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Property Of Possible Combinations




x! divided by x = the number of possible combinations, this can also be interpreted as x-1!

Where x is the number of objects that can be combined. The "!" sign means factorial, which means that you multiply that number by the next number down in a series of integers until you reach 1. This property is deemed accurate by many a math student at Woodward Academy and has been proven many times. An example of when this property is appropriate is presented below:

There are 4 points in the coordinate plane. Assuming that they are not the same point, indicate the number of possible line segments you can make.

4 points are below:

. . . .

If you wanna work it out, you get...

. . . .

A B C D

segments AB, BC, CD, AC, BD, AD

6 possible combinations. So, now use the property:
  • 3---2---1/4=24/4=6


  • 2---1=6


And theres your answer, and this is way easier to do when you get into the higher numbers of points.

-- 21:46, 17 April 2006 (UTC)