How many permutations of {1, 2, ..., n} where n >= 5 are there such that none of {1, 2, 3} are adjacent to one another?

Kiana Arias

Kiana Arias

Answered question

2022-09-06

How many permutations of {1,2,...,n}.
How many permutations of {1,2,...,n} where n 5 are there such that none of {1,2,3} are adjacent to one another?
Example: the permutation (5,3,1,4,2) does not meet the condition described in the problem because 1 and 3 are in two adjacent places and the permutation (2,5,3,4,1) as well as (1,6,2,5,3,4) meets this condition.

Answer & Explanation

Lena Ibarra

Lena Ibarra

Beginner2022-09-07Added 13 answers

Step 1
First arrange the numbers 4,5,6,…,n.
Next, pick a "hole" between those or to either side to place the 1. Then pick a different hole to place the 2, etc...
( n 3 ) ! ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) ( n 4 )
Step 2
In general, the number of permutations of 1,2,3,…,k,…,n where none of 1,2,…,k are adjacent, the same approach works.
( n k ) ! ( n k + 1 ) ! ( n 2 k + 1 ) !
or better yet, using a b   to denote the falling factorial a b   = a ( a 1 ) ( a 2 ) ( a b + 1 ) b   terms = a ! ( a b ) ! this would be
( n k ) ! ( n k + 1 ) k  
Jaylen Mcmahon

Jaylen Mcmahon

Beginner2022-09-08Added 16 answers

Explanation:
Consider A representing a permutation of the elements 1,2,3. Since the remaining n 3 elements may be permuted in ( n 3 ) ! ways, the required number is
n ! ( 3 2 ) 2 ! ( n 1 ) ! + ( 3 3 ) 3 ! ( n 2 ) !
because of the inclusion-exclusion principle.

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