Ringing the changes, or 'change ringing' is where a set of bells is rung in every permutation.
So for (minimalist) example if you have three bells, A,B and C, they could be rung in the orders:
A,B,C
B,A,C
B,C,A
C,B,A
C,A,B
A,C,B

In each row, each bell is rung once and only once; the only difference is their order.

Obviously, the number of permutations is n! (or n factorial), where n is the number of bells. This function grows quickly with increasing n.

I propose that convoys of people, on foot or in vehicles, could amuse themselves on long trips by reordering themselves in such a manner.
Where possible, horns should be sounded.
-- Loris, Jan 12 2016

Change ringing https://en.wikipedi...wiki/Change_ringing
Almost unbelievably exciting. [8th of 7, Jan 12 2016]

If you want to read it but not hear it https://en.wikipedi...ki/The_Nine_Tailors
Dorothy Sayers' mystery novel brings a lot of changes to your mind's ear. [Toto Anders, Jan 12 2016]

The Belgian Tourniquet will never feel the same.
-- Toto Anders, Jan 12 2016


I'd like to see columns of soldiers walking down the road, reordering themselves from column to column, Towers-of-Hanoi-style, ordered by height or weight.
-- hippo, Jan 12 2016


(marked-for-tagline)

" Where possible, horns should be sounded "
-- normzone, Jan 12 2016


[8th] Don't knock it until you have tried it.

Trying to control a 2 ton lump of bronze that you can't see, whirling at the end of a rather flimsy rope, with any 1/100 second misjudgement clearly audible to a few thousand bystanders, is not for wimps.
-- pocmloc, Jan 12 2016


P.S. you missed A,C,B
-- pocmloc, Jan 12 2016


// Don't knock it until you have tried it. //

What makes you think we haven't ... ? Raising the bells, trying not to snap the backstay, getting a firm grip on ther sallie ... too much like hard work.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 12 2016


I never thought anything.
-- pocmloc, Jan 12 2016


Would this help people avoid accidents on long trips ?

Or would it tend to cause them ?

-----

The audio snippet in the link should be played in the Math Department to announce lunch time.
-- popbottle, Jan 12 2016


/ I never thought anything /

Just operating by instinct? Sort of the GW Bush "trust the gut" approach? It seems to be working out for you!

I used to trust my gut but then it turned on me. Turned huge.
-- bungston, Jan 12 2016


//P.S. you missed A,C,B//

Hah. Can't count to 3!. (Fixed)
-- Loris, Jan 13 2016


// I still believe in gut reactions but its rare I am called upon to talk to peoples intestines. //

Hardly surprising, since you oratorial talents seem more suited to your own Lower Rear Orofice ...
-- 8th of 7, Jan 13 2016


/ But I do have some musical talent in that department. /

Department? Or ofice?
-- bungston, Jan 13 2016


thanks hippo, i lol'd at "towers of hanoi"
-- sninctown, Jan 14 2016



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