Question 1044235
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a traveling book salesperson has 5 copies of a certain statistic book, 4 copies of a certain geometry book 
and 3 copies of a certain calculus book. If these books are to be stored on a shelf in the sales person's van, 
how many distinct arrangements are possible?
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Had all the book be distinguishable, we would have (5+4+3)! = 12! possible permutations = arrangements of the 12 books.

But for any given arrangement all other 5! arrangements that are differ by permutations of 5 copies of statistical books only, 
are actually considered as the same arrangement. We can not make a distinguish between such arrangements.

Therefore, we divide 12! by 5!.

Same with geometry books and the calculus book.

So, the final answer is: there are only {{{12!/(5!*4!*3!)}}} = 27720 arrangements.
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