A high security research lab requires the researchers to set a pass key sequence based on the scan of the five fingers of their left hands. When an employee first joins the lab, her fingers are scanned in an order of her choice, and then when she wants to re-enter the facility, she has to scan the five fingers in the same sequence.
The lab authorities are considering some relaxations of the scan order requirements, since it is observed that some employees often get locked-out because they forget the sequence.
The lab has now decided to require six scans in the pass key sequence, where exactly one finger is scanned twice, and the other fingers are scanned exactly once, which can be done in any order. For example, a possible sequence is TIMTRL.
Suppose the lab allows a variation of the original sequence (of six inputs) where at most two scans (out of six) are out of place, as long as the finger originally scanned twice is scanned twice and other fingers are scanned once.
How many different sequences of scans are allowed for any given person's original scan?
Correct Answer: 15
There can be two scans out of place.
TIMTRL is the original sequence.
If T is interchanged: There will be four ways: ITMTRL, MITTRL, RIMTTL, LIMTRT
If I is interchanged: There will be four ways
If M is interchanged: There will be three ways
If T is interchanged: There will be two ways
If R is interchanged: There will be one way
Total 14.
Another sequence allowed is original, So total 15 ways.
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