+738 Determine the number of ways of placing the numbers \(1,2,3,...9\) in a circle, so that the sum of any three consecutive numbers is divisible by \(3\). (Two arrangements are considered the same if one arrangement can be rotated to obtain the other.)
Whoever answers, please give a thorough explanation, since I really want to understand how to solve this problem!
Thank you so much!
:)
Each number is a multiple of 3, or 1 more than a multiple of 3, or one less than a multiple of 3. These number we will call x's, y's, and z's.
If we add x + y + z, then we get x, because y and z will even each other out, since y is 1 more than multiple of 3 and z is one less.
Because of this, we can conclude that we have to arrange the numbers in a repeating pattern, like x, y, z, x, y, z, ... or z, y, x, z, y, x, ...
In this set 1, 2, 3, ..., 9, there are 3 x's, 3 y's, and 3 z's.
To fill up a pattern, there are 3 choices for the first x, y, z, 2 choices for second, then 1 choice.
3^3 * 2^3 * 1^3 = 27*8*1 = 216
This is equal for both patterns, so there are 216 * 2 = 432 ways to arrange the numbers.
+738 oh haha you go to this site: https://lingojam.com/BoldTextGenerator, and you just copy and paste!
