PERMUTATIONS OF OBJECTS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE

REFLECTIONS ON SENIOR
MATHEMATICS
PERMUTATIONS OF OBJECTS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE
Michael Yastreboff
Introduction Example 2
The study of permutations is part of the Year 11 In how many ways could 7 objects be arranged in a circle
Mathematics Extension I Syllabus (Board of Studies, where there are two groups of identical objects. One
2003). group has 3 objects and the other group has 4 objects.
For a set of N objects which are distinct, textbooks' N =7, n 1 =3, n 2 =4
provide equations for the number of ways (P) this set of (7-1)!
= =
6x5x4!
objects could be arranged in a line or in a circle as: P -- P
3!4! 3x2 x4!
In a line In a circle
the answers to those examples are correct. In fact
P=N! ...(1) P=(N-1)! ... (2) equation (4) provides the correct answer in a large
number of cases and one could be forgiven for believing
that it is the correct equation.
For a set of N objects which contain groups of identical
objects, these textbooks only provide the equation for the Permutation anomaly
number of ways (P) this set of objects could be arranged Consider the following simple problem.
in a line.
Example3
... (3)
A set contains 4 objects consisting of two groups. Each
group has 2 identical objects. In how many different ways
(P) could these objects be arranged in a circle?
where n1, n 2 , • • . nk are the number of identical objects The solution is easily seen to be 2.
in each of the k groups.

t'-•1 : : :9. .--············­ .)

....b.... ___..d
These textbooks do not provide the equation for the
number of ways these objects could be arranged in a
circle. On the surface it appears to be a simple extension
•·--... ______.d
to the above formulae. Observing equations (I), (2) and
(3) suggests that the equation should be:
... (4)

whereN=4, n 1 =2, n 2 =2 ,gives

(4-1)! 3x2! 3
P = -- P=-- P = - ???
Consider the following examples. 2!2! 2x2! 2
Example 1
In how many ways (P) could 5 objects be arranged in a P is a fraction and equation (4) does not provide the
circle where there are three objects that are identical? correct answer!!!
N= S and n 1 =3
It was found that the anomaly exists in other situations.
Using equation (4), The following table shows some of the situations where
equation (4) gives incorrect answers.
4! =
4x3!
--
P = P P=4
3! 3!

Fitzpatrick 1987, Jones and Couchman 1984, Patel 1982,

Sauders & Jones 1984.

REFLECTIONS 28 (4) November 2003 45

 REFLECTIONS ON SENIOR MATHEMATICS

Some situations where equation (4) does not work

Total number of Groups of identical objects

objects to be (N - 1)! Actual
P=
arranged in a 111 112
(n 1 )!(n 2 )! ... (11 k )! p
circle

4 2 2 P=
3x 21
=
i 2
2x21 2
5x4 X 3! 10
6 3 P= =- 4
3x2x 3! 3
5x4! 2.
6 2 4 P= =
2x4! 2
7x6! ]_
8 2 6 P= = 4
2x6! 2
7x6x5x4! 35
8 4 4 P= =- 10
4x3x2x4! 4
8x7 X 6! 28
9 3 6 P= =- 10
3x2x 6! 3
126
10 5 5 P= 26

12 6 6 P=77 79
p 1716
14 7 7 = 246

As will become more apparent, equation (4) fails to
provide a correct answer when
n 1 + 112 + 113 + ... + 11k = N and there is at least one
common factor (other than 1) for 11 1, 112, •.• , 11 k.
Doing example 3 again:
Consider 4 objects consisting of two groups. Each group
has 2 identical objects. In how many different ways could
these objects be arranged in a circle?

r· ·;
Using equation (5) with N = 4, n 1 =2, 112 = 2,
Equation for permutations of objects
arranged in a circle the common factor of 111 and n 2 is S1 = 2.
The following equation was developed to correctly ----------... ·······---.

r ·:)
calculate the permutations of objects arranged in a circle.

