If there are 4 people and 4 seats, how many ways can these four people arrange themselves in the seats?
2006-11-15 10:35:57 · 12 answers · asked by >>Ascher<< 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
All the people look at the 1st seat. There are 4 ways of filling the first seat. Someone sits in it.
There are now 3 ways of filling the second seat. Someone sits in it.
there are 2 ways of filling the 3rd seat. Someone sits in it.
The last person left standing has to sit in the only empty seat, so there is only one way of filling it.
The number of ways of these 4 people arranging themselves in 4 seats is 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
=24
2006-11-15 10:43:56 · answer #1 · answered by rosie recipe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
24 = 4!
First line them up. The first person has a choice of 4 seats. The second person has a choice of the three seats not taken. The third person has two choices, and the last person is forced to take the one open seat left.
So there are a total of 4*3*2*1 = 24 combinations. Cheers!
2006-11-15 18:39:24 · answer #2 · answered by bag o' hot air 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
16
2006-11-15 18:39:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
16
2006-11-15 18:37:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
16 ways
2006-11-15 18:51:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
24 ways
4 choices for the first seat
3 choices for the 2nd seat
2 choices for the 3rd seat
1 choice for the last seat
4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24 ways
2006-11-15 18:37:59 · answer #6 · answered by Puzzling 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, there seems to be some diagreement on this! Some say 16, but that doesn't work out. It's 24.
2006-11-15 18:43:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
16 different ways
2006-11-15 18:43:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a combination problem, so you use the equation
AxY
substitute 4
4x4
This gives you 16!
2006-11-15 18:39:00 · answer #9 · answered by themastersensei 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
24. =]
2006-11-15 18:38:26 · answer #10 · answered by kristeenuhh20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