4/12/18 – Permutations

Arrangementws With Indistinguishble (or Identical) Elements

e.g. How many different arrangements can be made from the word ‘BOOK’
BOOK, BOKO, BOOK, BOKO, BKOO, BKOO
OOBK, OOKB, OBOK, OBKO, OKBO, OKOB
OOBK, OOKB, OBOK, OBKO, OKBO, OKOB
KOBO, KOOB, KOOB, KOBO, KBOO, KBOO
We have overcounted by a factor of 2! -> 4!/2! = 12 ways.

e.g. consider the word ARRANGE -> 2A, 2R

no. of ways -> 7!/2!2! = 1260 ways.

e.g. RESETTLEMENTS
1R, 4E, 2S, 3T, 1L, 1M, 1H -> 13!/4!2!3! = 21621600 ways.

In general, if n objects are arranged in a row where there a L 1 of one type, L2

of a second type, … Lk of the final type then the number of distinguishable
arrangements is n!/(L1!)(L2!)…(Lk!)

e.g. How many ways to arrange 4 identical glasses and 3 identical cups in a
row -> 7!/4!3!

e.g. In how many ways can the letters PRESSES be arranged? -> 7!/3!2! = 420

e.g. How many 6 letter wordsw can be made from the word PRESSES?
Omit P -> 6!/2!3!
Omit R -> 6!/2!3!
Omit E -> 6!/3!
Omit S -> 6!/2!2!