There are five persons P, Q, R, S and T each one of whom has to be assigned one task. Neither P nor Q can be…

There are five persons P, Q, R, S and T each one of whom has to be assigned one task. Neither P nor Q can be assigned Task-1. Task-2 must be assigned to either R or S. In how many ways can the assignment be done?
  1. 6
  2. 12
  3. 18
  4. 24

Solution

Task-2 can be assigned to R or S: 2 choices. After fixing Task-2, Task-1 must go to someone other than P, Q and the person on Task-2, leaving 2 candidates from {R, S, T}. The remaining 3 persons fill the remaining 3 tasks in $3! = 6$ ways. Total $= 2 \times 2 \times 6 = 24$.

Asked in: CSAT 2023

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