Eight boys have to be seated in eight chairs

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 4:29 am
Thanked: 8 times
Followed by:1 members
Eight boys have to be seated in eight chairs numbered 1 to 8 in a row. In how many ways this seating can be done such that if a particular boy does not want to sit in the first four chairs and an other boy want to sit either in 7th or 8th chair?

A. 6!
B. 6×6!
C. 7×6!
D. 8×6!
E. 7×7!
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:36 am
talaangoshtari wrote:Eight boys have to be seated in eight chairs numbered 1 to 8 in a row. In how many ways this seating can be done such that if a particular boy does not want to sit in the first four chairs and an other boy want to sit either in 7th or 8th chair?

A. 6!
B. 6×6!
C. 7×6!
D. 8×6!
E. 7×7!
Another boy wants to sit either in the 7th or 8th chair.
Number of options for this boy = 2. (Either the 7th or 8th chair.)

A particular boy does not want to sit in the first four chairs.
Number of options for this boy = 3. (Of the 4 last chairs, any but the chair occupied by the first boy.)

Number of ways to arrange the remaining 6 boys = 6!.

To combine the options above, we multiply:
(2)(3)(6!) = (6)(6!).

The correct answer is B.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 4:29 am
Thanked: 8 times
Followed by:1 members

by talaangoshtari » Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:23 am
Hi GMATGuruNY,

Would you please check my answer?

Eight boys have to be seated in eight chairs numbered 1 to 8 in a row. In how many ways this seating can be done such that if a particular boy does not want to sit in the even numbered chair and another boy wants to sit at the extremes?

4×6! + 4×6! = 8×6!

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:41 am
talaangoshtari wrote:Hi GMATGuruNY,

Would you please check my answer?

Eight boys have to be seated in eight chairs numbered 1 to 8 in a row. In how many ways this seating can be done such that if a particular boy does not want to sit in the even numbered chair and another boy wants to sit at the extremes?

4×6! + 4×6! = 8×6!
Let E = the boy who must sit at either end and O = the boy who must in an odd-numbered chair.

Case 1: E in seat 1
Number of options for O = 3. (Seat 3, 5 or 7.)
Number of ways to arrange the remaining 6 boys = 6!.
To combine these options, we multiply:
(3)(6!).

Case 2: E in seat 8
Number of options for O = 4. (Seat 1, 3, 5 or 7.)
Number of ways to arrange the remaining 6 boys = 6!.
To combine these options, we multiply:
(4)(6!).

Total ways = (3)(6!) + (4)(6!) = [spoiler](7)(6!)[/spoiler].
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
Followed by:119 members
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:59 am
talaangoshtari wrote:Hi GMATGuruNY,

Would you please check my answer?

Eight boys have to be seated in eight chairs numbered 1 to 8 in a row. In how many ways this seating can be done such that if a particular boy does not want to sit in the even numbered chair and another boy wants to sit at the extremes?

4×6! + 4×6! = 8×6!
Let's start with the six kids who don't have preferences: they can be arranged in 6! ways.

We then have the boy who wants to sit at the extremes. He can sit in seat #1, in which case the other boy has four choices (#2, #4, #6, and #8). OR he can sit in seat #2, in which case the other boy has THREE choices (#4, #6, and #8).

This gives us seven options for the two picky boys, so our answer is 7 * 6!, or 7!.