MathDB
2023 Fall LMT Speed p21 \sum^5_{i=1} |a_i -i |

Source:

March 2, 2024
algebranumber theorycombinatorics

Problem Statement

Let (a1,a2,a3,a4,a5)(a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4,a_5) be a random permutation of the integers from 11 to 55 inclusive. Find the expected value of i=15aii=a11+a22+a33+a44+a55.\sum^5_{i=1} |a_i -i | = |a_1 -1|+|a_2 -2|+|a_3 -3|+|a_4 -4|+|a_5 -5|.
Proposed by Muztaba Syed