# indistinguishable objects

#### schinb65

##### New member
An investor has 20000 to invest among 4 possible investments. Each investment must be a unit of 1000. If the total 20,000 must be invested, how many different investment strategies are possible? What if not all money need to be invested?
I should solve ${\binom{20000+4-1}{20000}}$? I think I need something with the 1000.

Last edited:

#### Jameson

##### Administrator
Staff member
Re: indestinguishable objects

Again, I must preface this with a disclaimer that I'm not confident about my solution.

1) I agree that it's $$\displaystyle \binom{3002}{3000}$$. This isn't that big a number. What calculator are you using?

2) Since these must be in increments of 1000, I think it's really a problem of 20 objects in 4 spaces.

#### schinb65

##### New member
Re: indestinguishable objects

Again, I must preface this with a disclaimer that I'm not confident about my solution.

1) I agree that it's $$\displaystyle \binom{3002}{3000}$$. This isn't that big a number. What calculator are you using?

2) Since these must be in increments of 1000, I think it's really a problem of 20 objects in 4 spaces.
The calculator is a TI 84. I figured out the problem with the calculator. It computes the 3000! first then does the division. This number is too large but if you simplify the numbers it works. Thank you.

#### schinb65

##### New member
Re: indestinguishable objects

Again, I must preface this with a disclaimer that I'm not confident about my solution.

1) I agree that it's $$\displaystyle \binom{3002}{3000}$$. This isn't that big a number. What calculator are you using?

2) Since these must be in increments of 1000, I think it's really a problem of 20 objects in 4 spaces.
Thank you. The 1000 bring the values down to 20 objects gives me the correct answer. Thanks