BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

good prob

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

by jasonc » Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:26 pm
unless I'm mistaken (could be since I'm really tired haha) the problem should be pretty straight forward, and the answer should be 2/5

for any given 2 people, regardless of where the first person sits, the second person has 2 possible ways to be next to the first person (L & R of the person) and 5 possible ways of seating himself total = 2/5
I beat the GMAT! 760 (Q49/V44)
Join the discussion

by durgesh79 » Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:36 pm
i have a doubt in thse type of cirular table questions,

Suppose there are 5 people ABCDE,

If I ask everyone to standup and move to one postion left (or right), will it be a new arrangemnet.

I'll put the question in other words. Are following arrangements different or same in a circular table question.

ABCDE
BCDEA
CDEAB
DEABC
.......
Join the discussion

by netigen » Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:56 pm
In a circular table these are the same.

There is a formula to find the different possible permutations in a circular table with n slots

total possibilities = (n-1)!
Join the discussion

by netigen » Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:57 pm
Join the discussion

by durgesh79 » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:21 am
Thanks netigen,

Coming back to the question,

6 people can be arranged in 5! ways
if we consider two people always sitting together as a single unit, we have 5 people around the table. Can be arranged in 4! ways.
These 2 person can change their position in 2 ways.

so the answer = 2 * 4! / 5! = 2/5
Join the discussion