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How many continuous paths from $A$ to $B$, along segments of the figure, do not revisit any of the six labeled points?

 May 13, 2021
 #1
avatar+874 
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Since there are only two ways to end to $B$, we have 2 cases.

Case 1: It ends with $\overline{FB}.$

There are 6 paths: $A \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow E \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow E \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B.$

 

Case 2: It ends with $\overline{CB}.$

There are 4 paths: $A \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow C \Rightarrow B$

$A \Rightarrow D \Rightarrow E \Rightarrow F \Rightarrow B$

 

Adding these cases yields $6+4=\boxed{10 \text{ ways.}}$

 

If anyone finds a better way, please hit me up as this casework a bit tedious to do.

 

laugh - Jimmy

 May 13, 2021

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