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Simple combinatorics problem.

Expert replies
by dghosh2602 » Thu May 20, 2010 1:59 pm
G, M, P, J, B and C are supposed to sit in 6 different seats. But M and J won't sit together, how many different arrangements are possible?

So, I know I can calculate the possibilities w/o constraints and subtract the possibilities with constraints and get the answer as 6! - 5! to get 480. What I am trying to think is in terms of the following (which works for most problems, but I can't figure out why this model doesn't fit this situation)

I have 6 possibilities for Seat 1 and I assume its M, so possibilities = 6.
Now, I have 4 possibilities for Seat 2 because J won't sit with M, so possibilities = 4
Now, I have 4 possibilities again for Seat 3 because M is back in the group, so possibilities = 4
And then finally 3 and 2, so possibilities = 3 * 2

Multiplying, 6 * 4 * 4 * 6 = 576 possibilities.

Where am I formulating this wrongly?

Thanks in advance
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by indiantiger » Thu May 20, 2010 2:23 pm
Seats 1 2 3 4 5 6
possibility M*4*J*3*2*1
possibility 4*M*3*J*2*1
possibility 4*3*M*2*J*1
possibility 4*3*2*M*1*J
possibility J*4*3*1*M*2
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total 20 possibility
24*20 = 480 ( I hope I did not make a mistake)
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