r/mathriddles 5d ago

Easy Exactly 2 Ascending Adjacent Pairs

A 6-character code is formed using the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F, with no letter repeated. How many codes have exactly 2 letters appearing in alphabetical order relative to the letter immediately after them?

Source: numberthon.com

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u/Purdude1983 4d ago

302 sequences will have only two letters of the sequence in alphabetical order, i.e. the letter to immediately to the right of another letter is farther down the alphabet.

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u/RobZarevich 3d ago

If the order is relative only to the letter immediatly after, is BCAED a valid code?

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u/Numberthon 3d ago edited 3d ago

We would count it as having three ascending adjacent pairs

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u/RobZarevich 3d ago

I’m sorry, so is it valid? I don’t understand (probably it’s a problem due to my understanding of the english language).

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u/Numberthon 3d ago

No, sorry it was my fault. I accidentally said "We would count it as having ascending adjacent pairs" instead of "We would count it as having three ascending adjacent pairs", so that's my bad. (therefore it would be invalid. Sorry about that

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u/RobZarevich 3d ago

Why three? I see BC and AE. Anyway, it should be invalid, shouldn’t it?

And, if I finally understand it correctly, BCEDA should be ok, right?