Comments on: Monday Math Problems Are Imminent!

By: jen

jen — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:08:55 +0000

Welcome back, Bob! Yes, everybody pretty much nailed this one. So the next two weeks’ problems are harder!

And “how many different social schedules,” I think, implies that Tim/Jared and Jared/Tim would be distinct combinations. After all, if you’re Tim or Jared, you probably want to be the nighttime guy — better chance of getting somewhere.

Hmmn. Unless the daytime guy does get some, in which case being the nighttime guy could be kind of gross.

It really depends. But they’re definitely different combinations.

By: Bob V

Bob V — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:21:05 +0000

Slots open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday1, Saturday2

10 people could fill Thursday, but after that person is assigned, only 9 can fill Friday. 8 can then fill Saturday1 and 7 can fill Saturday2. This implies 10×9x8×7 possible schedules. On the other hand, if you consider dating Tim and then Jared on Saturday the same as dating Jared and then Tim, then divide the result by two. It would then be 10×9x8×7/2.

By: Ben Kusmin

Ben Kusmin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:34:28 +0000

If there’s no repeats there should be 210 possible schedules– the 5040 previously noted, divided by the (4×3x2×1) redundant versions of each lucky set of gentleman suitors.

By: Dan Sveaver (nee Toma)

Dan Sveaver (nee Toma) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:16:13 +0000

What’s the probability that there’ll ever be a female gangster dubbed ‘Ma Thematics’ and, is it a *conditional* probability, considering that ‘Ma Barker’ existed.

By: Dan Sveaver (nee Toma)

Dan Sveaver (nee Toma) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:09:51 +0000

I’m already looking forward to next Monday.

By: Dominique

Dominique — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:32:30 +0000

haha I have actually had this problem! & since the answer’s already up, I will just voice my support for shiny new math problems. Trivia would be super fun too!

By: jen

jen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:28:48 +0000

Camilo, I think it’s inherent in the problem that the order of the Saturday dates matters.

StJ, no, you can’t have more than one date with the same person. I suppose I could’ve said that, but I think the idea is that you’re making a schedule in advance, so you’d be pretty unlikely to schedule a second date before having a first one

By: StJ

StJ — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:04:32 +0000

I think you need to specify whether you can have more than one date with the same person. And, btw, please stop using my life as fodder for your problems!

By: Camilo North

Camilo North — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:39:11 +0000

I got 5040 as well. That many 4-person permutations out of 10 possible people, or something.

Half that if we don’t care about the order of the Saturday dates. Say, if you schedule the dates at the same time, then have to come up with excuses to run back and forth between the dates as part of Wacky Comedic Hijinks.

By: jen

jen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:20:14 +0000

You might be correct! Next week’s is much harder (it’s already queued up to go!)

By: soce

soce — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:55:24 +0000

Sorry what I meant is 10 * 9 * 8 * 7.

By: Dan Toma

Dan Toma — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:47:22 +0000

My guess is 5,040 different social schedules could be arranged for the week.

By: soce

soce — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:46:47 +0000

10 chose 4?