SOLUTION: Calculate the number of ways eight swimmers can place first, second, or third in a race (in a race order matters).

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Question 1172858: Calculate the number of ways eight swimmers can place first, second, or third in a race (in a race order matters).
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by ikleyn(52788) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

    the number of ways = 8*7*6 = 336.     ANSWER

Solved and answered.

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This problem is about PERMUTATIONS.

On Permutations,  see introductory lessons
    - Introduction to Permutations
    - PROOF of the formula on the number of Permutations
    - Simple and simplest problems on permutations
    - Special type permutations problems
    - Problems on Permutations with restrictions
    - OVERVIEW of lessons on Permutations and Combinations
in this site.

Also,  you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-II in this site
    - ALGEBRA-II - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

The referred lessons are the part of this online textbook under the topic  "Combinatorics: Combinations and permutations".


Save the link to this textbook together with its description

Free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-II
https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/complex/ALGEBRA-II-YOUR-ONLINE-TEXTBOOK.lesson

into your archive and use when it is needed.



Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The other tutor answered the question of how many different ways eight swimmers can finish first, second, *** AND *** third in a race.

That is PERHAPS the intent of the problem....

However, it is unclear what it means to ask the number of ways eight swimmers can place first, second, *** OR *** third in a race.