Math Is Fun Forum

Nanoutzi

Guest

Permutation/Combination puzzle

Hello everyone, I am trying to catch up with my math skills lately and this site has helped me to get back on the bike as we say ( I am 58 year old, haven't done math for a long time )!

I have been trying to understand permutation formula but none seem to work with my needs.

So, can anyone tell me what permutation formula would work given this scenario:

Say you have 6 boxes.

Box 1 has number 1
Box 2 has number 1,2
Box 3 has number 3
Box 4 has number 3,4
Box 5 has number 5
Box 6 has number 6,7

You now pick 6 numbers (1 per box).

How do I calculate all the possible 6 numbers permutations/combinations (end result does not have duplicate/repetitive numbers).

If you look logically at the problem, the answer would be:

1       2       3       4       5       6
1       2       3       4       5       7

But I do not know how to work out the math formula to achieve this.

Any help would be wonderful!

Thank you very much!

Al

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Permutation/Combination puzzle

Hi;

Can you pick 1,2,3,3,5,6?

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
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