. . . (5)
b.__ _.d •·-. ---·.d
where P = permutations of objects arranged in a circle (4-1)! (2-1)
P= +
N = total number of objects 2!2! 2
3x2! 1
k = total number of groups of identical objects =--+-
2x2! 2
11; = number of identical objects in group i 3 1
=-+-
SJ = j-th common factor of 111, 112, •.• , 11k. 2 2
f = total number of common factors. giving P = 2, which is the correct answer.

Notes:
(a) All identical objects are placed in one group.
(b) Every object belongs to a group. A group may contain
only one object.
(c) The number of groups is equal to the number of
different objects.

46 REFLECTIONS 28 (4) November 2003

PERMUTATIONS OF OBJECTS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE

Example4 A brief explanation

Consider 6 objects consisting of two groups. Each group Using two examples, a brief explanation is given for why
has three identical objects1• In how many different ways equation ( 4) has the problem and how equation (5)
could these objects be arranged in a circle? overcomes it. The standard approach to finding the

•·· ¢
number of ways that a set of objects could be arranged in

.··•·•.
Using equation (4) with N = 6, n 1 = 3, n 2 = 3 :
.. •·•··... .····• a circle starts with arranging the objects in a line. The

·• o·
number of ways P(line) that N objects could be arranged
O ·�: c;i { �- �f in a line is;
o .o •. o •. · •
l \
Q •
······O······· ··....•... • ······O····· ····O····
(6-1)!
P= The approach then is to take each of these arrangements
3!3! of objects in a line and wrap them around in a circle. It is
5x 4 x 3! stated that rotating the circle does not constitute new
3x 2 X 3! arrangements for objects in a circle.
10 . .. As there are N rotational positions around the circle, N
giving P= -, wh1ch 1s mcorrect.
3 line arrangements would represent one circle
Using equation (5) with N = 6, n 1 = 3, n 2 = 3: arrangement. So the number of ways objects could be
arranged in a circle is f; the number of ways the object
the common factor of n 1 and n 2 is S1 = 3.
could be arranged in a line.
(6 - 1 )! ( 3- 1)
p= + P(line)
P(circle) = --,
3!3! 3 N
5x 4 x 3! 2
----+-
3x 2x 3! 3
10 2
=-+- giving
3 3
giving P=4, which is correct.
Examples This is the reasoning used in arriving at equation (4) .
Consider 12 objects, which consist of two groups. Each
group has 6 identical objects. In how many different ways The following two examples show where this reasoning
could these objects be arranged in a circle? fails and how the problem could be resolved.

Using equation (4) withN= 12, n 1 = 6 and n 2 = 6: Working through Example 3:

Consider 4 objects consisting of two groups. Each group
(12-1)! has 2 identical objects. In how many different ways could
P=
6!6! these objects be arranged in a circle?
11 X 10 X 9 X 8 X 7 X 6!
First consider all the ways (P(line)), the objects could be
6 X 5 X 4 X 3 X 2 X 6! arranged in a line.
462
=--
6 Using equation (3), P(line) =__!!_}__. There are 6
n 1 !n2!
giving P=77, which is incorrect. arrangements, which are:
Using equation (5) withN = 12, n 1 = 6 , n 2 = 6: AABB ABBA ABAB BABA BAAB BBAA
common factors of n 1 , n 2 and n 3 are S1 = 2, S2 = 3, Now by collecting in rows those arrangements that when
S 3 = 6. arranged in a circle would form one circular arrangement
(12-1)! ( 2-1) (3-1) (6-1) we obtain two rows:
P=�-�+---+--+--
6!6! 2 3 6
] l X 10 X 9 X 8 X 7 X 6! 1 2 5
--------+-+-+-
6 X 5 X 4 X 3 X 2 X 6! 2 3 6
462 3 4 5
=--+-+-+-
6 6 6 6
474
=--
6
g1vmg p= 79, which is correct.

