How many positive numbers with two or more digits can be formed with the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 so that in every such number, each digit is used at most once and the digits appear in the ascending order?
A. 500
B. 501
C. 502
D. 503
E. 504
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Initially, I was a bit confused with the concept of ascending orders. But it is pretty simple once you know.
Say, you take 5 out of 9 numbers from 1 to 9 and you want these picked number to be in the ascending order.
First you pick up 5 numbers out of 9. -- 9C5. Say you pick 1,3,2,5,6. since each number is unique, you initially have to rearrange these 5 numbers.
so the equation for doing this is 9C5 x 5!. Now, for an ascending order, you have 5 choices for the first digit place, 4 choices for the second digit and so on...
so you divide the equation above by 5!. Therefore, choosing 5 numbers out of 9 numbers with the chosen number to be in the ascending order, the equation is 9C5.
Now, back to the question.
The question is asking How many positive numbers with two or more digits can be formed?
so 2 digit number, 3 digit numbers, 4 digit numbers, and so on.
You choose 2 numbers out of 9 numbers - 9C2
You choose 3 numbers out of 9 numbers - 9C3
....
You choose 9 numbers out of 9 numbers - 9C9
Now, you add all the results together, you have 502.
Hence C.