Math problem

Here’s a weird question for you. I’m creating a new puzzle for the marketplace. It consists of nine mini lock puzzles which can be placed on a door and combined for greater difficulty. I’m trying to figure out how many combinations are possible.  So if I place all nine puzzles on a door, there is just one combination possible. Because I’m using all the puzzles. And if I use just one puzzle on a door, there are nine possibilities, because I’ve got nine mini puzzles to choose from. But how many combinations can I make using two out of nine puzzles? How many using three out of nine? And so on? For a puzzlemaker I’m surprisingly bad at math. But I’m sure this forum is overflowing with math geniuses. If you could tel me the total number of combinations possible, I’d be much obliged.

If order doesn't matter (AB is the same as BA): 2^9 or 512  If order does matter (AB is not the same as BA): 9! or 362,880

That was fast. The order doesn’t matter, so 512 puzzles. Wauw Aaron. Thanks for doin the math for me. I’l be sure to give you honorable mentions in the instruction manual. :)

HAHAHAHA.  No worries..

Exciting thread! (Really). I like when Paul is making Puzzle packs for the Marketplace. I've been using more-and-more puzzles in Roll20 over the years of playing here, because the interface lends itself to puzzling the Players, even more-so than regular face to face tabletop gaming in my opinion. Because of Roll20 abilities to assign token permissions, letting Players affect parts of the map/board/pieces, and because of Roll20 drawing tool allowing players to type or draw on the whiteboard. I've used Paul's past puzzles in games, and look forward to the new locks. Math permutations are also fun, to see the number of possible combinations. 512 Possible Puzzles will make a good statement in Paul's product description. Keep us posted when this comes out!

Glad you’re interested. I’ll keep you posted through this forum!

i kinda didn't get your question!

That might be because English isn't my first language. I guess The Aaron had two puzzles to solve. :) But it all worked out in the end and this puzzle will come out very soon. Thanks for the support!

Assuming the question was: "How many combinations of puzzles can be used on a door", the answer is correct (less 1 for using no puzzles at all).