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Fundamental Counting Principle

The Fundamental Counting Principle states that if one event can occur in M ways and another in N ways, the total number of outcomes is M multiplied by N. This principle can be applied to various scenarios, such as determining the number of outfit combinations or course schedules. Additionally, it can be used to calculate the total number of possible telephone numbers or ways to answer multiple-choice questions.

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4 views15 pages

Fundamental Counting Principle

The Fundamental Counting Principle states that if one event can occur in M ways and another in N ways, the total number of outcomes is M multiplied by N. This principle can be applied to various scenarios, such as determining the number of outfit combinations or course schedules. Additionally, it can be used to calculate the total number of possible telephone numbers or ways to answer multiple-choice questions.

Uploaded by

martyndrake31
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FUNDAMENTAL

COUNTING
PRINCPLE

1
Fundamental Counting Principle
GOAL:
Use the Fundamental Counting Principle to
determine the number of possible outcomes in a
given situation.
How to Apply the Fundamental Counting Principle

ANS:
If you have 2 events: 1 event can occur “M”
ways
and another event can occur “N” ways, then
the
number of ways that both can occur is M∙N. 2
Review of Using a Tree Diagram to represent of all possible
choices.
Ex 1: A man has 2 pair of jeans (Event 1) and 3 t-shirts (Event
2).
How many different outfits can he put together?

Using the Counting Principle to determine all


possible choices.
Event 1: (Jeans) Event 2: (t-shirts)
Items: 2 pairs Items: 3 shirts

ANS: 2 pair of jeans x 3 t-shirts = 6 different


outfits can be put together.
Example 2
Applying the Fundamental Counting Principle
The Greasy Spoon Restaurant offers 6 appetizers
and 14 main courses.

In how many ways can a person order a two


course meal?
Set up: (4 Steps)
1) Specify the Events
a) Event 1: Appetizers b) Event 2: Main courses

2) Indicate the # of items per Event


a. Event 1: 6 types of Appetizers b. Event 2: 14 main
courses

3) Apply the Counting Principle


6 appetizers x 14 main courses = 84

4) Answer in a complete sentence


ANS: Choosing from one of 6 appetizers and one of 14 main
courses, a person has 84 ways to order a two-course meal.
The Fundamental Counting Principle with
More than Two Groups of Items
• Definition
3 events can occur m, n, & p ways, then
the number of ways all three can occur is
m∙n∙p

6
Example 3
The number of possible outfits from 2 pair of
jeans, 3 T-shirts and 2 pairs of sneakers are:

7
Set up (4 Steps):
1)List the Events
a) Event 1: Jeans b) Event 2: T-Shirts
c)Event 3: Sneakers

2) List # of Items per Event


a) Jeans: 2 pair b) T-shirts: 3 shirts
c) Sneakers: 2 pair

3) Applying the Counting Principle


2 pair of jeans x 3 t-shirts x 2 pair of sneakers = 12 diff.
outfits
4) Concluding Sentence:
There are 12 different outfit that can be made.
8
Example 4
Options in Planning a Course Schedule
Next semester, you are planning to take three
courses – Math, English and Humanities.

There are 8 sections of Math, 5 of English, and 4 of


Humanities that you find suitable.

Q: Assuming no scheduling conflicts, how many


different three-course schedules are possible?

9
Example 4
Options in Planning a Course Schedule
Q: Assuming no scheduling conflicts, how many
different three-course schedules are possible?

Solution:
This situation involves making choices with three
groups of items.
Math English
Humanities
{8 choices} {5 choices} {4 choices}

ANS: There are 8 ∙ 5 ∙ 4 = 160 diff. three-course


schedules. 10
Example 5
Telephone Numbers in the Nueva Ecija
• Telephone numbers in the United States begin
with three-digit area codes followed by seven-
digit local telephone numbers.

- Area codes and local telephone numbers cannot


begin with 0 or 1.

Q: How many different telephone numbers are


possible?

11
Telephone Numbers in Nueva Ecija
Q: How many different telephone numbers are possible?

Solution:
This situation involves making choices with ten groups of
items. Here are the choices for each of the ten groups of
items:
CONDITION: Area codes and local telephone numbers cannot
begin with 0 or 1.
Area Code Local Telephone Number

The total number of different telephone numbers is:


8 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 8 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 = 6,400,000,000

8 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10

06/29/25 Section 11.1 12


Example 5
Telephone Numbers in the Nueva Ecija
Q: How many different telephone numbers are possible?

Solution:
This situation involves making choices with ten groups of
items. Here are the choices for each of the ten groups of
items:
Area Code Local Telephone Number
8 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10

The total number of different telephone numbers is:


8 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 8 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 ∙ 10 = 6,400,000,000

13
Example 5
A Multiple-Choice Test
• You are taking a multiple-choice test that has ten
questions. Each of the questions has four answer choices,
with one correct answer per question. If you select one of
these four choices for each question and leave nothing
blank, in how many ways can you answer the questions?
• Solution:
This situation involves making choices with ten questions:
Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 ∙ ∙ ∙ Question 9 Question 10
{4 choices} {4 choices} {4 choices} {4 choices} {4 choices}

The number of different ways you can answer the questions is:
4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 ∙ 4 = 410 = 1,048,576

14

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