I have three 10-tuples : $(a_1,d_2,d_3,d_4,....,d_{10})$, $(d_1,b_2,d_3,d_4,....,d_{10})$ and $(d_1,d_2,c_3,d_4,....,d_{10})$. Suppose I put a $*$ at the first and second place in the First and Second tuple, i.e., $(*,*,d_3,d_4,....,d_{10})$, $(*,*,d_3,d_4,....,d_{10})$ so effectively they are the same tuple. Similarly If I put a $*$ in the first three places then all the three tuples become $(*,*,*,d_4,d_5,.....,d_{10})$. What I want to do is eliminate these repetitive tuples.
What I think is that for the case when I put $*$ in the two places I get $2^8$ repetitions for between the First and the Second tuple. Similarly I get $2^8 $ repetitions between the Second and Third pair, and the First and Third pair.
The case when I put three $*$ I get $2^7$ repetitions. Is this correct