8 runners are entered in the 1000 meter run. How many different first, second, and third place finishes could possibly occur?
Is the answer 24?
I think that would be a reasonable answer.
Way low. I think 8*7*6=336 permutations
You are correct! The answer is not 24. To calculate the number of different first, second, and third place finishes that could possibly occur in a race with 8 runners, you need to use permutations.
In this case, you have 8 runners competing for the first place, and once the first place is decided, there are 7 runners left to compete for the second place. Finally, once the first and second places are determined, there are 6 runners left to compete for the third place.
To find the total number of different combinations of finishes, you multiply these numbers together: 8 * 7 * 6 = 336. So, there could be 336 different first, second, and third place finishes in the race with 8 runners.