Math Problem Statement

You want to work four days a week. How many ways can you schedule your four-day work week?

Solution

To determine how many ways you can schedule your four-day work week, we need to calculate how many unique combinations of 4 days can be selected from the 7 available days in a week.

This is a combination problem since the order of the days does not matter. The formula for combinations is given by:

(nk)=n!k!(nk)!\binom{n}{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}

Where:

  • nn is the total number of days in a week (7),
  • kk is the number of workdays you choose (4).

Thus, the number of ways to schedule your workweek is:

(74)=7!4!(74)!=7!4!3!\binom{7}{4} = \frac{7!}{4!(7-4)!} = \frac{7!}{4!3!}

Now, let's calculate that.

(74)=7×6×5×4!4!×3×2×1=7×6×53×2×1=2106=35\binom{7}{4} = \frac{7 \times 6 \times 5 \times 4!}{4! \times 3 \times 2 \times 1} = \frac{7 \times 6 \times 5}{3 \times 2 \times 1} = \frac{210}{6} = 35

Therefore, there are 35 different ways to schedule your four-day work week.

Would you like more details on how the combination formula works, or do you have any other questions?

Here are 5 related questions you might find interesting:

  1. How many ways can you schedule a three-day work week?
  2. How many ways can you schedule a five-day work week?
  3. If you want to work non-consecutive days, how many ways can you schedule your four-day work week?
  4. What if weekends are not allowed, how many ways can you schedule your work week?
  5. How many ways can you choose which 3 days to take off in a week?

Tip: Combinations are used when the order of selection doesn't matter, whereas permutations are used when the order does matter.

Ask a new question for Free

By Image

Drop file here or Click Here to upload

Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Combinatorics
Combinations
Factorials

Formulas

Combination formula: C(n, k) = n! / (k!(n-k)!)

Theorems

Combination Theorem

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12