Remember seeing reru on the kitchen shelves there enough episode: of Seinfeld)?

A First Course in Probability (10th Edition)
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ISBN:9780134753119
Author:Sheldon Ross
Publisher:Sheldon Ross
Chapter1: Combinatorial Analysis
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P: a. How many different 7-place license plates are possible if the first 2 places are for letters and...
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**Seinfeld Cereal Box Puzzle**

*Question 9*

Remember seeing reruns of the old *Seinfeld* show? You may have noticed the array of cereal boxes on the kitchen shelves. How many ways could the set decorator arrange 7 boxes of cereal? Were there enough episodes of the program so they could accomplish that goal (there were 180 episodes of *Seinfeld*)?

**Discussion:**

This question explores the concept of permutations in combinatorics. It challenges students to calculate the number of different ways to arrange 7 unique items (cereal boxes). The task involves determining if the number of possible arrangements exceeds the total number of episodes (180) of the *Seinfeld* series.

**Solution Approach:**

1. **Calculate the permutations of 7 boxes:**
   - The number of ways to arrange 7 unique items is given by \(7!\) (7 factorial), which is the product of all positive integers up to 7.

2. **Comparison with Seinfeld episodes:**
   - After calculating \(7!\), compare the result with 180 to determine if there are more arrangements than episodes.

This serves as a practical application of permutations, connecting mathematical concepts with a cultural reference.
Transcribed Image Text:**Seinfeld Cereal Box Puzzle** *Question 9* Remember seeing reruns of the old *Seinfeld* show? You may have noticed the array of cereal boxes on the kitchen shelves. How many ways could the set decorator arrange 7 boxes of cereal? Were there enough episodes of the program so they could accomplish that goal (there were 180 episodes of *Seinfeld*)? **Discussion:** This question explores the concept of permutations in combinatorics. It challenges students to calculate the number of different ways to arrange 7 unique items (cereal boxes). The task involves determining if the number of possible arrangements exceeds the total number of episodes (180) of the *Seinfeld* series. **Solution Approach:** 1. **Calculate the permutations of 7 boxes:** - The number of ways to arrange 7 unique items is given by \(7!\) (7 factorial), which is the product of all positive integers up to 7. 2. **Comparison with Seinfeld episodes:** - After calculating \(7!\), compare the result with 180 to determine if there are more arrangements than episodes. This serves as a practical application of permutations, connecting mathematical concepts with a cultural reference.
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