Solve this! - Word problem!

[SaigonK]

If you have 6 letters,

A, B, C, D, E, F

And you cannot repeat any letter in a word, how many words can you get form these six letters?



My thought was 1*2*3*4*5*6 = 720

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
If you have 6 letters,

A, B, C, D, E, F

And you cannot repeat any letter in a word, how many words can you get form these six letters?



My thought was 1*2*3*4*5*6 = 720

i doubt 720 words can be made from those 6 letters.

 

[zbalat]

Originally posted by: SaigonK




My thought was 1*2*3*4*5*6 = 720

Have you been smoking crack?

 

[DanFungus]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: SaigonK
If you have 6 letters,

A, B, C, D, E, F

And you cannot repeat any letter in a word, how many words can you get form these six letters?



My thought was 1*2*3*4*5*6 = 720

i doubt 720 words can be made from those 6 letters.

720 combinations of those letters, not real words though..
But yes, 6*5*4*3*2*1 should be the answer if they don't have to be real words. Think of it like this:
_ _ _ _ _ _
6 spaces to fill, in the first, you have 6 choices, the second, you have 5 because you cannot repeat from the first choice, 3rd space = choices...
multiply them all together for the total # of combos

 

[HonkeyDonk]

well, by your logic, 1*2*3*4*5*6=720 means that B is a word, C is a word, or F is a word. That's wrong. You can't use combination here cuz ABEF isn't a word (or any random combination of letters).

I think the only way is to guess and check to see which words fit. Like FAD, BAD, FED, BED, etc.

 

[DrPizza]

well, your answer is correct for the number of 6 letter permutations. But, since you didn't say it had to have 6 letters, the total number of permutations is 6! +6! +6!/2! +6!/3! +6!/4! +6!/5! (for 6 letter words, then 5 letter words, then 4 letter words...)

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
If you have 6 letters,

A, B, C, D, E, F

And you cannot repeat any letter in a word, how many words can you get form these six letters?



My thought was 1*2*3*4*5*6 = 720

do you have to use all the letters?

Bill

 

[theNEOone]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
well, your answer is correct for the number of 6 letter permutations. But, since you didn't say it had to have 6 letters, the total number of permutations is 6! +6! +6!/2! +6!/3! +6!/4! +6!/5! (for 6 letter words, then 5 letter words, then 4 letter words...)

we have a winnar - but like other people have mentioned, it's based on the assumption that all combinations of letters will actually make a word. dr. pizza's answer also assumes that you can use and "A" in a six letter word, and again in a 5, 4, 3, or 2 letter word.


=|

 

[Amorphus]

hey, while still on the topic of permutations, might I ask what the equation for combinations is? I keep forgetting.

 

[SaigonK]

You cannot use the same letter in a single word - the word can be ANY combination of letters, they dont have to be real!