<PRE><B>Question 275509</B>
6! = 6*5*4*3*2*1 = 720 possible ways.


assume it was only 3 people.


that would be 3! = 3*2*1 = 6


let the people be abc.


order of finish possible would be:


abc
acb
bac
bca
cab
cba


this is called a permutation because order is important.


assume it was 4 people.


number of ways would be 4! = 4*3*2*1 = 24


possible ways get a lot bigger after 4.


assume the people were abcd


possible ways would be:


abcd
abdc
acbd
acdb
adbc
adcb
bacd
badc
bcad
bcda
bdac
bdca
cabd
cadb
cbad
cbda
cdab
cdba
dabc
dacb
dbac
dbca
dcab
dcba



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