Combinatorics and Probability

Combinatorics
and Probability
Combinatorics
- is the study of counting the different outcomes
of some task.
In combinatorics, an experiment is an activity with an
observable outcome.
The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment is

called the sample space of the experiment.
An event is one or more of the possible outcomes of

an experiment. An event is a subset of the sample
space. 2
The Counting Principle
1. Counting by Making a List
Example,
1. If a coin is flipped, the side facing upward
will be a head or a tail.
The outcomes can be listed as {H, T}.

There are two possible outcomes.
4
Counting by Making a List
2. If a regular six-sided die is rolled, the

possible outcomes are
The outcomes can also be listed as

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
There are six possible outcomes.
5
Counting by Making a List
3. List and then count the number of different
outcomes that are possible when one letter from
the word Tennessee is chosen.
The possible outcomes are {T, e, n, s}.

There are four possible outcomes.
6
Experiments, Outcomes, Sample space
In Example 1-3;
Experiments No. of Sample Spaces

Possible
Outcomes
Flipping a coin 2 {H, T},
Rolling a die 6 {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6},
Choosing a single 4 {T, e, n, s},
letter from the word
Tennessee
7
Events
1. Flipping a coin and having a head show on the

upward face
2.Rolling a 5 when a die is tossed
3. Choosing a T from one of the letters in the word

Tennessee are all examples of events.
8
2.Counting Using a Table
Example
Two-digit numbers are formed from the digits 1, 3, and 8.
Find the sample space and determine the number of
elements in the sample space.
Solution:
The sample space is {11, 13, 18, 31, 33, 38, 81, 83, 88}.
There are nine two-digit numbers that can be formed from
the digits 1, 3, and 8.
9
3. Counting Using a Tree Diagram
Example
A true/false test consists of 10 questions. Draw a tree
diagram to show the number of ways to answer the first
three questions.
Solution:
There are eight
possible ways to answer the
first three questions.
10
It is not always possible or practical to list and count
outcomes.
For the example of tossing two dice, there were 36 possible

outcomes. We can arrive at this result without listing the
outcomes by finding the product of the number of possible
outcomes of rolling the red die and the number of possible
outcomes of rolling the green die.
11
This method of determining the number of outcomes of a
multi-stage experiment without listing them is called the
counting principle.
12
4. Counting by Using the Counting Principle
Example.
In horse racing, betting on a trifecta refers to choosing the
exact order of the first three horses across the finish line. If
there are eight horses in a race, how many trifectas are
possible, assuming there are no ties?
Solution:
Any one of the eight horses can be first, so n1 = 8. Because
a horse cannot finish both first and second, there are seven
horses that can finish second; thus n2 = 7.
Similarly, there are six horses that can finish third; n3 = 6.
By the counting principle, there are 8  7  6 = 336 possible
trifectas.
13
5.Counting With and Without Replacement
Example:
Consider an experiment in which three balls
colored red, blue, and green are placed in a box. A
person reaches into the box and repeatedly pulls
out a colored ball, keeping note of the color picked.
The sequence of colors will depend on whether the

balls are returned to the box after each pick. We
say that the experiment can be performed with
replacement or without replacement.
14
Counting With and Without Replacement
Example
1. From the letters a, b, c, d, and e, how many four-letter
groups can be formed if
a. a letter can be used more than once?
b. each letter can be used exactly once?
Solution:
a. Because each letter can be repeated, there are
5  5  5  5 = 625 possible four-letter groups.
b. Because each letter can be used only once, there are

5  4  3  2 = 120 four-letter groups in which no letter is
repeated. 15

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Combinatorics

The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment is

An event is one or more of the possible outcomes of

The outcomes can be listed as {H, T}.

2. If a regular six-sided die is rolled, the

The outcomes can also be listed as

The possible outcomes are {T, e, n, s}.

Experiments No. of Sample Spaces

1. Flipping a coin and having a head show on the

2.Rolling a 5 when a die is tossed

3. Choosing a T from one of the letters in the word

For the example of tossing two dice, there were 36 possible

The sequence of colors will depend on whether the

b. Because each letter can be used only once, there are

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