Counting

Techniques
Principle of Counting

• If a choice consists of k steps, of which the first can be

made in n1 ways, of each of these the second can be
made in n2 ways,…, and for each of these k th can be
made in n𝑘 ways, then the whole choice can be made in
n1 n2 … n𝑘 ways.
Example

In a class of 20, how many ways can a president, vice

president, secretary and treasurer be selected?

Solution:

20(19)(18)(17) = 116, 280 ways

Example

A burger machine offers a serving of soup, sandwich

and beverage. There are two kinds of soups (corn or
asparagus), 4 sandwiches (chicken, ham, mushroom or
tuna), 5 beverages (coffee, tea, milk, coke or orange) to
choose from. In how many ways can the selection be done?

Solution:

2(4)(5) = 40 ways
Example

In a medical study, patients are classified in 8 ways

according to whether they have blood type AB+, AB-, A+, A-,
B+, B-, O+ or O-, and also according to whether their blood
pressure is low, normal or high. In how many ways can a
patient be classified?

Solution:

8(3) = 24 ways
Example

An exam is composed of 12 multiple choice questions,

with each having six possible answers. In how many ways
can a student answer all the questions?

Solution:

612 = 2,176,782,336 ways

Example

A college freshman must take a Mathematics and

English, and a Social Science courses. If he may select any
of 3 Mathematics courses, and of 4 English courses and any
of 5 Social Science courses, in how many ways can he
arrange his program?

Solution:
(3)(4)(5) = 60 ways
Example
A plate number is made up of two consonants followed
by three non zero digits followed by a vowel. How many plate
numbers are possible if
a. the letters and digits cannot be repeated?
b. the letters and digits can be repeated in the same plate
number?
Solution:
a.CCNNNV = (21)(20)(9)(8)(7)(5) = 1,058,400 plate numbers
b.(21)(21)(9)(9)(9)(5) = 1,607,445 plate numbers
Example
How many 3-digit numbers can be formed from the four
digits 0, 1, 2, 3 if
a. no two digits are to be the same?
Solution:
HTU = (3)(3)(2) = 18

Note: H is Hundreds place

T is Tens place
U is Units place
Zero cannot be place in the Hundreds place since it will not create a 3-digit number
Example
How many 3-digit numbers can be formed from the four
digits 0, 1, 2, 3 if
b. the numbers are odd? No repetition of digits
Solution:
Those ending in 1 or those ending in 3
(2)(2)(1)= 4 + (2)(2)(1)=4 ; 4+4=8

Note: In Statistics, the conjunction “or” translates to addition

while the conjunction “and” translates to multiplication
Example
How many 3-digit numbers can be formed from the four
digits 0, 1, 2, 3 if
c. the numbers are even? No repetition of digits
Solution:
Those ending in 0 or those ending in 2
(3)(2)(1)= 6 + (2)(2)(1)=4 ; 6+4=10

Note: In Statistics, the conjunction “or” translates to addition

while the conjunction “and” translates to multiplication
Example
How many 3-digit numbers can be formed from the four
digits 0, 1, 2, 3 if
d. Repetition of digits is allowed

Solution:

HTU = (3)(4)(4) = 48
Permutations
Permutations

• Permutation is an arrangement of a group of things in a

definite order, that is, there is a first element, a second, a
third, etc.

• The number of permutations of n distinct objects taken n at

a time is n!.
𝑛𝑃𝑛 = 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑛) = 𝑛! = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)(𝑛 − 2) … 3(2)(1)
Permutations

• The number of permutations of n objects taken r at a time is

𝑛!
𝑛𝑃𝑟 = 𝑃 𝑛, 𝑟 =
(𝑛 − 𝑟)!

• The number of ways of arranging n different objects in a

circle is (𝑛 − 1)! ways.
Example
In how many ways can the president, vice-president,
secretary, and treasurer be elected in a class of 20?

Solution:

12!
12𝑃5 =
(12−5)!
= 95,040 ways
Example
How many permutations can be made from the letters in
the word SUNDAY if
a. 4 letters are used at a time?
b. All letters are used?
c. All letters are used but the first is a vowel?
Solution:
a. 6𝑃4 = 6! / (6-4)! = 360
b. 6𝑃6 = 6! / (6-6)! = 720
c. 2! 5! = 240
Example
A family consisting of a father, mother, 2 sons and 3
daughters want a family picture. In how many ways can they
be lined up for photograph if
a. There are no restrictions?
b. Parents must stand together?
c. Parents do not stand together?
Solution:
a.7! = 5,040 ways
b.6! 2! = 1,440 ways
c.7! – 6! 2! = 3,600 ways
Example
In how many ways can 3 Math books and 4 English
books be arranged on a shelf if
a. There are no restrictions?
b. Math books are on the left and English are on the right?
c. Books in the same subject must be kept together?
Solution:
a.7! = 5,040 ways
b.3! 4! = 144 ways
c.3! 4! 2! = 288 ways
Example
In how many ways can 6 different trees be planted in a
circle?

