\( \begin{array}{l}\text { What does the following } \\ \text { expression mean? } \\ 7 \text { ! } \\ 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 \\ 7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 1\end{array} \) 7
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The Deep Dive
The expression \( 7! \) represents the factorial of 7, which is a mathematical operation used to calculate the product of all positive integers up to 7. This means you multiply 7 by every whole number less than it, specifically \( 7 \times 6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 \), resulting in 5040. Factorials are commonly found in permutations, combinations, and other areas of combinatorial mathematics. Factorials are super useful when you're dealing with arrangements and combinations! For example, if you want to know how many ways to arrange 7 different books on a shelf, you would use \( 7! \). If you're not careful and forget to start at 7 or skip any numbers, your final count could be wildly incorrect, so always double-check those multiplications and ensure you include every integer down to 1!