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Nov 2014 p62 q2
2783
Find the number of different ways that 6 boys and 4 girls can stand in a line if
all 6 boys stand next to each other,
no girl stands next to another girl.
Solution
(i) Treat the 6 boys as a single unit or 'block'. This block can be arranged in the line with the 4 girls in
(5 + 1)! = 6! ext{ ways.}
Within the block, the 6 boys can be arranged among themselves in 6! ways.
Thus, the total number of arrangements is
6! \times 5! = 86400.
(ii) To ensure no two girls stand next to each other, arrange the 6 boys first, which can be done in 6! ways.
This creates 7 possible spaces (before, between, and after the boys) to place the 4 girls.
Choose 4 out of these 7 spaces to place the girls, which can be done in \binom{7}{4} ways.
Arrange the 4 girls in these spaces in 4! ways.
Thus, the total number of arrangements is
6! \times \binom{7}{4} \times 4! = 604800.