11 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
11 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Simple Maths Problem... I Think!

by Thomas
10 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
Hello Warriors:

If you had, say, a list of 40 items and want to pair them off with a list of, say, 20 other items, so that all items have been paired-off with each other at least once, how many different combinations would you have?

Tommy.
  • Profile picture of the author Paul1234
    Assuming no duplicate items in the list of 40 items, and no duplicate items in the list of 20 items... then 800 combinations.
    Signature

    Paul Turner

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[664103].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas
    Thanks guys... I did think it was a simple multiplication at first but then I doubted myself and was imagining all
    kinds of elaborate formulae. I was even trying to multiply factorials which, if I'm not mistaken (although I probably am) gives an answer of:

    11,749,487,370,844,342,667,285,698,109,277,960,101 ,893,333,279,094,184,729,552,749,925,326,876,906,
    925,727,154,561,875,968,000,000,000,000

    LOL
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[664138].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author YiKeS
      Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

      Thanks guys... I did think it was a simple multiplication at first but then I doubted myself and was imagining all
      kinds of elaborate formulae. I was even trying to multiply factorials which, if I'm not mistaken (although I probably am) gives an answer of:

      11,749,487,370,844,342,667,285,698,109,277,960,101 ,893,333,279,094,184,729,552,749,925,326,876,906,
      925,727,154,561,875,968,000,000,000,000

      LOL

      I`m sure the answer is 42


      YiKeS
      Signature
      AUSSIE MADE
      WSO --> HOMEPAGER <--- WSO
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665679].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    You're all wrong, the answer is definitely orange.
    Signature

    P.S.

    Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665838].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    Sorry Pavon,

    What is orange? a color or a fruit?

    .jrd
    Signature

    P.S.

    Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[665856].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Indiana
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[667586].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author myob
      The answer really is quite simple. It is expressed as 2X20! possible combinations where 20! is a factorial. To evaluate a factorial just multiply 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 ... and on through 20. The answer is pretty close to what Tommy did in his head.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[667710].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
      Originally Posted by Indiana View Post

      Pay no attention Tommy They are simply ignorant of Irish mathamatics...Indy
      Some Irish math for you...

      http://fun.twilightwap.com/joke.asp?joke_id=363
      Signature
      Professional Googler
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[667767].message }}

Trending Topics