Back to HW 4: 5.5

I am unsure of how to do this problem, i don't quite understand the introduction of a fourth variable.

-Brian


"Think of the fourth variable as the 'remainder'. That is, if x1 + x2 + x3 are less than or equal to 11, they could 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Since 1 + 2 + 3 = 6, x4 would be 5, so that x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 (specifically 1 + 2+ 3 + 5) = 11. Then apply the concept we learned about in class dealing with separating pears, apples, and oranges into baskets, or 3 kids pieces of candy." - jnikowit

Isn't this question exactly like an example we did in class? The one with x1+x2+x3 is less than or equal to 24? That's the concept I followed, but I wasn't sure. Thanks! -Brandy

Yeah, it's just like the one we did in class. It's also analogous to putting 11 indistinguishable objects into 4 distinguishable boxes.-- User:jdrummon

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