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in how many ways can a family of 6 line up to go through a metal detector

 May 29, 2014

Best Answer 

 #2
avatar+118723 
+5

This is not 6P1

It is 6P6

that is, in how many ways can 6 people be ordered if they are taken from an original group of 6 people.

$${\left({\frac{{\mathtt{6}}{!}}{({\mathtt{6}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{6}}){!}}}\right)} = {\mathtt{720}}$$

 May 30, 2014
 #1
avatar+130511 
+5

Note there are 6 ways to choose the first person in line, 5 ways to choose the second person in line, etc. So, the product of all these is just

6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 6! = 720 ways

The 6! is read as "six factorial."  It represents the product of all the positive integers less than or equal to 6.

 

 May 29, 2014
 #2
avatar+118723 
+5
Best Answer

This is not 6P1

It is 6P6

that is, in how many ways can 6 people be ordered if they are taken from an original group of 6 people.

$${\left({\frac{{\mathtt{6}}{!}}{({\mathtt{6}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{6}}){!}}}\right)} = {\mathtt{720}}$$

Melody May 30, 2014

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