What are the appropriate values of…

Mathematics Questions

What are the appropriate values of n and r in the permutation formula ( n P r ) for Jos√©’s gameshow involving 15 secret ingredients and 3 dishes?

Short Answer

The permutation formula, ( n P r = n! / (n – r)! ), is used to calculate arrangements of ( r ) elements from ( n ). In this case, with ( n = 15 ) dishes and ( r = 3 ) to arrange, the total number of arrangements is calculated as 2730.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Understand the Permutation Formula

The permutation formula helps calculate the number of arrangements of r elements from a total of n elements. The formula is represented as:

  • n P r = P(n, r) = n! / (n – r)!

Knowing this formula allows you to determine the different ways objects can be arranged when the order matters.

Step 2: Identify the Variables

In this problem, we need to identify the values of n and r. Here, n represents the total number of dishes, and r represents the number of dishes to arrange:

  • n = 15 (total number of dishes)
  • r = 3 (number of dishes to arrange)

Understanding these values is crucial for applying the permutation formula correctly.

Step 3: Calculate the Number of Arrangements

Using the identified values in the permutation formula, we proceed with the calculation:

  • Calculate P(15, 3) = 15! / (15 – 3)!
  • This simplifies to 15! / 12! = 15 √ó 14 √ó 13
  • Therefore, the total number of arrangements is 2730.

By following these steps, you can easily find the number of ways to arrange selected elements from a larger set.

Related Concepts

Permutation formula

A mathematical expression that calculates the number of arrangements of r elements from a total of n elements, represented as n p r = p(n, r) = n! / (n – r)!

Variables

Symbols that represent specific values in the context of the problem, where n is the total number of elements and r is the number of elements to arrange

Factorial

A mathematical operation represented by n! that denotes the product of all positive integers up to n, used in calculating permutations and combinations.

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