M is the number of six-element subsets that can be chosen from the set of the first 15 positive integers so that at least three of the six numbers are consecutive.
Find M.
Starting with T integers. instead of 15
The number of subsets with 6 consecutive is (T-5).
The number of subsets with 5 consecutive (but not six) consecutive are:
12345 = 1*(T-6) choices for the 6th element
other end = T-6
other = (T-6) strings * (T-7) choices for the 6th element
Total = (T-6)*(T-5)
The number of subsets with 4 consecutive (but not 5) consecutive are:
1234 = 1*c(T-5,2) choices for the 5th & 6th element = (T-5)*(T-6)/2
other end = (T-5)*(T-6)/2
other = (T-5) strings * c(T-6,2) choices for the 5th & 6th element = (T-7)(T-6)(T-5)/2
Total = (T-6)*(T-5)*(T-5)/2
The number of subsets with 3 consecutive (but not 4) consecutive are:
123 = 1*c(T-4,3) choices for the 4th & 5th & 6th element = (T-4)*(T-5)*(T-6)/6
other end = (T-4)*(T-5)*(T-6)/6
other = (T-4) strings * c(T-5,3) choices for the 4th & 5th & 6th element =
(T-4)*(T-5)*(T-6)*(T-7)/6
Total (including double counts) = (T-4)*(T-5)*(T-6)*(T-5)/6
But this double counts
123 + T-6 higher sets
234 + (T-7) higher sets
etc.
In total, (T-6)+ (T-7) ... + 1 = (T-5)*(T-6)/2
Final Answer =
(T-5) + (T-6)*(T-5) + (T-6)*(T-5)*(T-5)/2 + (T-4)*(T-5)*(T-6)*(T-5)/6 - (T-5)*(T-6)/2
= (T-5) + (T-6)*(T-5)/2 + (T-6)*(T-5)*(T-5)/2 + (T-4)*(T-5)*(T-6)*(T-5)/6
= (T-5)*(T-4)/2 + (T-6)(T-5)(T-5)(T-1)/6
Checking:
when T = 6, 1*2/2 = 1
when T = 15, 10*11/2 + 9*10*10*14/6 = 55 + 2100 + 2155
General Solution (from the first T numbers)
