MODULE NO.
2
COUNTING SAMPLE POINTS
UNION - INTERSECTION COUNTING FORMULA
Let 𝐴 and 𝐵 be the events, then the number of elements in
the union of these two events is defined by:
𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) = 𝑛 𝐴 + 𝑛 𝐵 − 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵)
Example 1. An investment club has 205 members, 148 of whom
invest in either stocks or bonds. Suppose 96 invest in stocks and
75 invest in bonds. How many invest in both stocks and bonds?
Solution:
Determine 𝑛(𝑆 ∩ 𝐵) ; members who invested in both stocks and
bonds.
For 𝑛(𝑆 ∩ 𝐵)
𝑛(𝑆 ∪ 𝐵) = 𝑛 𝑆 + 𝑛 𝐵 − 𝑛(𝑆 ∩ 𝐵)
where
𝑆 → members who invested in stocks
𝐵 → members who invested in bonds
𝑆 ∪ 𝐵 → members who invested in either stocks or bonds
𝑆 ∩ 𝐵 → members who invested in both stocks and bonds
Hence
148 = 96 + 75 − 𝑛(𝑆 ∩ 𝐵)
𝑛 𝑆 ∩ 𝐵 = 96 + 75 − 148
𝑛 𝑆 ∩ 𝐵 = 23 members ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
THE MULTIPLICATION PRINCIPLE
Suppose 𝑘 events 𝐸1 , 𝐸2 , 𝐸3 , . . . , 𝐸𝑘 are to be performed in
order in such a way that each event is independent of the
others. If event 𝐸1 can be performed in 𝑛(𝐸1 ) ways, event 𝐸2 in
𝑛(𝐸2 ) ways, event 𝐸3 in 𝑛(𝐸3 ) ways, and so on, then the total
number of ways N of performing all k events is given by the
product;
𝑁 = 𝑛 𝐸1 ∙ 𝑛 𝐸2 ∙ 𝑛 𝐸3 ∙. . .∙ 𝑛(𝐸𝑘 )
Example1. A word is an ordered list of letters. (a) How many 3
letter words can be made using the letters of the alphabet? (b)
How many 3 letter words can be made in which the second letter
is a vowel?
Solution:
a. determine 𝑁1 ; the number of 3 letter word formed
Let 𝐴 = 𝑥 𝑥 is a letter in the alphabet ; hence 𝑛 𝐴 = 26
For 𝑁1
𝑁1 = 𝑛(𝐴) ∙ 𝑛(𝐴) ∙ 𝑛(𝐴)
= 26 26 26
𝑁1 = 17,576 words ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
b. determine 𝑁2 ; number of 3 letter words formed
Let 𝐵 = 𝑥 𝑥 is a vowel ; hence 𝑛 𝐵 = 5
For 𝑁2
𝑁2 = 𝑛 𝐴 ∙ 𝑛 𝐵 ∙ 𝑛 𝐴
= 26 5 26
𝑁1 = 3,380 words ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Example 2. (a) How many 3 digit sequences can be made from the
digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9? (b) How many 3 digit sequences are
there in which the first digit is not zero? (c) How many 3 digit
sequences are there in which the first digit is not zero and there are no
6’s?
Solution:
a. determine 𝑁1 ; number of 3 digit sequences formed
Let: 𝐴 = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 hence 𝑛 𝐴 = 10
For 𝑁1
𝑁1 = 𝑛(𝐴) ∙ 𝑛(𝐴) ∙ 𝑛(𝐴)
= 10 10 10
𝑁1 = 1,000 sequences ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
b. determine 𝑁2 ; number of 3 digit sequences formed
Let 𝐵 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}; hence 𝑛 𝐵 = 9
For 𝑁2
𝑁2 = 𝑛(𝐵) ∙ 𝑛(𝐴) ∙ 𝑛(𝐴)
= 9 10 10
𝑁2 = 900 sequences ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
c. determine 𝑁3 ; number of 3 digit sequences formed
Let 𝐶 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9}; hence 𝑛 𝐶 = 8
Let 𝐷 = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9}; hence 𝑛 𝐷 = 9
For 𝑁3
𝑁3 = 𝑛(𝐶) ∙ 𝑛(𝐷) ∙ 𝑛(𝐷)
= 8 9 9
𝑁3 = 648 sequences ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
PERMUTATION
A permutation is a rearrangement of objects in which the
order of selection is important.
T.1: The number of permutations of 𝑛 distinct objects
taken all together is
𝑁 = 𝑛!; ( read as 𝑛 factorial )
T.2: The number of permutations of 𝑛 distinct objects
taken 𝑟 at a time is given by
𝑛!
𝑁 = nPr = 𝑛 𝑛 − 1 ∙ 𝑛 − 2 ∙ . . . ∙ 𝑛 − 𝑟 + 1 =
𝑛−𝑟 !
