Probability problem (#of ways to seat a couple) *edit: solved*

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SUMMARY

The problem of seating 10 people, consisting of 5 couples, in a row with the condition that each couple must sit adjacent has a definitive solution. The correct calculation involves treating each couple as a single unit or block, resulting in 5! (120) arrangements of the blocks. Additionally, since each couple can swap seats, the total number of arrangements is 5! × 2^5, yielding 3840 distinct seating arrangements. The initial miscalculation arose from counting individual seat choices rather than treating couples as blocks.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of permutations and combinations
  • Basic knowledge of factorial notation (n!)
  • Familiarity with the concept of adjacent seating arrangements
  • Ability to perform exponentiation (e.g., 2^n)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of combinatorial mathematics
  • Learn about factorials and their applications in probability
  • Explore adjacent seating problems in combinatorics
  • Investigate the use of blocks in permutation problems
USEFUL FOR

Students studying combinatorial mathematics, educators teaching probability concepts, and anyone interested in solving seating arrangement problems in discrete mathematics.

semidevil
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update:
*edit: solved! I counted everything twice.


Homework Statement



How many ways are there to seat 10 people, consisting of 5 couples, in a row
of seats (10 seats wide) if all couples are to get adjacent seats?





The Attempt at a Solution


I'm trying to look calculate it at a couple level.

10 seats available, 5 couples
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

first couple has 9 choices to choose from They can't choose seat # 10 or else they will not sit next to each other. they can also swap seats, so that will be 9 x 2 = 18 choices.

second couple will have 7 seats to choose from. They can trade seats, so that will be 7 x 2 = 14

third couple has 5 seats, trade seats an yield 10.

fourth couple has 3 seats, = 6

5th couple has 2 seats left, they can trade once, so that is 2 possibilities

I did 18 x 14 x 10 x 6 x 2 = 30,240. answer key says 3840 though?
 
Last edited:
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Since you have already found the correct answer, I will share another way to get there.
As each couple has to sit next to each other, you basically have 5 two-seat blocks to distribute the 5 couples over. The number of ways in which this can be done is just 5! because every permutation of the couples will give a different assignment of couples to two-seat blocks. Then within each block you can swap the two persons, so you get 5! \cdot 2^5 possible ways.
 

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