Chapter 7: Problem 21
Evaluate the given expression. $$ P(n, n-2) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The short answer for the given expression is: \( P(n, n-2) = \frac{n \cdot (n-1) \cdot (n-2)!}{2} \).
Step by step solution
01
Write down the given expression
We are given the expression:
\(P(n, n-2)\)
02
Use the Permutation formula
Now, let's use the formula for permutation, which is \(P(n, r) = \frac{n!}{(n-r)!}\). In our case, n remains n, and r becomes n-2. So our formula becomes:
\(P(n, n-2) = \frac{n!}{(n-(n-2))!}\)
03
Simplify the expression further
Next, we need to simplify the expression inside the factorial in the denominator:
\(n-(n-2) = n-n+2 = 2\)
Now the expression becomes:
\(P(n, n-2) = \frac{n!}{2!}\)
04
Compute the factorials
To finish the evaluation, we need to compute the factorials of n and 2:
\(n! = n \cdot (n-1) \cdot (n-2)! \)
\(2! = 2 \cdot 1 = 2\)
05
Write the final expression
Finally, we can plug the factorials back into the expression, and we get:
\(P(n, n-2) = \frac{n!}{2!} = \frac{n \cdot (n-1) \cdot (n-2)!}{2}\)
So the final expression for the given problem is:
\( P(n, n-2) = \frac{n \cdot (n-1) \cdot (n-2)!}{2} \)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Factorial
Factorials play a crucial role in permutations and combinations. A factorial, denoted as \( n! \), is the product of all positive integers from \( 1 \) to \( n \). It is used to count the number of ways to arrange \( n \) objects.
For example, \( 5! = 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 120 \). Factorials are recursive, meaning that each factorial is built on the previous one:
For example, \( 5! = 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 120 \). Factorials are recursive, meaning that each factorial is built on the previous one:
- \( 1! = 1 \)
- \( 2! = 2 \times 1 \)
- \( 3! = 3 \times 2 \times 1 \)
- \( n! = n \times (n-1)! \)
Permutation formula
Permutations are essential in determining the arrangements of a set of items. The permutation formula \( P(n, r) \) calculates the number of ways to arrange \( r \) objects from a set of \( n \) objects where order matters.
The formula is expressed as:\[ P(n, r) = \frac{n!}{(n-r)!} \]Here, \( n! \) is the factorial of the total objects, while \((n-r)!\) accounts for the difference between the total objects and those being arranged.
The formula is expressed as:\[ P(n, r) = \frac{n!}{(n-r)!} \]Here, \( n! \) is the factorial of the total objects, while \((n-r)!\) accounts for the difference between the total objects and those being arranged.
- \( n \) is the total number of items.
- \( r \) is the number of items to arrange.
- Order of arrangement is crucial in permutations.
Combinatorics
Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics focused on counting, arrangement, and combinations of elements within a set. It involves various principles and formulas for systematically counting possible configurations, like permutations and combinations.
Some key aspects of combinatorics include:
Some key aspects of combinatorics include:
- Arrangements vs. selections: Permutations handle arrangements where order matters, while combinations consider selections where order doesn't matter.
- Use of factorials: Factorials are fundamental in calculating permutations and combinations, as they provide a way to count possible arrangements efficiently.
- Practical applications: Combinatorics applies to fields like computer science, probability, and statistics, allowing verification of algorithms, prediction of outcomes, and more.