1. Home
  2. College algebra
  3. Sequences, probability, and
  4. Counting principles

9.5 Counting principles

<< Chapter < Page
  College algebra     Page 1 / 12
Chapter >> Page >
In this section, you will:
  • Solve counting problems using the Addition Principle.
  • Solve counting problems using the Multiplication Principle.
  • Solve counting problems using permutations involving n distinct objects.
  • Solve counting problems using combinations.
  • Find the number of subsets of a given set.
  • Solve counting problems using permutations involving n non-distinct objects.

A new company sells customizable cases for tablets and smartphones. Each case comes in a variety of colors and can be personalized for an additional fee with images or a monogram. A customer can choose not to personalize or could choose to have one, two, or three images or a monogram. The customer can choose the order of the images and the letters in the monogram. The company is working with an agency to develop a marketing campaign with a focus on the huge number of options they offer. Counting the possibilities is challenging!

We encounter a wide variety of counting problems every day. There is a branch of mathematics devoted to the study of counting problems such as this one. Other applications of counting include secure passwords, horse racing outcomes, and college scheduling choices. We will examine this type of mathematics in this section.

Using the addition principle

The company that sells customizable cases offers cases for tablets and smartphones. There are 3 supported tablet models and 5 supported smartphone models. The Addition Principle tells us that we can add the number of tablet options to the number of smartphone options to find the total number of options. By the Addition Principle, there are 8 total options, as we can see in [link] .

The addition of 3 iPods and 4 iPhones.

The addition principle

According to the Addition Principle    , if one event can occur in m ways and a second event with no common outcomes can occur in n ways, then the first or second event can occur in m + n ways.

Using the addition principle

There are 2 vegetarian entrée options and 5 meat entrée options on a dinner menu. What is the total number of entrée options?

We can add the number of vegetarian options to the number of meat options to find the total number of entrée options.

The addition of the type of options for an entree.

There are 7 total options.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A student is shopping for a new computer. He is deciding among 3 desktop computers and 4 laptop computers. What is the total number of computer options?

7

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Using the multiplication principle

The Multiplication Principle applies when we are making more than one selection. Suppose we are choosing an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert. If there are 2 appetizer options, 3 entrée options, and 2 dessert options on a fixed-price dinner menu, there are a total of 12 possible choices of one each as shown in the tree diagram in [link] .

A tree diagram of the different menu combinations.

The possible choices are:

  1. soup, chicken, cake
  2. soup, chicken, pudding
  3. soup, fish, cake
  4. soup, fish, pudding
  5. soup, steak, cake
  6. soup, steak, pudding
  7. salad, chicken, cake
  8. salad, chicken, pudding
  9. salad, fish, cake
  10. salad, fish, pudding
  11. salad, steak, cake
  12. salad, steak, pudding We can also find the total number of possible dinners by multiplying.

We could also conclude that there are 12 possible dinner choices simply by applying the Multiplication Principle.

Questions & Answers

If c is the cost function for a particular product, find the marginal cost functions and their values at x=10 a. c(x) = 800+ 0.04x + 0.0002x² b. c(x) = 250 + 100x + 0.001x²
Mamush Reply
how can I find set theory
Ephraim Reply
how can I find set theory
Jarvis
is there an error on the one about the dime's thickness? says 2.2x10⁶=0.00135 m
Patrick Reply
hi, interested in algebra
Makan Reply
how to reduce an equation?
Makan
by manipulation of both side
Al
9(y+8)-27 is 9y+45. Why can't you reduce that to y+5? I know that's wrong but can't explain why
Patrick Reply
when you reduce an equation to its simplest terms, you can't change the value of the equation. reducing it to y + 5 is equivalent to dividing it by 9 which changes the value. you can multiply it by 1 or 9/9 which would give 9(y + 5). multiplying it by one does not change the value.
Philip
Given a polynomial expression, factor out the greatest common factor.
Hanu Reply
WHAT IS QUADRATIC EQUATION?
Charles Reply
WHAT IS SYSTEM OF LINEAR INEWUALITIES?
Charles
WHAT IS SYSTEM OF LINEAR INEWUALITIES?
Charles
complex perform
Angel
what is equation?
Charles Reply
what are equations?
Charles
Definition of economics according to karl Marx Thomas malthus Jeremy bentham David Ricardo J.K
Rakiya
Please help me is assignment
Rakiya
The 47th problem of Euclid
Kenneth
show that the set of all natural number form semi group under the composition of addition
Nikhil Reply
what is the meaning
Dominic
explain and give four Example hyperbolic function
Lukman Reply
_3_2_1
felecia
⅗ ⅔½
felecia
_½+⅔-¾
felecia
The denominator of a certain fraction is 9 more than the numerator. If 6 is added to both terms of the fraction, the value of the fraction becomes 2/3. Find the original fraction. 2. The sum of the least and greatest of 3 consecutive integers is 60. What are the valu
SABAL Reply
1. x + 6 2 -------------- = _ x + 9 + 6 3 x + 6 3 ----------- x -- (cross multiply) x + 15 2 3(x + 6) = 2(x + 15) 3x + 18 = 2x + 30 (-2x from both) x + 18 = 30 (-18 from both) x = 12 Test: 12 + 6 18 2 -------------- = --- = --- 12 + 9 + 6 27 3
Pawel
2. (x) + (x + 2) = 60 2x + 2 = 60 2x = 58 x = 29 29, 30, & 31
Pawel
ok
Ifeanyi
on number 2 question How did you got 2x +2
Ifeanyi
combine like terms. x + x + 2 is same as 2x + 2
Pawel
x*x=2
felecia
2+2x=
felecia
×/×+9+6/1
Debbie
Q2 x+(x+2)+(x+4)=60 3x+6=60 3x+6-6=60-6 3x=54 3x/3=54/3 x=18 :. The numbers are 18,20 and 22
Naagmenkoma
Mark and Don are planning to sell each of their marble collections at a garage sale. If Don has 1 more than 3 times the number of marbles Mark has, how many does each boy have to sell if the total number of marbles is 113?
mariel Reply
Mark = x,. Don = 3x + 1 x + 3x + 1 = 113 4x = 112, x = 28 Mark = 28, Don = 85, 28 + 85 = 113
Pawel
how do I set up the problem?
Harshika Reply
what is a solution set?
Harshika
find the subring of gaussian integers?
Rofiqul
hello, I am happy to help!
Shirley Reply
please can go further on polynomials quadratic
Abdullahi
hi mam
Mark
I need quadratic equation link to Alpa Beta
Abdullahi Reply
<< Chapter < Page Page > Chapter >>
Practice Key Terms 5

Read also:

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College algebra. OpenStax CNX. Feb 06, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11759/1.3
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College algebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask