8th Grade

Factorial
Notation
Arielle T. Tan, LPT
Instructor, SLSU – Laboratory School
Review Problems:
 In how many ways can you arrange the following books in a
bookshelf with four slots: Algebra, Geometry, History and
Literature?
 Suppose that Daniella, Matthew, Queenie, Eduard, Henry, and
Frances are to be seated in a row of six chairs. How many
possible seating arrangements are there?
 How many possible arrangements of the letters of the word
FACTORIZED are there?
 How many possible seven - digit numbers can be created from
the set of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7? Repetition is NOT allowed.
Solution:
By Fundamental Principle of Counting,
 We have four different books so,

 Since we are arranging six persons in a row of seven chairs,

we have:

 The word FACTORIZED has 10 distinct letters. Thus,

 No place value has a restriction and since repetition is

NOT allowed,
 GENERALIZATION OF ARRANGEMENTS OF
DISTINCT OBJECTS IN A ROW
Notice that if we have distinct objects that are to be
arranged in a row, then we have:

possible arrangements.

This leads us to new shorthand notation for

such a lengthy expression.
DEFINITION: Factorial Notation
For a whole number , (read as factorial) is defined as:

By convention, .

In other words, the number of possible arrangements of distinct

objects in a row is simply .
 Examples:
9 !=9 × 8 ×7 × 6 ×5 × 4 × 3 ×2 ×1=362,880
It is the number of possible arrangements of nine distinct
objects in a row.

12!=12× 11×10 × 9 ×8 × 7 ×6 × 5 × 4 ×3 × 2× 1=479,001,600

It is the number of possible arrangements of 12 distinct
objects in a row.

Notice that the value of Increases very rapidly.

What to press to get factorial notation?

To get the factorial notation,

simply press the SHIFT button
and then the button.
Problem 1
In how many ways can we arrange the following books in
a bookshelf:
1. Topology
2. Algebra,
3. Geometry,
4. Chemistry,
5. General Mathematics,
6. Physics,
7. Astronomy,
8. Linguistics
Solution
Since we are going to arrange eight distinct books in a
bookshelf, then the number of possible arrangements is simply
Problem 2
Suppose a book about Topology, Chemistry, Geometry,
History, Literature, Trigonometry and Geology are to be arranged
in a bookshelf. How many possible arrangements are there if the
books in Mathematics must be together?
Solution:
In the condition of the problem, it is mentioned that the books
in Mathematics must be together. Among the books these are:
Topology, Geometry and Trigonometry. So, we are going to treat
them as “one object”. Thus, the “objects” to be arranged are:

1. Topology, Geometry, Trigonometry (they are counted as one)

2. Chemistry
3. History
4. Literature
5. Geology
Solution:
 Thus, we have 5 “objects” to be arranged in a row. There are
such ways to arrange them.

 We also have to take into consideration the possible

arrangements of Topology, Geometry and Trigonometry among
themselves. There are such ways.

 Taking all the factors to be considered, by Fundamental Principle

of Counting, the total number of possible arrangements is:
Problem 3

Suppose a book about Topology, Chemistry, Geometry,

History, Literature, Trigonometry and Geology are to be
arranged in a bookshelf. How many possible arrangements
are there if the books in Mathematics must be together
while the books in Science are also together?
Solution:
In the condition of the problem, it is mentioned that the books
in Mathematics must be together. Among the books these are:
Topology, Geometry and Trigonometry. Moreover, the books in
Science must also be together. They are: Chemistry and
Geology. Thus, the “objects” that we are going to arrange are:

1. Topology, Geometry, Trigonometry (they are counted as one)

2. Chemistry, Geology (they are counted as one)
3. Literature
4. History
Solution:
 Thus, we have 4 “objects” to be arranged in a row. There are
Possible arrangements.

 We have to take into account the arrangements of Topology,

Geometry and Trigonometry among themselves. There are such
arrangements.

 Also, the arrangements of Chemistry and Geology must be taken

into account. There are such arrangements.

 Therefore, the number of possible arrangements of the books is:

Problem 4

How many possible arrangements of the letters of the

word FACTORIZED are there if the vowels must be together?
 Solution:
 Since the vowels has to be together, we are going to consider A, E, I,
O as one “object”. Thus, the “objects” that we are going to arrange
are: F, (A,E,I,O), C, T, R, Z, D.

 Hence, we have 7 “objects” to be arranged in a row. There are

possible arrangements of such objects.

 We need to consider the arrangements of the vowels (i.e. A, E, I, O)

among themselves. There are possible arrangements among the
vowels.

 Therefore, the number of possible arrangements is:

Problem 5:

Suppose that Ricky, Joseph, Jane, Jenny and Trisha at to be

seated in a row of five chairs. Determine the number of possible
seating arrangements are there if girls must always be together and;
Jane and Jenny wants to be beside each other.
Solution:
Since girls have to be together, we are going to arrange the
following:

1. Jane, Jenny, Trisha (counted as one “person”)

2. Ricky
3. Joseph

So, we have to arrange 3 “persons”. There are possible

arrangements of such “persons”.
 Solution:
 We need to take into account the arrangement of the girls (i.e.
Jane, Jenny, Trisha) among themselves.

 Focusing on the arrangement of the girls and using the condition

that Jane and Jenny want to be beside each other, we are going
to have the following “persons” within the group of girls:

1. Jane and Jenny (counted as one “person”)

2. Trisha

So, within the girls’ group, we have 2 “persons” to be arranged.

There are arrangments.
Solution:
 Lastly, we need to consider the arrangement of Jane and
Jenny. There are 2! possible arrangements.

 Therefore, the number of possible seating arrangements

is: