Question

Three out of nine students in the computer club are getting prizes for first, second, and third place in a competition.

How many ways can first, second, and third place be assigned?

9 P 3 = StartFraction 9 factorial Over (9 minus 3) factorial

3
84
504
2048

Answer 1

Order matters, so use permutations: 9P3 = 9!/(9−3)! = 9!/6! = 9·8·7 = 504.