REFLECTIONS 28 (4) November 2003 47

 REFLECTIONS ON SENIOR MATHEMATICS

·A A

AABB ABBA BAAB BBAA B AA BB AA B

· .. B-·· •··· .....B·······i

ABAB BABA
.
BA
'
· /
\··A·

Now we are supposed to divide those arrangements by 4.
This is correct for the top row AABB ABBA BAAB
BBAA.
But there are only 2 line arrangements in the bottom row,
ABAB BABA. When formed into a circle, these make
the second arrangement of the objects in a circle.
Therefore it does not make sense to divide them by four!
It should be noted that the bottom row is different from
the top row in that it has rotational symmetry of 2.
Example 6
Consider 8 objects consisting of two groups of identical
objects. Both groups have 4 objects each. In how many
ways (?(circle)) could these objects be arranged in a
circle?
The number of ways these objects could be arranged in a
line are:
using equation (3), P(line) = _!!J___, with N = 8, n 1 = 4,
n 1 !n 2 !
giving P = 70.
These line arrangements could then be organized in rows
in such a way that each row equates to a single
arrangement when formed in a circle:

AAAABBBB BAAAABBB BBAAAABB BBBAAAAB BBBBAAAA ABBBBAAA AABBBBAA AAABBBBA

AAABABBB BAAABABB BBAAABAB BBBAAABA ABBBAAAB BABBBAAA ABABBBAA AABABBBA
AAABBABB BAAABBAB BBAAABBA ABBAAABB BABBAAAB BBABBAAA ABBABBAA AABBABBA
AAABBBAB BAAABBBA ABAAABBB BABAAABB BBABAAAB BBBABAAA ABBBABAA AABBBABA
AABAABBB BAABAABB BBAABAAB BBBAABAA ABBBAABA AABBBAAB BAABBBAA ABAABBBA
AABBAABB BAABBAAB BBAABBAA ABBAABBA
AABABABB BAABABAB BBAABABA ABBAABAB BABBAABA ABABBAAB BABABBAA ABABABBA
AABABBAB BAABABBA ABAABABB BABAABAB BBABAABA ABBABAAB BABBABAA ABABBABA
AABBABAB BAABBABA ABAABBAB BABAABBA ABABAABB BABABAAB BBABABAA ABBABABA
ABABABAB BABABABA

Two rows have less than 8 arrangements. These rows are In this case
½ ¼
and of a full row of 8.
AA 8(2-1) 8(4-1)
= +
It should be noted that 2 and 4 are the factors of n 1 and 2 4
n2 . AA=4+6

The number of additional arrangements (AA) that are AA= 10.

needed to make all rows 8 arrangements long is: Adding AA to P would give us exactly N times the
number of arrangements of the objects in a circle.
N P(circle) = P(line) + AA
8 P(circle) = 70 + 10
where N = total number of arrangements
S1 = one factor of n 1 and n 2 ?(circle) = 10.
The general form for a set of objects that has two groups
S2 = the other factor of n 1 and n 2 •
of identical objects, and the number of objects in the
groups has two factors, is as follows:

48 REFLECTIONS28 (4) November 2003

PERivlUTATIONS OF OBJECTS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE
The number of ways the objects could be arranged in a
circle is:
The more general form is:
Equation (5) provides the correct solution for the number
of permutations that objects form when arranged in a
circle.
Equation (4) may be used when there are no common
factors (other than l) for n 1 , n 2 , ... , n k . Note that a
group should be defined for each different object. (A
group may contain one object.)
REFLECTIONS 28 (4) November 2003
Hopefully the above discussion would help teachers
effectively handle problems involving permutations of a
set of objects containing groups of identical objects when
arranged in a circle.
References
Board of Studies (2003). Mathematics Extension
Syllabus, Board of Senior School Studies NSW.
Fitzpatrick J.B. (I 987). New Senior Mathematics -
Three-unit Course for Years 11 & 12, Heinemann
Education Australia.
Jones S.B. & Couchman K.E., (1984). 3 Unit
Mathematics-Book 2. Shakespeare Head Press,
Sydney.
Patel S.K, ( 1992). Excel HSC 3 Unit Maths; Pascal Press.
Sauders C. & Jones R., (l 984). Mathematics for Senior
Students-Three-unit Book 2. Sapphire Books Pty
Ltd.
49