The fundamental counting principle

What is the fundamental counting principle?

• The fundamental counting principle is a way to figure out the number of ways different
events can occur.

Rules of fundamental counting principle

Rule 1

If event A can be done in k ways, event B in l ways and event C in m ways. The total number of
possible number of different ways that the events can be done is given by 𝑛 = 𝑘 × 𝑙 × 𝑚

Example 1

Pradesh has a choice of these items of clothing to wear to a certain event:

2 pairs of trousers (black or blue)
3 shirts (white, green or blue)
3 ties (striped, black or blue)

How many different outfits can he wear?

Exercise 1

1. The Matric Dance Committee has decided on the menu below for the 2008 Matric Dance. A
person attending the dance must choose only ONE item from each category, that is starters,
main course and dessert.

1.1 How many different meal combinations can be chosen?

1.2 A particular person wishes to have chicken as his main course. How many different
meal combinations does he have?

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2. Zama is planning on spending the evening with her friends. She is undecided on her outfit.
She has to decide from the following items that she placed on her bed.

• Two pairs of pants: Blue Jeans or White Pants

• Three tops: a White T-shirt, red T-shirt or a blue shirt
• Two pairs of shoes: a black pair or a white pair

How many possible combinations can she choose from?

3. In a company there are three different vacancies. The company has identified candidates to
fill each post.

Post Candidates

Clerk Craig, Luke and Tom

Sales Representative Ann, Sandile, Sizwe and Devon

Sales manager John and Debby

3.1 In how many different ways can these three posts be filled?

3.2 If it is certain that Craig will get the job as clerk, in how many different ways can the
three posts be filled?

4. A party pack of three items can be made up by selecting one item from each of the following
choices:

• Choice 1: Smarties, Astros, Jelly Tots, Wine Gums

• Choice 2: Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Ginger Beer, Crème Soda
• Choice 3: Doughnut, Chelsea Bun, Cheese Roll

4.1 How many different party packs can be made?

4.2 If a person wants coke as choice 2 how many different party packs can he/she choose
from?

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5. Nametso may choose DVDs from three categories as listed in the table below:

5.1 Nametso must choose one DVD from the Drama category. What is the probability that
she will choose Midnight?

5.2 How many different selections are possible if her selection must include ONE drama,
ONE romance and ONE comedy?

Factorial notation

The factorial (!) of a natural number n is the product of the positive integers less than or equal to
n. This is denoted an n! and is pronounced n factorial.

Rule 2

• In general, the total number of possible arrangements of n items, where no repetitions are
allowed, will be:
𝒏 × (𝒏 − 𝟏) × (𝒏 − 𝟐) × … × 𝟏 This is called n factorial and is written n!

• If repetitions are allowed, then the total number of possible arrangements of n items
where only r positions need to be filled will be n × n × n × ……… × n (r times) = 𝑛𝑟

Example 2

1. Consider the first four letters of the alphabet A B C D.

You are required to form different four-letter arrangement using these four alphabets. How
many possible arrangements can be made if

1.1 The letters can be repeated.

1.2 The letters cannot be repeated.

2. Five people are to be seated in a row.

2.1 In how many ways can they be seated if they can sit, however?

2.2 How many ways are there if two of the five insist on sitting next to each other in the
row?

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Exercise 2

1. In how many different ways can the letters of the word JOHN be arranged (repetition of
letters is not permitted)?

2. A grade 12 learner has an Accounting, Physical Science, English, Afrikaans, Life science
and Mathematics textbook. How many different ways can they be arranged on a bookshelf?

3. Consider the word PARKTOWN. You are required to form different eight-letter word
arrangements using the letters of the word PARKTOWN. How many possible word
arrangements can be made if the letters may not be repeated?
4. Consider the word ORANGES.

4.1 How many seven-letter word arrangements can be made if the letters may be repeated?

4.2 How many seven-letter word arrangements can be made if the letters may not be
repeated?

5. A photographer has placed six chairs in the front row of a studio. Three boys and three girls
are to be seated in these chairs. In how many different ways can they be seated if:

5.1 Any learner may be seated in any chair.

5.2 Two particular learners wish to be seated next to each other.

6. There are 7 different shirts and 4 different pairs of trousers in a cupboard. The clothes have
to be hung on the rail.

