Counting Possible Distributions of Identical Pencils Among Four Students

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves distributing 25 identical pencils among four students with specific constraints on how many pencils each student can receive. The conditions include that two students must receive at least one pencil each, one student can receive no more than five pencils, and another must receive at least four pencils.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of generating functions as a potential method for solving the problem. There are also reflections on the correctness of initial attempts and logic.

Discussion Status

Some participants have shared their calculations and results, indicating a level of engagement with the problem. There is an ongoing exploration of the initial logic and assumptions made in the problem setup.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concern about potential errors in their reasoning and the validity of their approaches, highlighting the complexity of the constraints involved in the distribution.

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Homework Statement


Suppose that a teacher wishes to distribute 25 identical pencils to Ahmed, Bar-
bara, Carlos, and Dieter such that Ahmed and Dieter receive at least one pencil
each, Carlos receives no more than five pencils, and Barbara receives at least four
pencils. In how many ways can such a distribution be made?

Or, in other words, find integer solutions to [tex]x_1 + x_2 +x_3+x_4=25, x_1>0, x_2>0, x_3\le5, x_4\ge4[/tex]

Please let me know if i made any silly errors, but I'm more concerned that I made a fundamental error in the logic of this problem. Thanks!
The first inequality is

Homework Equations



The number of integer solutions to the equation [tex]x_1 + x_2 + x_3 \ldots x_n = C, x_i>0[/tex] is [tex]C-1\choose n-1[/tex].

The Attempt at a Solution



EDIT: got the solution
 
Last edited:
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I would use generating functions.

Expand (x+x^2+...+x^25)*(x+x^2+...+x^25)*(1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4+x^5)*(x^4+x^5+...x^25) and find the coefficient of x^25.

I'll do it on Maple and see what I get.
 
I'm getting 980.
 
looking it over again my attempt at a solution is all backwards =/
 
Tada! I'm getting 980 after looking it over as well, don't know what I was thinking when I first attempted the solution. Thanks for your responses, I'll post my solution when I have more time.
 

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