Question about two different combination problems

Did you make the same typo every time?I also understand 2 D nowGreat! Note that your answer in the other thread was wrong (now deleted).
  • #1
leo255
57
2
Thread moved from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown.
  1. Find the number of subsets of S = {1,2,3,...,10} that contain

    (a) the number 5.
    (b) neither 5 nor 6.
  2. (c) both 5 and 6.
  3. (d) no odd numbers.
  4. e) exactly three elements.
  5. (f) exactly three elements, all of them even.
  6. (g) exactly five elements, including 3 or 4 but not both. (h) exactly five elements, but neither 3 nor 4.
  7. (i) exactly five elements, the sum of which is even.

  1. 2. Let A be the set of all strings of decimal digits of length seven. For example 0031227 and 1948301 are strings in A.
  2. (a) Find |A|.
  3. (b) How many strings in A begin with 1237 (in this order)?
  4. (c) How many strings in A have exactly one 3?
  5. (d) How many strings in A have exactly three 3s?
First of all, sorry about the numbers - the page seems to add numbers when I just want to get to a new line.

So, I'm trying to figure out the difference between what these two questions are asking (I am studying for a final next week).

I know that the answer to the first question is 10^9 and 10^7, respectively.

The answer to part b and c for the first question is 10^8. For c in the 2nd question, I would assume that the answer would be 10^6, but that is wrong. The answer is 7*(9^6). Also, for part d, the answer is C(7, 3) * 9^4, and I don't quite see how that is gotten.

Thanks for looking.
 
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  • #2
leo255 said:
I know that the answer to the first question is 10^9 and 10^7, respectively.
10^9 is not the answer to any question, and I'm not sure what "first question" means as you have two problems with multiple subquestions. Mixing the two doesn't help.
leo255 said:
The answer to part b and c for the first question is 10^8.
It is not.

Can you list some example subsets? I think you misinterpret question 1.
leo255 said:
For c in the 2nd question, I would assume that the answer would be 10^6, but that is wrong.
Why do you assume this?
leo255 said:
Also, for part d, the answer is C(7, 3) * 9^4, and I don't quite see how that is gotten.
The "3"s have to be somewhere. How many options do you have to fix their positions? What about the digits in the other 4 positions?
 
  • #3
leo255 said:
I know that the answer to the first question is 10^9 and 10^7, respectively
I assume you are referring to 1a and 2a (see below). As mfb wrote, these are wrong. Did you make the same typo consistently?
Here's what I presume to be the right numbering:
1. Find the number of subsets of S = {1,2,3,...,10} that contain
(a) the number 5.
(b) neither 5 nor 6.
(c) both 5 and 6.
(d) no odd numbers.
(e) exactly three elements.
(f) exactly three elements, all of them even.
(g) exactly five elements, including 3 or 4 but not both.
(h) exactly five elements, but neither 3 nor 4.
(i) exactly five elements, the sum of which is even.​

2. Let A be the set of all strings of decimal digits of length seven. For example 0031227 and 1948301 are strings in A.
(a) Find |A|.
(b) How many strings in A begin with 1237 (in this order)?
(c) How many strings in A have exactly one 3?
(d) How many strings in A have exactly three 3s?​

leo255 said:
For c in the 2nd question, I would assume that the answer would be 10^6, but that is wrong. The answer is 7*(9^6).
In how many places can the 3 appear?
 
  • #4
@haruspex, thanks for cleaning up my numbering/lettering.

Yeah, my mistake - I meant b and c of #1 are 10^8.

Regarding 2 C, I think I see what is being asked. There are 7 different places the 3 could appear, and then after that, the rest of the 6 spots have nine available choices for numbers (everything besides the number 3). So, that would explain the 7 * 9^6. I also understand 2 D now.
 
  • #5
leo255 said:
I meant b and c of #1 are 10^8
No, none of the answers are any power of 10. (Assuming that's 10 as in "ten", not some other base.)
 

1. What is the difference between a combination and a permutation?

A combination is a selection of objects where the order does not matter. On the other hand, a permutation is a selection where the order does matter. For example, choosing three different toppings on a pizza is a combination, while choosing first, second, and third place in a race is a permutation.

2. How do I know if I need to use a combination or a permutation in a problem?

This depends on the problem and what you are trying to find. If you are interested in the number of ways to choose a group of objects without considering the order, then you would use a combination. If the order matters, then you would use a permutation.

3. What is the formula for calculating combinations?

The formula for calculating combinations is nCr = n! / (r! * (n-r)!), where n represents the total number of objects and r represents the number of objects being chosen.

4. Can you give an example of a combination problem?

Sure! Let's say you have 6 different flavors of ice cream and you want to choose 3 flavors for a sundae. The number of possible combinations would be 6C3 = 20. This means there are 20 different ways to choose 3 flavors from 6 options without considering the order.

5. How do I solve a combination problem with repetition?

If repetition is allowed, then you would use the formula n+r-1Cr, where n represents the number of objects and r represents the number of times an object can be chosen. For example, if you have 3 different colors of M&M's and you want to choose 5, with repetition allowed, the formula would be 3+5-1C5 = 21C5 = 56. This means there are 56 ways to choose 5 M&M's from 3 different colors with repetition allowed.

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