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Hello folks this is Precious your scribe for today.
Today Mr. K introduced to us the Circular Permutation. What is Circular
permutation?
Circular Permutation is the number of ordered arrangements that can be
made of n objects in a circle is given by:
( n ‐ 1 ) !
and in special problems like bracelets and
necklaces that can flip over we can use:
( n ‐ 1 ) !
2
Example number 1:
How many distinguishable ways can 3 people be seated around a
circular table?
hint:
Solution: **person 3 is our point of reference
( n 1 ) !
( 3 1 ) !
person 3 2!
2 x 1
person 1 person 2 2
person 3
person 2 person 1
therefore there are 2 ways to seat 3 people in a circular table.
Example number 2:
How many distinguishable ways can 4 people be seated around a circular
table? hint:
Solution: "A" is our point of reference
A A A
B
( n 1)!
D D C C D ( 4 1)!
3!
C B B
A A A
3 x 2 x 1
6
B D C B B C
threrefore there are 6
C D
ways to seat 4 people
D
in a circular table
Example number 3:
How many distinguishable ways can 4 beads be arranged on a
circular bracelet?
Solution: ( n 1)!
2
bead 1 ( 4 1 )!
bead 1
2
bead 4 bead 2 3!
bead 4 bead 3 2
3 x 2 x 1
bead 3
bead 2 2
6
bead 1 2
3
bead 3 bead 2
hint:
bead 4
bead 1 is our point of
reference
And then Mr. K decides to form us into groups to solve this problem:
In how many ways can 4 married couples seat themselves around a
circular table if:
a.) spouses sit opposite each other?
Solution:
( n 1 )! **here we have our formula then we
( 4 1 )!
know that there is 4 spouses subtract 1
3!
and then factorial.
3 x 2 x 1
6
b.) men and women alternate?
Solution:
ladies x men
( 4 1 )! x 4!
3! x 4!
lady 1 6 x 24
1 choice of man 4 choices of men
144
lady 2 ways to seat a men and a
lady 4 women alternate on a circular
table
2 choices of men 3 choices of men
lady 3
The next scribe is Mary
Ann......