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2007 Cyprus MO/Lyceum/Problem 19

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Problem

120 five-digit numbers can be written with the digits 1,2,3,4,5. If we place these numbers in increasing order, then the position of the number 41253 is

\mathrm{(A) \ } 71\qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } 72\qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } 73\qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } 74\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } \mathrm{N...

Solution

For any number in the first slot, there are 4! = 24 numbers, so any number starting with 4 must greater than 3 * 24 = 72. After than, the rearrangement inequality gives us that 1,\ 2 are in order, but \displaystyle 41235 < 41253, so 41253 is the 73 + 1 = 74 \Longrightarrow \mathrm{D}.

See also

2007 Cyprus MO, Lyceum (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem 18
Followed by
Problem 20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
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