Solve the SYLLABUS Word Problem with Combinations | Homework Help

[lionely]

Homework Statement

Calculate the numbers of different selections of 5 letters which can be made from the letters of the word SYLLABUS

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I thought it would be 8C5 but that's not the answer.

Any help?

 

[LCKurtz]

Homework Statement

Calculate the numbers of different selections of 5 letters which can be made from the letters of the word SYLLABUS

I thought it would be 8C5 but that's not the answer.

Any help?

Do the five letters you select have to all be different? That would matter.

 

[lionely]

Well I don't think the question said that, so I don't think they would have to be all different.

 

[AlephZero]

If you say there are 8C5 different selections, here are two different ones. The first one is
YLABU
The second one is also
YLABU
but it's not the same as the first one.
What is different about them? Do you think they should be counted as different?

 

[LCKurtz]

Would you count {Y,A,B,U,L} as two different selections if the L was the first L one time and the second L the next time?

[Edit] I see AlephZero asks the same question.

 

[lionely]

Hmmm, I don't think I would, the Ls are the same aren't they?

 

[AlephZero]

The Ls are the same aren't they?

Correct. The two S's are also the same.

Review your textbook or course notes for how that changes the answer, if you can't remember or figure it out for yourself.