Factorials are used in statistics to count the various arrangements of items as long as the items are distinguishable.
If I was arranging 5 different kind of muffins. I could arrange them 5 factorial (5!) ways. This is the same as 5*4*3*2*1.
5 (the ways we can arrange them originally)
4 (the ways we can orrange the remaining 4)
3 (the ways we can arrange the remaining 3)
2 (Ways we can arrange the remaining 2)
1 (The last one can only be arranged one way)
You can easily computer factorials in your calculator, just follow the Factorial TI-84 | TI-83 Example
Last Modified on February 20, 2013 by