Question

Solve the problem in the comic strip below. Assume that the books are all different.

Short answer

There are3,62,880 different ways nine bookscould be arranged on a shelf.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given Information.

It is to be determined in how many ways nine books could be arranged on a shelf.

Step 2. Calculation.

There are a total of 9 books.

When one of the books is put in first place, 8 remain to be put in the next place, then 7, and so on.

By the Fundamental Counting Principle, there are $9\times 8\times 7\times 6\times 5\times 4\times 3\times 2\times 1=362880$ different ways nine books could be arranged on a shelf.

Step 3. Conclusion.

Hence, by Fundamental Counting Principle, there are 3,62,880 different ways nine books could be arranged on a shelf.