Here's why:
* Mandarin varieties: Different mandarin varieties have different seed counts. Some are naturally seedless, others have a few, and some are quite seedy.
* Growing conditions: Factors like pollination, sunlight, and soil nutrients can influence the number of seeds in a fruit.
* Randomness: It's a matter of chance how many seeds a particular fruit develops.
So, the answer is, there's no definitive number! But if you're curious, try counting the seeds in a few mandarins. You might be surprised by the variation.