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We had a number of solutions come in
with answers from Connor, Isobel, Brian, Josh, Stephanie and
Ben.
H.C. from SIS School sent us this very good
answer:
I started calculating the number of ways through 4, 5 and 6
stations first.
I did it in an orderly manner.You must start with Dorby and then
Ender and Dorby again so you will not miss any of the ways. Then
you can start with Dorby, Ender and Floorin and so on ...
Here is the way I used from 4 stations to 6 stations:
4 stations:
1.Dorby-Ender-Dorby-Ender
2.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Ender
3.dorby-Ender-Floorin-Gambolin
5 stations:
1.Dorby-Ender-Dorby-Ender-Dorby
2.Dorby-Ender-Dorby-Ender-Floorin
3.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-ender-Dorby
4.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Ender-Floorin
5.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Gambolin-Floorin
6 stations:
1.Dorby-Ender-Dorby-Ender-Dorby-Ender
2.Dorby-Ender-Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Ender
3.Dorby-Ender-Dorby-ender-Floorin-Gambolin
4.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Ender-Dorby-Ender
5.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Ender-Floorin-Ender
6.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Ender-Floorin-Gambolin
7.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Gambolin-Floorin-Ender
8.Dorby-Ender-Floorin-Gambolin-Floorin-Gambolin
3rd stat - 2 ways
4th stat - 3 ways (2+1)
5th stat - 5 ways (3+2)
6th stat - 8 ways (5+3)
7th stat - 12 ways (8+4)
This is great - you have really gone about it
in a logical way.
So, I wonder if anyone can predict how
many ways could be found for 8 stations? This is an example of the
Fibonacci sequence. You can find out more about this special
pattern of numbers in this article .