COUNTING TECHNIQUES

A. Fundamental Principle of Counting (Multiplication Rule)

Examples:

1. A man wishes to travel from town A to town D. There are 2 roads he may choose
from in traveling from town A to B, 3 roads that connect towns B and C and four
roads that he may opt to travel from town C to town D. In how many ways can
the man travel from A to D?

2. How many two-digit numbers can be formed from the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 if:

a) repetition is allowed?
b) repetition is not allowed?

B. Permutation

Suppose there are four contestants, Ana, Betty, Caloy and Dick, who are
competing for three prizes, a first prize, a second prize and a third prize. In how
many ways can the prizes be awarded to the contestants so that any person gets at
most one prize?

Notice that Ann getting first prize, Betty second prize, and Dick third prize
is quite different from Dick getting first prize, Betty second prize, and Ann third
prize, although the same three people are involved in both cases.

In permutation, order does make a difference.

Formulas:

a. n distinct objects taken n at a time

b. n distinct objects taken r at a time

c. n1 are identical, n2 are identical, etc.

d. n distinct objects arranged in a circle

Examples:
1. How many numbers can be formed using all digits 6, 7, 8 and 9?

2. From the digits 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9, how many distinct 3-digit numbers can be
formed?

3. How many distinct permutations are there in the word MILLENNIUM?

4. In how many ways can 4 letters a, b, c and d be arranged in a circle?

5. In number 4, how many arrangements are there if a and b must always be

together?

C. Combination

Order does not matter under combinations. Let us consider the following
example where we invite three volunteers from a group of four students, Ana, Betty,
Caloy and Dick. If Ana, Betty and Caloy volunteer, this is in no way different from
Caloy, Ann and Betty volunteering. We are interested in who volunteers and not in
what order they volunteered.

Examples:

1. From a box containing 4 defective and 5 non-defective items, how many samples
of size 3 are possible

a) with no restrictions?
b) With 1 defective and 2 non-defective item?
c) With 2 defective and 1 non-defective item, if a certain defective item must
be on the samples chosen?

2. A box contains 7 red and 6 green balls. In how many ways can 2 balls be drawn
such that

a) they are both green?

b) one is red and one is green?