Question

six swimmers are competing in a race which of folowing can be used to find the number of ways the swimmers can place first,second,and third in the race?

Answer 1

You use a factorial: n! this is because there are 6 swimmers that can take 1st place, then 5 swimmer that can possibly take 2nd place etc. so you mult. 6*5*4*3*2*1 = 6! = 720

Answer 2

only the questions asks who can take first second and third, so you stop at 4
6*5*4 = 120