[Math] Number of ways to stack N cubes

combinatorics

I'm trying to figure out how many ways are there to stack N cubes on top of each other.

Once you get a particular stack of 4 cubes let's say, the order of the cubes doesn't matter, just which sides are being shown does.

I'm generally finding 2 numbers:

1.) 6 * 24^(n-1)

and

2.) 3 * 24^(n-1)

Which is the correct answer, and why?

To understand the question better, you can refer to the Instant Insanity puzzle:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_Insanity

Best Answer

Your solutions presuppose that the cubes are identical; this is not the case in Instant Insanity. If they are all distinguishable you are missing a factor of $N!$.

The smaller possible solution is valid under the assumption that a stack is regarded as identical with that stack produced by turning the original stack upside down. The larger solution regards these two stacks as different.

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