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2006 Alabama ARML TST Problems/Problem 4

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Problem

Find the number of six-digit positive integers for which the digits are in increasing order.

Solution

We pick six different digits a through f for the integer. None of them can be 0, or else it is a five digit integer or the digits are not in increasing order. Let's say that a is the least digit of them all. a is therefore the hundred-thousands digit. Let's say that b is the second smallest integer. Then b is the ten-thousands digit. etc.

For each group of a-f we pick, there is only one arrangement such that each digit is in increasing order. There are \binom{9}{6}=\binom{9}{9-6=3}=\boxed{84} ways to pick the digits, therefore there are 84 integers.

See also

2006 Alabama ARML TST (Problems)
Preceded by:
Problem 3
Followed by:
Problem 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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