# Math Help - How many ways

1. ## How many ways

In how many ways can n - 5 + 1 balls, labelled from 5 to n be placed into 5 bags, labelled from 1 to 5?

(n > 4 and a bag may contain 0 balls.)

2. ## Re: How many ways

Originally Posted by alexmahone
In how many ways can n - 5 + 1 balls, labelled from 5 to n be placed into 5 bags, labelled from 1 to 5? (n > 4 and a bag may contain 0 balls.)
Why is this marked as solved?

3. ## Re: How many ways

Originally Posted by Plato
Why is this marked as solved?
I got the solution from another math forum.

4. ## Re: How many ways

Originally Posted by alexmahone
I got the solution from another math forum.
That is unfair to the other users of this forum.
Post the solution. Then it is fair.
Otherwise, I think you should not be allowed back on this site.

5. ## Re: How many ways

Originally Posted by Plato
That is unfair to the other users of this forum.
Post the solution. Then it is fair.
Otherwise, I think you should not be allowed back on this site.
I hope you're kidding!

There are 5 choices for ball 1 (labeled 5), 5 choices for ball 2 (labeled 6), and so on. So the answer is $5^{n-4}$.
I initially thought that the solution to this problem would help me solve http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-he...em-186303.html but I was wrong.