# Thread: Combinatorics - Tim Tams!

1. ## Combinatorics - Tim Tams!

I have been attempting to figure out the below question for over two hours. Could someone please help me towards a solution. Combination formula is not working for me.

"In how many ways can a packet of 24 TimTams be distributed amongst 6 chocoholics, so that nobody gets
more than 8 Tim Tams."

2. ## Re: Combinatorics - Tim Tams!

Originally Posted by floorplay
Combination formula is not working for me.
"In how many ways can a packet of 24 TimTams be distributed amongst 6 chocoholics, so that nobody gets more than 8 Tim Tams."
You wrote "Combination formula is not working for me." I have no doubt that that is absolutely the case. This would be a nightmare of a problem if one tries to use inclusion/exclusion or some such.

3. ## Re: Combinatorics - Tim Tams!

lol the 'combination formula'. We started binomial theorem only the other day so I probably would have never got that answer. Thanks for the explanation and link.

4. ## Re: Combinatorics - Tim Tams!

I think we can do this with generating functions. Take the coeff of x^24 in f(x)=(1+x+x^2+x^3+...+x^8)^6