In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 : GMAT Problem Solving (PS)
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# In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3

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In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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11 Nov 2007, 03:37
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In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
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28 Sep 2009, 09:41
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In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

Soln:
= 3! * 4! * 2! * 3!
= 1728

Ans is B
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04 May 2010, 23:18
hey,
Looks like the question is too easy for further explanation. However, i could not understand how we got that answer.
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05 May 2010, 00:54
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bibha wrote:
hey,
Looks like the question is too easy for further explanation. However, i could not understand how we got that answer.

In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

There are three branches, three units of books: {physics}{math}{chemistry} - aranging branches 3!;

Arranging the books within the branches:
physics - 4!;
math - 2!;
chemistry - 3!;

Total: 3!*4!*2!*3!.

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06 Feb 2013, 15:15
Bunuel wrote:
bibha wrote:
hey,
Looks like the question is too easy for further explanation. However, i could not understand how we got that answer.

In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

There are three branches, three units of books: {physics}{math}{chemistry} - aranging branches 3!;

Arranging the books within the branches:
physics - 4!;
math - 2!;
chemistry - 3!;

Total: 3!*4!*2!*3!.

Hi Bunuel,
I apologize for opening a very old post but had to ..
my doubt is if we are arranging 4 physics books then doesn't the arrangement will be 4!/4!, similarly math and chemistry..and over all arrangement should be just 3!..please explain where I am missing..
Thank you,
Vivek.
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06 Feb 2013, 23:46
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viveksingh222 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
bibha wrote:
hey,
Looks like the question is too easy for further explanation. However, i could not understand how we got that answer.

In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

There are three branches, three units of books: {physics}{math}{chemistry} - aranging branches 3!;

Arranging the books within the branches:
physics - 4!;
math - 2!;
chemistry - 3!;

Total: 3!*4!*2!*3!.

Hi Bunuel,
I apologize for opening a very old post but had to ..
my doubt is if we are arranging 4 physics books then doesn't the arrangement will be 4!/4!, similarly math and chemistry..and over all arrangement should be just 3!..please explain where I am missing..
Thank you,
Vivek.

It would be so if we were told that books in each branch are identical. But that's not our case, for example, out of 2 math books one could be on algebra and another on arithmetic thus they can be arranged within math branch as {algebra}{arithmetic} or {arithmetic }{algebra}.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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17 Aug 2014, 23:59
Hi Bunuel !!

I am not sure why you have assumed that the books within one subject are actually different !
I believe the books can also be same , solution in that case should be 3!.

You have assumed the same in this problem :

In how many ways can 11 books on English and 9 books on French be placed in a row on a shelf so that two books on French may not be together?

in-how-many-ways-can-11-books-on-english-and-9-books-on-87352.html#p1394032

I would offer different solution.

We have 11 English and 9 French books, no French books should be adjacent.

Imagine 11 English books in a row and empty slots like below:

*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*

Now if 9 French books would be placed in 12 empty slots, all French books will be separated by English books.

So we can "choose" 9 empty slots from 12 available for French books, which is 12C9=220.

I believe in both these questions we should consider the books to be different. But I am confused because of the two opposite approaches applied to 2 similar problems. Where should one draw the line.

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Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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18 Aug 2014, 00:19
Ravshonbek wrote:
In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

4! x 2! x 3! x 3! = 1728

The last 3! came for the number of ways Physics, Math and Chemistry are arranged.
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Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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28 Aug 2014, 21:00
solitaryreaper wrote:
Hi Bunuel !!

I am not sure why you have assumed that the books within one subject are actually different !
I believe the books can also be same , solution in that case should be 3!.

You have assumed the same in this problem :

In how many ways can 11 books on English and 9 books on French be placed in a row on a shelf so that two books on French may not be together?

in-how-many-ways-can-11-books-on-english-and-9-books-on-87352.html#p1394032

I would offer different solution.

We have 11 English and 9 French books, no French books should be adjacent.

Imagine 11 English books in a row and empty slots like below:

*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*

Now if 9 French books would be placed in 12 empty slots, all French books will be separated by English books.

So we can "choose" 9 empty slots from 12 available for French books, which is 12C9=220.

I believe in both these questions we should consider the books to be different. But I am confused because of the two opposite approaches applied to 2 similar problems. Where should one draw the line.

Thanks!
Exact same query? When do we have to consider the books different and when same , if it is not explicitly stated?
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Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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28 Aug 2014, 21:24
tushain wrote:
solitaryreaper wrote:
Hi Bunuel !!

I am not sure why you have assumed that the books within one subject are actually different !
I believe the books can also be same , solution in that case should be 3!.

You have assumed the same in this problem :

In how many ways can 11 books on English and 9 books on French be placed in a row on a shelf so that two books on French may not be together?

in-how-many-ways-can-11-books-on-english-and-9-books-on-87352.html#p1394032

I would offer different solution.

We have 11 English and 9 French books, no French books should be adjacent.

Imagine 11 English books in a row and empty slots like below:

*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*E*

Now if 9 French books would be placed in 12 empty slots, all French books will be separated by English books.

So we can "choose" 9 empty slots from 12 available for French books, which is 12C9=220.

I believe in both these questions we should consider the books to be different. But I am confused because of the two opposite approaches applied to 2 similar problems. Where should one draw the line.

Thanks!
Exact same query? When do we have to consider the books different and when same , if it is not explicitly stated?

Because then it would be unsolvable. GMAT questions ideally state this explicitly.
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Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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14 Nov 2015, 05:34
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In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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06 Jul 2016, 07:08
Ravshonbek wrote:
In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

Total books: 4 Math, 3 English, 2 Analytical Ability
Assume the books of each subject to be a bundle
Hence we have 3 bundles of Math, English and Analytical Ability

Total ways to arranging 3 bundles = 3!
Books inside each bundle can also be arranged.

Total ways = 3!*4!*3!*2! = 6*24*6*2 = 36*48 = 1728
By paying attention to the options, we can reach the correct one without calculating
As the answer would be a number rending with the digit 8 and there is only one such number in the given options.

Correct Option: B
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Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 [#permalink]

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24 Aug 2016, 10:32
Ravshonbek wrote:
In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3 chemistry books be arranged in a row so that all books of the same branch are together?

A. 1242
B. 1728
C. 1484
D. 1734
E. 1726

4 physics book can be arranged among themselves in 4! ways
Similarly, 3 chemistry and 2 math in 3! and 2! ways.

Now considering them as 3 groups, the 3 groups can be arranged in 3! ways.

so the total number of ways = 4! * 3! * 2! * 3!
Re: In how many different ways can 4 physics, 2 math and 3   [#permalink] 24 Aug 2016, 10:32
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