
Then, arrange 3 jazz songs (r) in 3 positions (n)
n=r=3
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
3P3
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
3⋅2⋅1
=
6
There are 6 ways to arrange 3 jazz songs
Now, arrange 2 pop songs (r) in 2 positions (n)
n=r=2
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
2P2
=
3!
Substitute the value of n
=
2⋅1
=
2
There are 2 ways to arrange 2 pop songs
Finally, multiply the four solved permutations
genres=2
rock songs=24
jazz songs=6
pop songs=2
2⋅24⋅6⋅2
=
576
Therefore, there are 576 ways of arranging 4 rock songs, 3 jazz songs and 2 pop songs if the rock genre must stay last
576
Question 5 of 7
5. Question
A pizza booth has 6 seats — 3 on the left side and 3 on the right. How many ways can six people be seated in the booth if 2 girls insist that they sit on the right side?
Use the permutations formula to find the number of ways an item can be arranged (r) from the total number of items (n).
Remember that order is important in Permutations.
Permutation Formula
nPr=n!(n−r)!
Solve the permutation for the two girls who want to sit on the right side and the permutation for the remaining 4 people, then multiply.
First, arrange 2 girls (r) in the 3 seats on the right side (n)
n=3
r=2
nPr
=
n!(n−r)!
Permutation Formula
3P2
=
3!(3−2)!
Substitute the value of n and r
=
3!1!
=
3⋅2⋅11
=
6
Cancel like terms and evaluate
There are 6 ways to arrange 2 girls in the three seats on the right.
Next, arrange 4 people (r) in 4 seats (n)
n=r=4
nPn
=
n!
Permutation Formula (if n=r)
4P4
=
4!
Substitute the value of n
=
4⋅3⋅2⋅1
=
24
There are 24 ways to arrange 4 people
Finally, multiply the two solved permutations
2 girls=6
4 people=24
6⋅24
=
144
Therefore, there are 144 ways of arranging 6 people in the pizza booth if 2 girls want to sit on the right side
144
Question 6 of 7
6. Question
A learjet has 8 seats — 4 on the left side and 4 on the right. How many ways can eight people be seated in the learjet if 3 passengers insist to be on the right side and 2 passengers insist to be on the left side?
Use the permutations formula to find the number of ways an item can be arranged (r) from the total number of items (n).
Remember that order is important in Permutations.
Permutation Formula
nPr=n!(n−r)!
Solve the permutation for the 3 passengers who want to sit on the right side, the 2 passengers who want to sit on the left side and the permutation for the remaining 3 people, then multiply.
First, arrange 3 passengers (r) in the 4 seats on the right side (n)
n=4
r=3
nPr
=
n!(n−r)!
Permutation Formula
4P3
=
4!(4−3)!
Substitute the value of n and r
=
4!1!
=
4⋅3⋅2⋅11
=
24
Cancel like terms and evaluate
There are 24 ways to arrange 3 passengers in the four seats on the right.
Next, arrange 2 passengers (r) in the 4 seats on the left side (n)
n=4
r=2
nPr
=
n!(n−r)!
Permutation Formula
4P2
=
4!(4−2)!
Substitute the value of n and r
=
4!2!
=
4⋅3⋅2⋅12⋅1
=
12
Cancel like terms and evaluate
There are 12 ways to arrange 2 passengers in the four seats on the left.
Therefore, there are 1728 ways of arranging 8 passengers in the learjet if 3 want to sit on the right and 2 want to sit on the left.
1728
Question 7 of 7
7. Question
A speedboat has 4 seats — 2 on the port side (left side) and 2 on the right. One girl wishes to sit on the port side. If there are 4 passengers on the boat, what is the probability of that happening?