COUNTING PRINCIPLE
RULE 1: If one operation can be done in m ways and a second operation can be done in n ways then
the total possible number of different ways in which both operations can be done is m×n.
Example:
(a) A meal can be made up as follows:
Choice 1: meat, fish or chicken
Choice 2: mash, chips, baked potato, rice or vegetables. How many different meals can be made
using these choices?
(b) A gift pack can be made up as follows:
Choice 1: Choose one CD out of a possible 4 different CD’s
Choice 2: Choose one packet of chips out of a possible 5 different types
Choice 3: Choose one chocolate type out of a possible 12 different types
Choice 4: Choose one type of fruit out of a possible 3 different fruit types. How many different gift
packs can be made?
(c)Consider the word Tshifhena. You are required to form different nine-letter word arrangements
using the letters of the word Tshifhena if:
(i) the letters may be repeated? (ii) the letters may not be repeated?
(d) How many different ways are there of predicting the results of 6 soccer matches where each
match can end in either a win, lose or draw?
(e) An ATM card has a four-digit PIN. How many different PIN can be chosen if:
(i) The four digits can be repeated (ii) The four digits cannot be repeated?
RULE 2: The number of arrangements of n different things taken in n ways is: n!
Example:
(a) In how many ways can 6 different people be seated in the first 6 seats in a movie theatre?
(b) In how many ways can 16 people be seated in a row of 16 chairs?
(c) In how many ways can 34 people be seated in a row of 34 chairs?
RULE 3: The number of arrangements of n different things taken r at a time is given by n!/(n-r)!
Example:
(a) In how many ways can 7 vacant places be filled by 10 different people?
(b) There are 12 different swimmers that are hoping to occupy the first three places in swimming
competition. In how many different ways can the first three places be occupied?
(c) if the bus has 16 seats, how many ways can 27 people occupy seats if only one person is allowed
per seat?
Exercise:
Consider the word LOVERS.
(a) How many six-letter word arrangements can be made if the letters may be repeated?
(b) How many six-letter word arrangements can be made if the letters may not be repeated?
(c) How many four-letter word arrangements can be made if the letters may be repeated?
(d) How many four-letter word arrangements can be made if the letters may not be repeated?
ARRANGEMENTS OF OBJECTS IN A ROW
Example::
(a) In how many ways can three boys and two girls sit in a row?
(b) In how many ways can they sit in a row if a boy and his girlfriend must sit together?
(c) In how many ways can they sit in a row if the boys and girls are each to sit together?
(d) In how many ways can they sit in a row if just the girls are to sit together?
(e) In how many ways can they sit in a row if just the boys are to sit together?
(f) In how many ways can they sit in a row if the boys and girls are to alternate?
LETTER ARRANGEMENTS WHERE LETTERS ARE REPEATED
Consider the letters of the word MOM.
(a) How many word arrangements can be made with this word if the repeated letters are treated
as different letters?
(b) How many word arrangements can be made with this word if the repeated letters are treated
as identical?
Consider the letters of the word Tshikikinini:
(a) Determine the number of different ways that the letters can be arranged?
(b) If the word has to start with an S, how many different ways can the word be arranged?
(c) What is the probability that the word starts with a B?
Consider the letters of the word NEEDED.
(a) How many word arrangements can be made with this word if the repeated letters are treated
as different letters?
(b) How many word arrangements can be made with this word if the repeated letters are treated
as identical?
(c) How many word arrangements can be made with this word if the word starts and ends with the
same letter?
EXAMPLES INVOLVING PROBABILITY
(a) Consider the letters of the word DREAMS. If the letters are arranged in any order without
repetition to form different words, what is the probability that the word formed will start with D and
end with S?
(b) A combination to a lock is formed using three letters of the alphabet, excluding the letters O, Q, S,
U, V and W and using any three digits. The numbers and letters can be repeated.
Calculate the probability that a combination, chosen at random: (i) starts with the letter X and ends
with the number 6. (ii) has exactly one X. (iii) has one or more number 6 in it.
(c) Consider the letters of the word NEEDED. What is the probability that the word arrangement
formed will start and end with the same letter? The repeated letters are identical.
