Maths WorkshopMaths problems with full solutions
Exercise 992Combinatorics › Inclusion-exclusionL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Derangements of $6$ elements

#derangements#$D_6$#computation

Statement

Compute D6D_6.

Hint

D6=6!∑k=06(−1)k/k!D_6=6!\sum_{k=0}^6(-1)^k/k!.

Show solutionHide solution

Solution

Recurrence. Dn=(n−1)(Dn−1+Dn−2)D_n=(n-1)(D_{n-1}+D_{n-2}). D4=9D_4=9, D5=44D_5=44, so D6=5(44+9)=5⋅53=265D_6=5(44+9)=5\cdot53=265.

Check via formula. D6=720(1−1+1/2−1/6+1/24−1/120+1/720)=720(1/2−1/6+1/24−1/120+1/720)D_6=720(1-1+1/2-1/6+1/24-1/120+1/720)=720(1/2-1/6+1/24-1/120+1/720).

12−16+124−1120+1720=360−120+30−6+1720=265720\frac12-\frac16+\frac1{24}-\frac1{120}+\frac1{720}=\frac{360-120+30-6+1}{720}=\frac{265}{720}.

So D6=720⋅265/720=265D_6=720\cdot265/720=265. ✓

Conclusion. D6=265D_6=265.