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Counting Rules in Probability

The document discusses key concepts in probability and statistics including experiments, sample spaces, counting rules, permutations, and combinations. It provides examples and formulas for calculating the number of possible outcomes in multi-step experiments, permutations, and combinations. The number of possible outcomes is determined using formulas like nPr, nCr, and factorials that take into account the total number of objects and number selected.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
35 views14 pages

Counting Rules in Probability

The document discusses key concepts in probability and statistics including experiments, sample spaces, counting rules, permutations, and combinations. It provides examples and formulas for calculating the number of possible outcomes in multi-step experiments, permutations, and combinations. The number of possible outcomes is determined using formulas like nPr, nCr, and factorials that take into account the total number of objects and number selected.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SECTION K.

Chapter 59

1
PowerPoint slides from Lombard C, van der Merwe L, Kele T & Mouton A also used
▪ Experiment
▪ The process followed in order to obtain an
experimental value or outcome.
▪ Experimental unit is the object on which the
observations are made.
▪ Results of experiment are called outcomes.

Example:
Experiment - the process of tossing a coin
Experimental unit – the coin that is tossed
Outcome – Heads or Tails from a tossed coin
2
▪ Sample space
▪ Collection of all possible outcomes of an
experiment.
▪ It is denoted by S.
▪ List all possible outcomes inside braces.
▪S={ }
S

3
▪ Multi-step experiments
▪ The number of outcomes for ‘k’ trails each with the
same ‘n’ possible outcomes.
▪ The number of outcomes in S = nk.
▪ Example
▪ How many ways can 10 multiple choice question
with 4 possible answers be answered:
▪ 410 = 1 048 576 ways

4
▪ Multi-step experiments
▪ The number of outcomes for ‘j’ trails each with a
different number of ‘n’ outcomes.
▪ The number of outcomes in S = n1 x n2 … X nj
▪ Example
▪ Need to order a meal where you can pick ‘1’
burger from ‘8’, ’1’ cool drink from ’10’, ‘1’ ice
cream from ‘5’.
▪ Number of possible orders: 8×10×5 = 400

5
COUNTING RULES
Multi-step Experiments
Example:
• How many elements are in a sample space if a coin is tossed 3 times?
S = n k = 23 = 8

S = {HHH; HHT; HTH; THH; TTH; THT; HTT; TTT}

• How many elements are in a sample space if a coin is tossed 6 times?

S = n = 2 = 64
k 6
26 = 64
Number of elements in a sample space is 64

• 3 coins are tossed and a die is rolled to make an observation.

(2) (2) (2) (6) = ( 2 ) ( 6 ) = 48


1 1 1 3

6
COUNTING RULES
Multi-step Experiments

7
▪ The factorial
▪ The number of ways in which ‘r’ objects can be
arranged in a row, without replacement.
▪ r! = r×(r – 1)×(r – 2)× …×3×2×1
▪ Note r! = 0! = 1
▪ Example
▪ Six athletes compete in a race. The number of
order arrangements for completing the race.
▪ 6! = 720 different ways

8
COUNTING RULES
The Factorial

9
SECTION K. Chapter 59
▪ Permutation
▪ Select r objects without replacement from a larger
set of n objects, order of selection is important.
▪ n!
n Pr =
(n − r )!
▪ Example
▪ Six athletes in a race, how many ways to
compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals.
▪ 6!
Pr = 6 P3 = = 120
(6 − 3)!
n

10
COUNTING RULES
Permutations

n! 8! 40320
n Pr = = = = 336
( n − r )! (8 − 3)! 120
11
▪ Combination
▪ Select r objects without replacement from a larger
set of n objects, order of selection not important.
▪ n!
n Cr =
r !(n − r )!
▪ Example
▪ Six lotto numbers should be selected form a
possible 49 – order of selection not important.

49!
n Cr = 49 C6 = = 13 983 816
6!(49 − 6)!
12
COUNTING RULES
Combination

Examples:

1. How many different ways can you select 2 letters


from the set of letters: X, Y, and Z? (Order is NOT
important; i.e., XY is considered the same
selection as YX.)
( n
r ) = r !( n − r )! = 2!( 3 − 2 )! = 2 (1)! = 3
n! 3! 6

There are 3 possible arrangements. {XY, XZ, YZ}

13
Lombard C, van der Merwe L, Kele T and
Mouton S. 2012. Elementary Statistics for
Business and Economics

14

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