SOLUTION: 1How many different ways may a row of on-off switches be set if no two adjacent switches may be off. 2 How many numbers can be made from the digits 2,3,4,5,6 if they are to be g

Algebra.Com
Question 888109: 1How many different ways may a row of on-off switches be set if no two adjacent switches may be off.
2 How many numbers can be made from the digits 2,3,4,5,6 if they are to be greater than 4000 and no repeats are allowed.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
How many different ways may a row of on-off switches be set if no two adjacent
switches may be off.
Let 1 represent a switch that is on
Let 0 represent a switch that is off

A row of 1 switch can be set these and only these 2 ways:

1.  0
2.  1  

A row of 2 switches can be set these and only these 3 ways

1.  01
2.  10
3.  11

A row of 3 switches can be set these and only these 5 ways

1.  010
2.  011
3.  101
4.  110
5.  111

A row of 4 switches can be set these and only these 8 ways

1.  0101
2.  0110
3.  0111
4.  1010
5.  1011
6.  1101
7.  1110
8.  1111

Notice that this list of 4-switch settings consists 
of the 2-switch settings with a "10 annexed at the end

1.  0110
2.  1010
3.  1110  

plus

the 3-switch setting with a 1 annexed at the end

1.  0101
2.  0111
3.  1011
4.  1101
5.  1111 

This suggests the recursion formula:

  

This is the Fibonacci recursion formula. 

If the Fibonacci numbers are considered as subscripted this way:

, , , , , ,, etc.

then if there are n switches, there are Fn+2 switch settings 
which have no two adjacent switches which are off.

(b)2 How many numbers can be made from the digits 2,3,4,5,6 if they are to be
greater than 4000 and no repeats are allowed.
This is easy compared to (a).

Case 1:  Four digit numbers:

Choose the first digit as any of these 3 digits: {4,5,6}.
Choose the second digit as any of the remaining 4 digits.
Choose the third digit as any of the remaining 3 digits.
Choose the fourth digit as either of the remaining 2 digits.

That's 3*4*3*2 = 72 ways

Case 2:  Five digit numbers:

Same as the four digit number.  Just tack the remaining 1 digit on
the right end of each of the 72 four digit numbers.

That's also 72 ways.

Anwer: 72+72 = 144 ways

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

​Pamela's computer printer allows for optional settings with a panel of four... (answered by addingup,Alan3354)
A classroom has a bank of eight light switches. In how many ways could they be turned on... (answered by greenestamps)
I just wanted to know if you could help me solve this problem about dividing monomials? (answered by stanbon)
Good Afternoon! I would appreciate help in solving the following question. A panel... (answered by stanbon)
1. Freedom or Alligators Once upon a time, a prison warden was responsible for 22... (answered by solver91311)
A certain model of remote control Stanley garage door opener has nine binary(off/on)... (answered by stanbon)
A certain model of remote-control garage door opener has nine binary (off/on) switches.... (answered by stanbon)
In the regional power station there are a thousand switches on the main console and these (answered by rajagopalan)
In the regional power station there are a thousand switches on the main console and these (answered by Edwin McCravy)