How many ways can Julie Irene and Bobby finish a race in first second third and fourth place

Question

How how many ways can Julie ayot eirene in Bobby finish a race in first second third and fourth place

Answer 1

This matters on if Julie, Ayot, Eirene, and Bobby are 4 individuals.

if there are 4 people in a race, then its a simple procedure:

If all 4 are racing and no one has yet won, there is a chance that each of them can still win (4).

once one of them has won, there is now a chance that the 3 left could still place second (3).

once someone has placed second, there is a chance that the 2 left could place third (2).

once someone has placed third, the person left is the only person able to finish fourth.

Thus, the number of ways 4 people can finish the race is:

4x3x2x1

This is a classic example of the Fundamental Counting Principle