What are the possible routes from A to D in a 2D grid?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the number of valid routes on a 2D grid from point A to point D, considering various constraints such as avoiding point B, passing through points B and C, or passing through B while avoiding C. The problem involves combinatorial reasoning related to grid movements, specifically right and down moves.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the total number of routes from A to D, with some suggesting combinatorial formulas like "13 choose 9" and others questioning the validity of their calculations. There is confusion about how to account for routes that must avoid or include specific points (B and C).

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different methods to calculate the number of routes. Some have proposed specific combinatorial calculations, while others express uncertainty about their approaches. There is no clear consensus yet, but participants are actively engaging with the problem and attempting to clarify their understanding.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the resources they can reference. There is a noted lack of clarity regarding the application of combinatorial principles to the specific conditions of the problem.

  • #31
Thanks for sticking with me.

So, A to D is 497420 options.
A to B is 35 options.
B to D is 10 down, 5 right. 15choose5 = 3003.

Now we want to know how many routes through B, so we can "avoid" that.

The routes through B is (35 * 3003). Which equals 105,105.

So, 497420-105105 = 392,315 possible routes from A to D while avoiding B.
 
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  • #32
cronuscronus said:
Thanks for sticking with me.

So, A to D is 497420 options.
A to B is 35 options.
B to D is 10 down, 5 right. 15choose5 = 3003.

Now we want to know how many routes through B, so we can "avoid" that.

The routes through B is (35 * 3003). Which equals 105,105.

So, 497420-105105 = 392,315 possible routes from A to D while avoiding B.

Ok. That's good. Now, using the concepts you have used so far, see if you can do (c) and (d). I won't be back to this thread until later today or maybe tomorrow.
 
  • #33
Thanks again for the help.

For c, we want to know how many routes pass through both B and C.
I think this is more straight forward. Can simply multiply our way through this.
A to B is 35.
For B to C, we have 5 down, and 2 right required to get to C. So, we can calculate 7choose2, which equals 21.
For C to D, we have 5 down, and 3 right required to get to D. So we can calculate 8choose3, which equals 56.

So, 35*21*56 = 41,160 routes going through B and C.

For d we want to know how many routes must go through B, and must avoid C.
Here are our steps to each point:
A to B = 35
B to C = 21
C to D = 56
A to C is 8 down, 6 across. 14choose8 = 3003 (interesting).
B to D is also 3003
I would compute 35*3003 - 21*3003 = 42,042 routes which must pass through B and avoid C.
 
  • #34
I think part d has an error.

We need to calculate (A to B * B to D) - (B to C * C to D), which equals
(35*3003) - (21*56)
105105 - 1176 = 103,929
 
  • #35
cronuscronus said:
Thanks again for the help.

For c, we want to know how many routes pass through both B and C.
I think this is more straight forward. Can simply multiply our way through this.
A to B is 35.
For B to C, we have 5 down, and 2 right required to get to C. So, we can calculate 7choose2, which equals 21.
For C to D, we have 5 down, and 3 right required to get to D. So we can calculate 8choose3, which equals 56.

So, 35*21*56 = 41,160 routes going through B and C.

Correct.
 
  • #36
cronuscronus said:
I think part d has an error.

We need to calculate (A to B * B to D) - (B to C * C to D), which equals
(35*3003) - (21*56)
105105 - 1176 = 103,929

That is ALMOST correct. Think about what the 35 should multiply.
 
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  • #37
It looks like we need to calculate (A to B * B to D) - (B to C * C to D * A to B)
so
(35*3003)-(21*56*35) = 63,945 routes for part d.
 
  • #38
cronuscronus said:
It looks like we need to calculate (A to B * B to D) - (B to C * C to D * A to B)
so
(35*3003)-(21*56*35) = 63,945 routes for part d.

Yes. It might have been better to express it as
(A to B)*(B to D - BtoCtoD)

I think you have it now and hopefully you understand it well enough that you could explain to others how to do it.
 
  • #39
I am going to explain to a friend tonight. If you're ever in San Diego I'll buy you a beer :)
 

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