What am I doing wrong? ;\

[Ellla]

Hello, I seem not to know how to solve this:

How many dictionaries are needed to be able to translate from one language to another spanish, latvian, russian, polish and german texts?

I came up with this answer: 5*4*3*2/5 = 24.

But the answer is said to be 30. What am I doing wrong? :\

 

[soroban]

Hello, Ellla!

Is there a typo?
Besides, the wording is sloppy . . . I think I know they meant.

How many dictionaries are needed to be able to translate from one language to another?
The languages are: Spanish, Latvian, Russian, Polish and German.

The answer is said to be 30. . ??

If there are five languages, there are: .\(\displaystyle _5P_2 \:=\:20\) possible dictionaries.

. . Each language (5 choices) will be translated to another languge (4 choices).


If there were six languages, there would be 30 dictionaries.

. . . Why is this posted under Calculus?
.