document.write( "Question 1190125: In how many ways can a family of 8 members be seated at a circular table with only 5 chairs? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #821715 by greenestamps(13200)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "Because the problem is stated incorrectly, the answer from the other tutor is correct: 0. \n" ); document.write( "8 people can't be seated in 5 chairs. \n" ); document.write( "Correct the statement of the problem: \n" ); document.write( "\"In how many ways can 5 members of a family of 8 be seated at a circular table with only 5 chairs?\" \n" ); document.write( "pick any one of the 5 seats to be the \"1st\" seat; there are 8 choices for the family member to sit in that seat \n" ); document.write( "pick any one of the remaining seats to be the \"2nd\" seat; there are 7 choices for the family member to sit in that seat \n" ); document.write( "pick any one of the remaining seats to be the \"3rd\" seat; there are 6 choices for the family member to sit in that seat \n" ); document.write( "pick either of the remaining seats to be the \"4th\" seat; there are 5 choices for the family member to sit in that seat \n" ); document.write( "there is only one remaining seat to be the \"5th\" seat; there are 4 choices for the family member to sit in that seat \n" ); document.write( "ANSWER (number of ways to seat 5 members of a family of 8 at a circular table with 5 chairs): 8*7*6*5*4 = 6720 \n" ); document.write( "In the popular literature, it is likely that the \"expected\" correct answer is 6720/5 = 1344 -- the reason being that, when seated around a circular table, any one of the 5 chairs can be considered the \"first\". \n" ); document.write( "However, that is NOT how the problem is stated. \n" ); document.write( "The number of DIFFERENT ORDERS in which 5 members of a family of 8 can be seated around a circular table is 6720/5 = 1344. But the number of DIFFERENT WAYS they can be seated is 6720. \n" ); document.write( "We can demonstrate the difference by considering the simple case of 3 people A, B, and C seated around a circular table: \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " A A B B C C\r\n" ); document.write( " B C C B A C C A A B B A \n" ); document.write( "That is 6 different WAYS but only 6/3 = 2 different ORDERS. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |