Melody

(Ln (e^x))=x+4

It will be 5!/2

Consider any of the possible arrangements.

2 of the flasks will be the same so you can swap them over and the outcome will be the same.

So the number of possible outcomes is halved.

399×400

because

398!=1×2×3...×398

and

400!=1×2×3....×398×399×400

So

all the other factors cancel out. :)

Thank you - that is what we try for here.  A community :)

We want it to be enjoyable and useful for all ages and abilities but we do not want to take ourselves too seriously.  Not all the time anyway :) 

Hi Ultmage11234,

welcome to the web 2 forum :)

Oh if you are not sure of the wording then there are 4 different interpretations.  All equally valid.

I dealt with 3 of them.  Two of my answers were unique to me but

The same combination answer that I gave was also given by CPhill DavidQD and probably Alan oh and ofcourse yourself - your answer was correct for this.

The 4th interpretation is the most difficult.  Alan and CPhill have both done that one.

I don't think that we have finished with this question yet ultmage   

The title of the question is PERMUTATION.

So order DOES count    

With permutation questions the b***s are usually marked with invisable numbers so that the 3 black b***s can be thought of seperately.  This is necessary if you are going to compute probablities from it.  This is what chris and Alan attempted to do  (their answers may well be correct - I have not thought that through yet)

HOWEVER if you are only interested in the outcomes and not the probabilities attacked to them I am still standing by my answer of 19.

The question asker could have considered this either way BUT order definitely counts.  Quite likely it was not my answer of 19 that they were looking for.

Chris did you look at the working for my answer of 19.  I simply looked at the possibilities and added them together.  My logic is very straight forward.  

@@ End of Day Wrap      Sat 31/1/15        Sydney, Australia         Time 1:35 am (Really Sun morning)

Hi all,

Lots of fantasic answers today from Heureka, Sasini, Raka226, Alan,DavidQD, Rosala, Happy7, CPhill, TayJay, JoeySmiles, Trincent, Tiddle Saseflower and gliu1.  You are all wonderful.  Thank you.  

Interest posts:

Sun 1/2/15