Example 2 (2000 National High School Competition Question) If: (1) all belong to ; (2) , ; (3) is the smallest value among . Then the number of different four-digit numbers that can be formed is
Problem 794
Official solution
Solve by filling in 28. Reason: (1) When contains 4 different digits, it is clear that . There are such four-digit numbers.
(2) When abcd contains only 3 different digits, choosing 3 different digits from has methods. At this time, the value of is uniquely determined ( is the smallest of the 3 chosen numbers). When , have 2! ways to be arranged; when , have 2 ways to be arranged, with being the remaining number. Therefore, the number of four-digit numbers at this time is .
(3) When contains only 2 digits, choosing 2 digits from has methods. At this time, is the smaller of the chosen numbers, with only one way to choose, and is the remaining number, hence the number of four-digit numbers at this time is .
In summary, by the principle of addition, the number of different four-digit numbers that meet the conditions is .