Question 1166137
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There are several different answers depending on how a subcommittee is formed.  For example, is it just four members of the board with equal status so that a committee consisting of Bill, Bob, Brian, and Basil is the same as one formed of Bob, Basil, Bill, and Brian?  Or does the subcommittee have a chairman so that a committee consisting of Chairman John plus Joe, Jill, and Jeri is different from one consisting of Chairman Jill plus Joe, John, and Jeri.  Perhaps there is a Chairman and a Chairman Pro Tem, so that Chairman Steve, Chairman Pro Tem Scott, Sally, and Sue...get the idea?


Assuming the first case, and using the formula for the number of combinations of *[tex \Large n] things taken *[tex \Large r] at a time:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ {{n}\choose{r}}\ =\ \frac{n!}{(n\,-\,r)!r!}]


You need to calculate


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ {{17}\choose{4}}]

																
John
*[tex \LARGE e^{i\pi}\ +\ 1\ =\ 0]
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
<img src="http://c0rk.blogs.com/gr0undzer0/darwin-fish.jpg">


I > Ø
*[tex \Large \ \
*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \  
								
{{n}\choose{r}}
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