- #1
alexmahone
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If $n$ people are seated in a random manner in a row containing $2n$ seats, what is the probability that no two people will occupy adjacent seats?
My solution:
There are $2n!$ favourable arrangements.
Total no. of arrangements:
The 1st person can sit on any of the $2n$ seats, the 2nd person can sit on any of the other $2n-1$ seats and so on. So, the number of ways to seat $n$ people on $2n$ seats is $\displaystyle 2n(2n-1)\cdots (n+1)=\frac{(2n)!}{n!}$.
$\displaystyle P=\frac{2(n!)^2}{(2n)!}$
But the answer given in the book is $\displaystyle P=\frac{(n+1)(n!)^2}{(2n)!}$. Where have I gone wrong?
My solution:
There are $2n!$ favourable arrangements.
Total no. of arrangements:
The 1st person can sit on any of the $2n$ seats, the 2nd person can sit on any of the other $2n-1$ seats and so on. So, the number of ways to seat $n$ people on $2n$ seats is $\displaystyle 2n(2n-1)\cdots (n+1)=\frac{(2n)!}{n!}$.
$\displaystyle P=\frac{2(n!)^2}{(2n)!}$
But the answer given in the book is $\displaystyle P=\frac{(n+1)(n!)^2}{(2n)!}$. Where have I gone wrong?