Problem 34 - Applied Mathematics: For the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences

Question

In how many ways can five people line up at a checkout counter in a supermarket?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

There are 120 ways in which five people can line up at a checkout counter in a supermarket. This is calculated using the factorial formula for unique objects: 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120.

Step 1: Understand the concept of a permutation

A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order. In this case, we have five distinct people and we want to find the total number of ways in which they can be arranged in a line.

Step 2: Use the permutation formula for unique objects

For unique objects, the total number of permutations can be found using the formula n! (n factorial) where n is the number of unique objects. In this case, n = 5, which represents the five people.

Step 3: Calculate the factorial for the given problem

Now, to find the total number of ways the five people can line up at the checkout counter, we'll calculate the factorial of 5. Factorial of a number n (represented as n!) is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to n. 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1

Step 4: Calculate the result

Now, let's calculate the value of 5! 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120 So there are a total of 120 ways in which five people can line up at a checkout counter in a supermarket.

Key Concepts

Factorials

Factorials are a fundamental concept in mathematics, particularly in topics like permutations and combinations. A factorial, denoted by the symbol "!", is the product of all positive integers up to a specified number. For any given number \( n \), its factorial is represented as \( n! \). This concept might seem daunting, but it's quite straightforward. For example, \( 5! \) means you multiply 5 by every whole number less than it, all the way down to 1:
\[ 5! = 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 120 \]
Factorials play a key role in permutations because they represent every possible order of arranging a set of items. If you have \( n \) items and you want to know how many different ways you can arrange them, you'll calculate \( n! \). This is why, when arranging 5 people, we calculate \( 5! \) to find there are 120 unique ways to line them up.

Combinatorics

Combinatorics is the branch of mathematics dealing with combinations, sequences, and the arrangement of elements within a set. It encompasses many fundamental principles such as counting, permutations, and combinations.
The exercise showcases the use of permutations, which is a vital tool in combinatorics. A permutation refers to arranging a number of items in a specific sequence or order. This is different from a combination, which involves selecting items without focusing on the order. For instance, selecting 3 fruits out of 5 is different from arranging 5 people in a line, as we are concerned with the arrangement's sequence in permutations. Combinatorics helps solve such problems efficiently by providing methods and formulas to calculate these arrangements and selections.

Arrangements

In mathematical terms, arrangements refer to different possible orderings or sequences of a set of items. Arrangements are crucial when you need to consider the sequence as part of the problem-solving process. Using the example of five people at a checkout counter: each unique ordering of these five individuals counts as a different arrangement.
The notion of a permutation can be understood as arranging a subset of or all items from a set, in which both the identity and position of each item matter.

• Each arrangement differs based on the selection and order of the entities involved.
• With permutations, you're interested in unique sequences.

To calculate the number of arrangements, we rely on factorial calculations, as seen in the use of \( n! \). In our example, \( 5! \) illustrates that 120 distinct arrangements can be made with five people, symbolizing all the possible sequences in which they can stand.