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Bunuel
In an auditorium, there are ten light switches each of which control the lights of a different zone of the room. If there are only these 10 zones in the room and each light may only be set to "on" or "off", then how many different lighting arrangements are possible in the auditorium?

A. 10^10
B. 10!
C. 10^2
D 5!
E. 2^10

There are 10 light switches, and since each light switch has two possible options, the number of different possible lighting arrangements is 2^10.

Answer: E
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Hi All,

The 'math' behind this question isn't too difficult - once you recognize the 'pattern' involved. If you don't immediately see that pattern though, then you can still get to the correct answer by 'playing around' with simpler examples - and looking for the pattern. For example...

If there was just one light switch, then there would be TWO options: Off and On

If there were two light switches, then there would be FOUR options (I'll refer to Off as "F" and On as "N"):
FF
FN
NF
NN

If there were three light switches, then there would be EIGHT options:
FFF
FFN
FNF
NFF

NNN
NNF
NFN
FNN

Notice the pattern: 2...4...8... It certainly appears that every time we add another light switch, then number of possibilities DOUBLES. Thinking in these terms, we're looking for an answer that is based around lots of 'doubling'... and there's only one answer that exclusively multiplies a bunch of 2s together....

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Bunuel
In an auditorium, there are ten light switches each of which control the lights of a different zone of the room. If there are only these 10 zones in the room and each light may only be set to "on" or "off", then how many different lighting arrangements are possible in the auditorium?

A. 10^10
B. 10!
C. 10^2
D 5!
E. 2^10

For first switch total position= 2 (on or off)
For Second switch total position= 2 (on or off)
For Third switch total position= 2 (on or off)
For forth switch total position= 2 (on or off)... and so on...

Total arrangement = 2*2*2... 10 times = 2^10

Answer: Option E
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Hi, why do we not arrange the switches for each of the zones i.e. 10! way of arranging each of the switches for each of the zones and then try to either on/off the switch.
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Hi anse,

The 'math' behind this question isn't too difficult - once you recognize the 'pattern' involved. If you don't immediately see that pattern though, then you can still get to the correct answer by 'playing around' with simpler examples - and looking for the pattern. For example...

If there were three light switches, then would the total number of possibilities be 3! = 6? Try 'mapping' out the options and see. The possible arrangements would be:

FFF
FFN
FNF
NFF

NNN
NNF
NFN
FNN

That's 8 arrangements - not 6, so we are clearly NOT dealing with a factorial. If you do similar work with 1 switch (2 arraignments) and 2 switches (4 arrangements), it certainly appears that every time we add another light switch, then number of possibilities DOUBLES. Thinking in these terms, we're looking for an answer that is based around lots of 'doubling'... and there's only one answer that exclusively multiplies a bunch of 2s together....

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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