Solution:

(6 − 1)! = 120 ways

Example
In how many ways can 10 people be seated at a round
table if
a. they can sit anywhere?
b. 2 particular people must sit together?
c. 2 particular people must not sit next to each other?
Solution:
a.(10-1)! = 362,880
b.(9-1)! 2! = 80,640
c.362,880-80,640 = 282,240
Example
How many number of permutations of letters in the word
a. STATISTICS
10!
𝑃 = = 50,400
3! 3! 2! 1! 1!
b. ENGINEERING
11!
𝑃 = = 277,200
3! 3! 2! 2! 1!
c. ARCHITECTURE
12!
𝑃 = = 29,937,600
2! 2! 2! 2! 1! 1! 1! 1!
Example
Five red marbles, 2 white marbles and 3 blue marbles
are arranged in a row. If all the marbles of the same color are
not distinguishable from each other, how many different
arrangements are possible?

Solution:

10!
𝑃 = = 2,520 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒ments
5! 2! 3!
Example
In a college football training session, the defensive
coordinator needs to have 10 players standing in a row.
Among these players, there are 1 freshman, 2 sophomores, 4
juniors and 3 seniors. How many different ways can they be
arranged in a row if only their class level will be
distinguished?

Solution:

10!
𝑃 = = 12,600 𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠
1! 2! 4! 3!
Combinations
Combinations

• A combination also concerns arrangements, but without

regard to the order.

• The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time is

𝑛!
𝑛𝐶𝑟 = 𝐶 𝑛, 𝑟 =
𝑟! (𝑛 − 𝑟)!
Example

In a deck of 52 cards, how many ways can we select 7

hearts?

Solution:

7 hearts out of 13
13!
13𝐶7 = = 1,716
7!(13-7)!
Example

In a lotto with 42 numbers, how many ways can 6

numbers be selected?

Solution:

42𝐶6 = 5,245,786
Example
A young boy asks his brother to get 5 Nintendo Switch
cartridges from his collection of 10 RPGs and 5 sports
games. How many ways are there that his brother can get 3
RPGs and 2 sports games?
Solution:
3 out of 10 RPGs and 2 out of 5 Sports
10𝐶3 ∙ 10𝐶3 = 1,200

Note: In Statistics, the conjunction “or” translates to addition

while the conjunction “and” translates to multiplication
Example
How many 5 card hands can be dealt from a standard
deck of 52 cards if
a. All cards are red?
26𝐶5 = 65,780
b. 3 are red and 2 are black?
26𝐶3 ∙ 26𝐶2 = 84,000
c. 4 are aces and 1 is a king?
4𝐶4 ∙ 4𝐶1 = 4
Example

A girl has 3 varieties of flowers in her shop. How many

different bouquets can she form?

Solution:

3𝐶1 + 3𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 = 7

Example
A box contains 4 red, 3 blue and 2 white balls. In how
many ways can we select 3 balls such that
Solution:
a. They are of different color?
4𝐶1 ∙ 3𝐶1 ∙ 2𝐶1 = 24
b. They are all red?
4𝐶3 = 4
c. Two are blue and one is white?
3𝐶2 ∙ 2𝐶1 = 6
Example
A box contains 4 red, 3 blue and 2 white balls. In how
many ways can we select 3 balls such that
Solution:
d. Exactly 2 are blue?
3𝐶2 ∙ 6𝐶1 = 18
e. None is white?
7𝐶3 = 35
f. At least one white?
2𝐶1 ∙ 7𝐶2 + 2𝐶2 ∙ 7𝐶1 = 49
Example
The student council has 10 executive members, 6 of
whom are girls. A committee of 5 must be chosen to plan a
dance. In how many ways can the committee be chosen if
Solution:
a. There must be all girls?
7𝐶3 = 35
b. There must be 2 boys and 3 girls?
4𝐶2 ∙ 6𝐶3 = 120
c. There must be at most 2 girls?
4𝐶4 ∙ 6𝐶1 + 4𝐶3 ∙ 6𝐶2 = 66