Exercise 31: Circular Permutations

Objectives: Determine the number of permutations of n different objects taken r at a time

and use this to solve problems.

Lesson:

A circular permutation does not have a first or last position. The positions in the circle
are relative to the other objects of this circle. Therefore, all of the following permutations
are the same since B is opposite A, C is to the right of A and D is to the left of A. Notice
that all of the positions are given with respect to A.
A D B C

D C B A C D A B

B C A D

To find all the permutations of four people designated A, B, C, and D above, person A,
for example, must walk onto the designated area and begin the circle. As other people
enter the circle, they have choices of where to stand with respect to A (i.e. opposite A, to
the right of A, to the left of A).

Let us assume that A starts the circle and the rest of the people enter the circle in
alphabetical order. Hence, B has the above-mentioned three positions from which to
choose. Once B has entered the circle, C has only 2 positions, relative to A , from which
to choose. Once B and C have entered the circle, D has only one position remaining.

Thus, the number of permutations of n objects in a circle is (n 1)!

Example 1: How many circular permutations can you form with 10 objects?

(10 1)! = 9! = 362, 880

Example 2: How many seating arrangements are possible with 8 people around a round
table?

(8 1)! = 7! = 5040

Example 3: In how many ways can four boys and two girls be seated at a round table?

(6 1)! = 5! = 120

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Example 4: In how many ways can five people A, B, C, D, and E be seated around a
circular table if:
a) A and B must sit next to each other?

There are 4 groups AB, C, D, E.

( 4 1)! = 3!
Then we must take into account that A and B can switch places:
3! 2! = 6 (2) = 12

b) A and B must not sit next to each other?

We can consider the total number of ways five people can sit at a circular table
and then subtract the number of ways two people can sit together as found in the
first part of this question:
(5 1)! 12 = 4! 12
= 24 12
= 12

c) A and B must be together and C and D must be together?

There are 3 groups: AB, CD and E. Take into account that AB and CD can switch
places:
2! 2! 2! = 8

What about circular permutations that involve up and down views such as bracelets and
key rings? You must remember to divide the total number of permutations by two one
for each view.

Example 5: How many different key rings can be made of four different colour-coded
keys?

=3

Homework: Exercise 31

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