4 wires and 4 connectors: how many combinations are possible?

[ndee]

ok, you have 4 wires:

-----
-----
-----
-----


and you have 4 connectors

o
o
o
o

how many different combinations can you make? all cables always have to be plugged in. We're having a discussion at work cuz we have to solder back a cable and I'm not sure how many combinations are possible.

 

[Atomicus]

that is a permutation. Should be 24

 

[ndee]

that was what the one worker said. One said it was 16 and I said that wasn't true, strike!

 

[Atomicus]

go go gadget seq. II mathetmatics! :thumbsup:

He actually said 16??? You should advise him to go back to JHS

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The answer is 24. It's basically the factorial of 4 (4*3*2*1). You have 4 places to plug in the first, 3 to plug in the second, 2 to plug in the third, and 1 to plug in the last.

 

[ndee]

Thanks ladies!

 

[Kyteland]

4!

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
4!

16 = 23.99999999999999999999... !

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: Kyteland
4!

16 = 23.99999999999999999999... !

16 (base 18) = 23.99999999999999999999... (base 10)

Edit for typo

 

[maziwanka]

yea but why are there 4 connectors? are they connected in a circular fashion? if so, the answer changes

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Kyteland

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: Kyteland
4!

16 = 23.99999999999999999999... !

18 (base 18) = 23.99999999999999999999... (base 10)

Why do computer engineers always get christmas and haloween mixed up?

Because Dec 25 = Oct 31

Also,

18 (base 18) = 26 (base 10)

 

[johnjbruin]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
yea but why are there 4 connectors? are they connected in a circular fashion? if so, the answer changes

exactly - is it 12?

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

So, Oct 31 = Dec 25... you forgot a 2

 

[alkemyst]

I'd say 1, the right way.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
So, Oct 31 = Dec 25... you forgot a 2

Yeaup...typo. Fixing now...

 

[MrSmithers]

As far as it being a circle, it depends on the physical meaning of the connectors. If you are talking about just arbitrary connections, then the answer is (4-1)! which would be 6, but if the connectors go to specific physical things it would still be 4!=24, because rotating the "circle" would change the physical meaning.

Smithers

 

[ndee]

A -------- o
B -------- o
C -------- o
D -------- o


that's how it looks like, the "--------" are the wires and the "o" are the connectors. Now, you can put wire A & B in the first one and change C & D. You can also change A & B and let C & D in the last. I hope that helps it a bit although I suck at explaining.

 

[DeeKnow]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The answer is 24. It's basically the factorial of 4 (4*3*2*1). You have 4 places to plug in the first, 3 to plug in the second, 2 to plug in the third, and 1 to plug in the last.

exactly

 

[amirlach]

yea but why are there 4 connectors? are they connected in a circular fashion? if so, the answer changes

In my case, I am attempting to hook up a Differential line driver. http://www.cncdrive.com/Difflinedriver.html

This adapts a signal from my DC Servo Driver which is carried by a common Cat5 networking cable. The Differential line driver converts the 8 wire signal to the 4 wires the Rotary Encoder uses.

The issue i have is my Differential Line Drivers are from an unknown vendor and the pinout seems to be different than the ones i have found online. And the two i have found online both have different pinouts from each other.

So i am down to 22 combinations.

 

[Thebobo]

Jan 28, 2017
-Jul 20, 2004
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