Re: Combinatorics question
Consider the possible lineups when Paul is the center:
You have six guards and from which you must choose two. There are
ways to select the guards.
Since Paul is playing center, you lastly need to fill up the 2 forward positions choosing from a pool of 5. There are
different guard pairs that can be in your starting lineup. So, there are
possible lineups with Paul serving as the starting center.
Next, consider Paul plays forward:
In this case, let's select two from the pool of 5 hybrid forward/centers to consist of a (center,forward) pair. There are
possible pairings to play center and forward, without regard to whom are which. Now, since who plays center and who plays forward does matter in this problem, we can multiply the 10 pairings by 2 to determine the number of possible assignments to the center and forward, when Paul starts at forward. So, when Paul starts at forward, there are
possible ways in which the forwards and centers can be assigned as starters. Finally, the the number of ways to assign guards to the starting lineup is given by
. So, when Paul starts at forward, there are
different possible lineups.
Now, we consider when Paul starts as a guard:
In this circumstance, there are
ways to choose the other guard. There are
ways (10 unique triplets) to select the remaining starters (center, forward, forward). For each of these 10 ways -- or unique triplets -- there are 3 different ways to assign the center, i.e., (c,f,f), (f,c,f), (f,f,c). So, there are
ways to assign the frontcourt (the center and forwards). Thus, when Paul starts at guard, there are
possible lineups.
Finally, we consider it when Paul is not a starter:
There are
ways to select the guards. To select the final three starters, there are
possible ways. Again, for each forward-forward-center triplet, there are 3 possible ways to assign the center. So, the forwards and centers can be selected in
different ways. So, when Paul does not start, there are
ways to select the lineup.
Adding these up, we have
possible starting lineups.