Final Answer:
2,432,320, represents the total permutations of 5 crayons chosen from a set of 20. This number signifies the diverse ways children can rank their preferences within the given set.
Step-by-step explanation:
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of ways the children can rank 5 crayons out of a set of 20, we use the permutation formula:
nPr = n! / (n-r)!
where n is the total number of crayons (20) and r is the number of crayons to be ranked (5).
1. Calculate n!:
20! = 20 * 19 * 18 * . . . * 3* 2 * 1
2. Calculate (n-r)! :
(20-5)! = 15! = 15 * 14 * . . . * 3 * 2 * 1
3. **Substitute into the permutation formula:
20P5 = 20! / 15!
4. Cancel out common factors:
20P5 = 20 * 19 * 18 * 17 * 16 * 15! / 15!
5. Simplify:
20P5 = 20* 19* 18 * 17 * 16
6. Calculate the result:
20P5 = 2,432,320
So, there are 2,432,320 ways in which the children can rank 5 crayons out of a set of 20 in order of preference. This calculation illustrates the combinatorial possibilities when arranging a specific number of elements in a defined order, emphasizing the multitude of ways children can express their preferences.