Combinatorics Redux Followup: 2 Same, 1 Different Toppings on 3 Pizzas

In summary, there are 2^9 ways of choosing topics for a pizza and if we want different topics on 3 pizzas, we can do that in 2^9C3 = (2^9*(2^9)-1*(2^9)-2)/3!. If we want the same toppings on all 3 pizzas, we can do that in 2^9 ways. For the third option, where we want 2 same and one different topping for the 3 pizzas, we can use the formula 2^9*(2^9)-1 to calculate the number of combinations. This is equivalent to choosing two different toppings and considering the two same toppings as one topping for one pizza. However, the formula
  • #1
sk381
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Followup:

Suppose we have 2^9 ways of choosing topics on a pizza. Then, if we want different topics on 3 pizzas, we can do that in 2^9C3 = (2^9*(2^9)-1*(2^9)-2)/3!

and if we want the same toppings on all the 3 pizzas, we already know that we can do that in 2^9 ways.

But what about the third option:

we want 2 same and one different topping for the 3 pizzas.

What formula will we use?

The answer is supposed to be 2^9*(2^9)-1
 
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  • #2
The situation is equivalent to having to choose two different toppings; the two same toppings can be considered to be one toping for one pizza.
 
  • #3
Right, in that case, we should have 2^9C2 ways of doing this.. which is (2^9*(2^9)-1)/2! but the answer doesn't mention the 2!

Am I missing something??
 
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1. What is combinatorics?

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics that deals with counting and organizing objects or events that satisfy certain criteria.

2. Can you explain the concept of "2 Same, 1 Different Toppings on 3 Pizzas"?

This refers to the scenario where you have three pizzas and you want to add toppings to them, with the restriction that two of the pizzas have the same toppings and one pizza has different toppings. This can also be thought of as choosing toppings for three different pizzas, with two of them having the same toppings and one having different toppings.

3. How many different combinations of toppings are possible for 2 Same, 1 Different Toppings on 3 Pizzas?

There are a total of 27 possible combinations of toppings for this scenario, as each pizza can have either pepperoni, mushrooms, or olives and there are three different ways to distribute the toppings among the pizzas.

4. What is the significance of this problem in real-life situations?

This problem can be applied to real-life situations such as choosing toppings for different pizzas at a party or creating a customizable pizza menu for a restaurant. It also demonstrates the concept of combinations and permutations, which are used in various fields such as computer science, statistics, and economics.

5. Are there any other variations of this problem?

Yes, there are many variations of this problem, such as "3 Same, 2 Different Toppings on 5 Pizzas" or "4 Same, 3 Different Toppings on 6 Pizzas". These variations can be solved using the same principles of combinatorics and can be applied to different scenarios.

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