Combinatorics Word Problem: Choosing Hymns for a Sunday Service

In summary: Not quite.You can indeed pick 4 from the first book (combination 4-1-1) for $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities.Or 4 from the second book (1-4-1) for another $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities.Or 4 from the third book (1-1-4).Sum
  • #1
Petrus
702
0
Hello MHB,
I got difficult understand this kind of questions, anyone got any tips or could explain, cause I find it really hard to understand when I do this kind of problem, this is an old problem from exam that I hopefully did translate well.
A priest needs to choose six hymns for Sunday's show. Hen has three hymnbooks, each with 25
hymns (thus 75 different hymns together). In how many ways can hen choose the hymns of
(a) all the hymns to choose from the same book?
(b) hen would choose two from each of the books?
(c) hen want at least a hymn from each book?
Note. that the order of the psalms has no significance.

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\rangle\)
 
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  • #2
Petrus said:
Hello MHB,
I got difficult understand this kind of questions, anyone got any tips or could explain, cause I find it really hard to understand when I do this kind of problem, this is an old problem from exam that I hopefully did translate well.
A priest needs to choose six hymns for Sunday's show. Hen has three hymnbooks, each with 25
hymns (thus 75 different hymns together). In how many ways can hen choose the hymns of
(a) all the hymns to choose from the same book?
(b) hen would choose two from each of the books?
(c) hen want at least a hymn from each book?
Note. that the order of the psalms has no significance.

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\rangle\)

Hi $|\pi\rangle$! :)These questions are about combinatorics.
The key concept is the binomial coefficient, written as $\begin{pmatrix}n \\ k\end{pmatrix}$, ${}^nC_k$, nCr, C(n,k), or something similar.

The binomial coefficient $\begin{pmatrix}n \\k\end{pmatrix}$ represents the number of combinations of k items from a collection of n items, assuming the order is not relevant.

For (a) we want to know the number of combinations of 6 psalms from 1 book with 25 psalms.
Since ordering is not relevant, this is $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 6\end{pmatrix}$.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
I like Serena said:
Hi $|\pi\rangle$! :)These questions are about combinatorics.
The key concept is the binomial coefficient, written as $\begin{pmatrix}n \\ k\end{pmatrix}$, ${}^nC_k$, nCr, C(n,k), or something similar.

The binomial coefficient $\begin{pmatrix}n \\k\end{pmatrix}$ represents the number of combinations of k items from a collection of n items, assuming the order is not relevant.

For (a) we want to know the number of combinationsof 6 psalms from 1 book with 25 psalms.
Since ordering is not relevant, this is $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 6\end{pmatrix}$.
Hello I like Serena :D
I did also did think it was so but the facit says for a) \(\displaystyle 3\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 6\end{pmatrix}\), I don't understand where 3 comes from

Regards,

$|\pi\rangle$
 
  • #4
Petrus said:
Hello I like Serena :D
I did also did think it was so but the facit says for a) \(\displaystyle 3\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 6\end{pmatrix}\), I don't understand where 3 comes from

Regards,

$|\pi\rangle$

Hen can choose the psalms in \(\displaystyle \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 6\end{pmatrix}\) ways from the 1st book.
He has the same number of choices from the second and third book.
 
  • #5
How would b) works? What I think is that \(\displaystyle \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\) I don't know if I am thinking correct but, we need 2 from 1,2,3 book that means we got 6 psalms that he need?Regars,
$|\pi\rangle$
 
  • #6
Petrus said:
How would b) works? What I think is that \(\displaystyle \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\) I don't know if I am thinking correct but, we need 2 from 1,2,3 book that means we got 6 psalms that he need?Regars,
$|\pi\rangle$

Yep! That's it!
 
  • #7
I like Serena said:
Yep! That's it!
I am thinking correct on c? Is it three case?
1 1 4
1 2 3
2 2 2

Regards
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)
 
  • #8
Petrus said:
I am thinking correct on c? Is it three case?
1 1 4
1 2 3
2 2 2

Regards
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)

Yes...

- Εδώ είναι
 
  • #9
I like Serena said:
Yes...
so for case 1:
1-1-4
\(\displaystyle \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}\)
case 2:
1-2-3
\(\displaystyle \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 3\end{pmatrix}\)

case 3:
2-2-2
\(\displaystyle \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\)
then I add them all?

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)
 
  • #10
For case 1 you took 4 psalms from the 3rd book.
Could you also take 4 psalms from the 1st book?
 
  • #11
I like Serena said:
For case 1 you took 4 psalms from the 3rd book.
Could you also take 4 psalms from the 1st book?
yeah but then i will be able to take 3 from the other two as well so I got:
\(\displaystyle 3 \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}3 \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}3 \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}\)

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)
 
  • #12
Petrus said:
yeah but then i will be able to take 3 from the other two as well so I got:
\(\displaystyle 3 \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}3 \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}3 \begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}\)

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)

Not quite.
You can indeed pick 4 from the first book (combination 4-1-1) for $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities.
Or 4 from the second book (1-4-1) for another $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities.
Or 4 from the third book (1-1-4).

Summing those up, I get a total of $3\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities for case 1.
 
  • #13
I like Serena said:
Not quite.
You can indeed pick 4 from the first book (combination 4-1-1) for $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities.
Or 4 from the second book (1-4-1) for another $\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities.
Or 4 from the third book (1-1-4).

Summing those up, I get a total of $3\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 4\end{pmatrix}$ possibilities for case 1.
how will case two work?
3xx I can have 3 at beginning in 2 way (I mean 321,312)
x3x I can have 3 at second one 2 way
xx3 I can have 3 at third one 2 way
that means I got \(\displaystyle 6\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 2\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}25 \\ 3\end{pmatrix}\)??

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)
 
  • #14
Yep!
 
  • #15
I like Serena said:
Yep!
Thanks I like Serena for taking your time and helping me!:) I start to understand this a lot better!(Cool)

Regards,
\(\displaystyle |\pi\rangle\)
 

FAQ: Combinatorics Word Problem: Choosing Hymns for a Sunday Service

What is Combinatorics?

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics that deals with counting and arranging objects in a systematic way.

What is a Combinatorics Word Problem?

A Combinatorics Word Problem is a problem that involves using principles of combinatorics to solve a real-life scenario.

What are the basic principles of Combinatorics?

The basic principles of Combinatorics include permutations, combinations, and the multiplication principle. Permutations involve counting the number of ways to arrange objects in a specific order, combinations involve counting the number of ways to select objects without considering their order, and the multiplication principle involves multiplying the number of choices at each step to find the total number of outcomes.

How can I solve a Combinatorics Word Problem?

To solve a Combinatorics Word Problem, you first need to identify the type of problem it is (permutations or combinations), then use the appropriate formula or principle to calculate the number of possibilities. It is important to carefully read the problem and identify all given information and what is being asked for in the solution.

What are some real-life applications of Combinatorics?

Combinatorics has many real-life applications, including in fields such as computer science, economics, and genetics. Some examples include creating efficient computer algorithms, predicting the outcome of elections, and analyzing gene sequences.

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