2.4 The product rule for counting — Practise
Work independently, then use the checked solutions to review your method.
- H A cafe offers 5 hot drinks and 4 cakes. How many hot-drink-and-cake choices are there?
- H How many three-letter codes can be made from A, B, C and D if letters may repeat?
- H How many three-letter codes can be made from A, B, C and D if letters cannot repeat?
- H There are 3 tops, 2 trousers and 2 pairs of shoes. How many outfits use one of each?
- H How many even three-digit numbers can be made from without repeating digits?
- H A trip uses one of 4 trains, one of 3 buses and one of 2 walking routes. How many routes are possible?
- H A meal has a choice of 4 mains and 3 drinks. One drink is unavailable with one particular main. How many combinations remain?
- H How many two-digit numbers greater than 30 can be made from digits without repetition?
- H A password has one capital letter from A to C followed by two digits from 0 to 9. Digits may repeat. How many passwords are possible?
Answers and concise solutions
1. Cafe choices
Answer: choices.
2. Codes with repetition
Answer: codes.
3. Codes without repetition
Answer: codes.
4. Outfits
Answer: outfits.
5. Even numbers without repetition
Answer: The units digit has 2 choices (2 or 4), then the hundreds digit has 3 choices and the tens digit has 2. Thus .
6. Trip routes
Answer: routes.
7. Restricted combinations
Answer: There are unrestricted pairs. Remove the one forbidden pair: 11 combinations.
8. Two-digit numbers over 30
Answer: The tens digit can be 3, 4 or 5, giving 3 choices. Then 4 digits remain: .
9. Passwords
Answer: passwords.