If there are n number of seats and m number of people have to be seated, then the number of possible ways to do this is (here, m < n )

Step-by-step solution

∵ Total number of seats = n and number of people = m 1 st person can be seated in n ways 2 nd person can be seated in n - 1 ways ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ m th person can be seated in n - m + 1 w a y s ∴ Total number of ways = n n - 1 n - 2 … n - m + 1 = n P m