Maths WorkshopMaths problems with full solutions
Exercise 482Combinatorics › Inclusion-exclusionL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Derangements of $4$ elements

#derangements#computation#fixed point

Statement

List all derangements of {1,2,3,4}\{1,2,3,4\} and verify that there are 99.

Hint

List permutations with no fixed point.

Show solutionHide solution

Solution

Derangements.
- (12)(34)(12)(34)
- (13)(24)(13)(24)
- (14)(23)(14)(23)
- (1234)(1234) — check: 1→21\to2, 2→32\to3, 3→43\to4, 4→14\to1; no fixed points. ✓
- (1243)(1243) — check: 1→21\to2, 2→42\to4, 4→34\to3, 3→13\to1. ✓
- (1324)(1324) — check: 1→31\to3, 3→23\to2, 2→42\to4, 4→14\to1. ✓
- (1342)(1342) — check: 1→31\to3, 3→43\to4, 4→24\to2, 2→12\to1. ✓
- (1423)(1423) — check: 1→41\to4, 4→24\to2, 2→32\to3, 3→13\to1. ✓
- (1432)(1432) — check: 1→41\to4, 4→34\to3, 3→23\to2, 2→12\to1. ✓

Count. 33 double transpositions + 66 44-cycles = 99.

Check with formula. D4=4!(1−1+1/2−1/6+1/24)=24⋅9/24=9D_4=4!(1-1+1/2-1/6+1/24)=24\cdot9/24=9. ✓

Conclusion. 99 derangements.