6.1 In how many different ways can the clothes be arranged on the rail?

6.2 In how many different ways can the clothes be arranged if all the shirts are to be hung
next to each other and the pairs of trousers are to be hang next to each other on the rail?

6.3 What is the probability that a shirt will hang at the beginning of the rail and a pair of
trouser will hang at the end of the rail?

7. Four History books and three Geography books must be placed on a shelf.

7.1 In how many different ways can you arrange the books on the shelf?

7.2 If all the History books must be placed next to each other and all the Geography books
must be placed next to each other, in how many ways can you arrange the books on the
shelf?

7.3 If just the History books are to be together, in how many ways can you arrange the
books on the shelf?

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8. Consider the word MATHEMATICS.

8.1 How many word arrangements can be made with this word if repetition is not allowed?

8.2 How many word arrangements can be made with this word if the word has to start with
an S?

8.3 What is the probability that the word will start with an S?

9. Consider the word M A T H S.

9.1 How many different 5-letter arrangements can be made using all the above letters if
repetition is not allowed?

9.2 Determine the probability that the letters S and T will always be the first two letters of
the arrangements in 9.1.

10. Eight learners are seated on eight chairs in the front row at an assembly.

10.1 In how many different ways can these 8 learners be seated?

10.2 In how many different ways can the 8 learners be seated if 3 of the learners must sit
together?

10.3 In how many different ways can the 8 learners be seated if 2 particular learners refuse
to sit next to each other?

Rule 3

• The third rule state that the number of arrangements of n different things taken r at a time
𝒏!
is given by 𝒏 = (𝒏−𝒓)! or 𝒏 = 𝒏𝑷𝒓 which is pronounced as n permutation r

Example 3

1. There are 12 different singers that are hoping to occupy the first three places in SA Idols. In
how many different ways can the first three places be occupied?

2. Every client of a certain bank has a PIN which is made up of 5 digits chosen from the digits
0 – 9. How many different PINs can be made if

2.1 The digits can be repeated.

2.2 The digits cannot be repeated.

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Exercise 3

1. In how many ways can 7 vacant places be filled by 10 different people?

2. A hotel has 3 vacant rooms. In how many ways can 9 people occupy the rooms if only one
person is allowed per room?

3. A cricket team has 11 players. How many possible variations can there be for the choice of
captain and vice-captain from the 11 players?

4. Every client of CASHSAVE Bank has a personal identity number (PIN) which is made up of
5 digits chosen from the digits 0 to 9. How many personal identity numbers (PINs) can be
made if:

4.1 Digits can be repeated.

4.2 Digits cannot be repeated.

5. Given the digits: 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8 and 9.Calculate how many unique 5 – digits codes can be
formed using the digits above if

5.1 The digits may be repeated.

5.2 The digits may not be repeated.

6. The digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are used to make 4-digit codes.

6.1 How many different codes are possible if the digits may be repeated?

6.2 How many different codes are possible if the digits may not be repeated?

6.3 How many codes are numbers that are greater than or equal to 4 000 and are exactly
divisible by 2? The digits may be repeated.

7. How many different five-digit codes can we form using the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8 and
9, if:

7.1 the digits can be used in any order and can be repeated.

7.2 there must be no repeated digits.

7.3 the code must not start with 0 but can have repeated digits.

7.4 the code must not start with 0 and must not have any repeated digits.

7.5 the code must start with 9 and end with 0 and must not have any repeated digits.

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8. Consider the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and answer the following questions:

8.1 How many 2-digit numbers can be formed if repetition is allowed?

8.2 How many 4-digit numbers can be formed if repetition is NOT allowed?

8.3 How many numbers between 4 000 and 5 000 can be formed?

9. The digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are used to make 3-digit codes.

9.1 How many unique codes are possible if digits can be repeated?

9.2 How many unique codes are possible if the digits cannot be repeated?

9.3 In the case where digits may be repeated, how many codes are numbers that are greater
than 300 and exactly divisible by 5?

10. In Gauteng number plates are designed with 3 alphabetical letters, excluding the 5 vowels,
next to one another and then any 3 digits, from 0 to 9, next to one another. The GP is
constant in all Gauteng number plates, for example TTT 012 GP. Letters and digits may be
repeated in a number plate.

10.1 How many unique number plates are available?

10.2 What is the probability that a car's number plate will start with a Y?

10.3 What is the probability that a car's number plate will contain only one 7?