If eight people P,Q,R,S,T,U,V and W are

Answered question

2022-05-03

If eight people P,Q,R,S,T,U,V and W are seated around a round table.

1)    How many different circular arrangements are possible, if arrangements are considered the same when one can be obtained from the other by rotation?

2)    If P, Q, R and S are males and T, U, V and W are females, in how many arrangements do the sexes alternate?

Answer & Explanation

xleb123

xleb123

Skilled2023-05-04Added 181 answers

1) To count the number of different circular arrangements of eight people P,Q,R,S,T,U,V, and W seated around a round table, we use the formula for permutations of a set. The number of circular arrangements is given by n!r, where n is the total number of items to be arranged and r is the number of items in each arrangement. In this case, n=8 and r=8, since we want to arrange all eight people.
However, we need to divide by r because we do not want to count the same arrangement more than once. Since the table is circular, any arrangement can be rotated to obtain a different arrangement. Therefore, we divide by 8 to account for the rotations.
Thus, the number of different circular arrangements is 8!8=7!=5040.
2) To count the number of arrangements where the sexes alternate, we first consider the number of arrangements where the four males are seated in a fixed order around the table, say P,Q,R, and S. Then, we can arrange the four females in the spaces between the males.
There are four spaces between the males, as shown below:
PQRSPQRS
We can choose the first female in any of the four spaces. After she is seated, there are three spaces left for the second female, two spaces left for the third female, and only one space left for the last female. Therefore, the total number of arrangements where the sexes alternate is given by:
4×4×3×2×1=96
Alternatively, we can think of the problem as arranging eight people around a round table in a way that alternates between males and females. There are four ways to choose the first person (a male or female), and then there are four ways to choose the next person (a male or female of the opposite sex). After that, there are three ways to choose the next person, then two ways, and finally one way. Therefore, the total number of arrangements where the sexes alternate is given by:
4×4×3×2×1=96
Either method gives us the same answer: there are 96 arrangements where the sexes alternate.

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