T.3: The number of permutations of 𝑛 distinct objects
arranged in a circle is
𝑁 = 𝑛−1 !
T.4: The number of distinct permutations of 𝑛 objects of which
𝑛1 are of one kind, 𝑛2 of a second kind, . . . , 𝑛𝑘 of a 𝑘 𝑡ℎ kind is
𝑛!
𝑁=
𝑛1 ! ∙ 𝑛2 ! ∙ . . . ∙ 𝑛𝑘 !
T.5: The number of ways of partitioning a set of 𝑛 objects into
𝑟 cells with 𝑛1 elements in the first
𝑡ℎ
cell, 𝑛2 elements in the second
cell, . . . , 𝑛𝑟 elements in the 𝑟 cell is
𝑛 𝑛!
𝑁 = 𝑛 ,𝑛 , . . . ,𝑛 =
1 2 𝑟 𝑛1 !∙𝑛2 !∙ . . . ∙𝑛𝑟 !
where
𝑛 = 𝑛1 + 𝑛2 + . . . + 𝑛𝑟
A tree diagram is a configuration that can be used to
represent pictorially the number of permutations
COMBINATION
A combination is any subset of size 𝑟 of 𝑛 distinct objects
where order does not matter.
T.6: The number of combinations of 𝑛 distinct objects
taken 𝑟 at a time is
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 − 1 ∙ 𝑛 − 2 ∙ . . . ∙(𝑛 – 𝑟 + 1) 𝑛!
𝑁 = nCr = = =
𝑟 𝑟! 𝑟! 𝑛 − 𝑟 !
T.7: The number of combinations to simultaneously
select 𝑟1 elements, from a set containing 𝑛1 elements, 𝑟2
elements from a set containing 𝑛2 elements, . . . , 𝑟𝑘
elements from a set containing 𝑛𝑘 elements is
𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛𝑘
𝑁 = 𝑟 ∙ 𝑟 ∙ . . .∙ 𝑟
1 2 𝑘
Example 1. How many 4 letter words in which no letter is
repeated can be made with the 26 letters of the alphabet?
Solution:
determine 𝑁; number of 4 letter words
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 26P4
26!
=
26 − 4 !
𝑁 = 358,800 words ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Example 2. A committee has 3 freshmen and 3 sophomores.
In how many ways can they be seated so that freshmen and
sophomores take alternate seats?
Solution:
determine 𝑁; number of ways
Let:
𝑛1 = 3; number of freshmen
𝑛2 = 3; number of sophomores
𝑛 = 2; number of patterns:
𝐹 𝑆 𝐹 𝑆 𝐹 𝑆 and (𝑆 𝐹 𝑆 𝐹 𝑆 𝐹)
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 𝑛 ∙ 𝑛1 ! ∙ 𝑛2 !
= (2) ∙ 3! ∙ 3!
𝑁 = 72 ways ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Example 3. How many distinct permutations can be made
from the letters of the word “statistics”?
Solution:
determine 𝑁; number of permutations
Let:
𝑛1 = 3; number of s
𝑛2 = 3; number of t
𝑛3 = 2; number of i
𝑛4 = 1; number of a
𝑛5 = 1; number of c
𝑛 = 3 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 10
For 𝑁
𝑛!
𝑁=
𝑛1 ! ∙ 𝑛2 ! ∙ 𝑛3 ! ∙ 𝑛4 ! ∙ 𝑛5 !
10!
𝑁=
3! ∙ 3! ∙ 2! ∙ 1! ∙ 1!
𝑁 = 50,400 ways ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Example 5. In a third-grade class there are 10 boys and 12 girls.
How many ways can you select 7 children so that 3 are boys and 4
are girls?
Solution:
determine 𝑁; number of ways
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 10C3 ∙ 12C4
10! 12!
= ∙
3! 10 − 3 ! 4! 12 − 4 !
𝑁 = 59,400 ways ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Example 6. From a group of 5 men and 3 women, how many
committees of 3 people are possible (a) with no restrictions, (b) with
two men and one woman, (c) with one man and two women if a
certain woman must be on the committee?
Solution:
a. determine 𝑁; number of committees
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 8C3
8!
=
3! 8 − 3 !
𝑁 = 56 committees ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
b. determine 𝑁; number of committees
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 5C2 ∙ 3C1
5! 3!
= ∙
2! 5 − 2 ! 1! 3 − 1 !
𝑁 = 30 committees ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
c. determine 𝑁; number of committees
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 5C1 ∙ 2C1
5! 2!
= ∙
1! 5 − 1 ! 1! 2 − 1 !
𝑁 = 10 committees ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Example 7. How many distinguishable sequences can be made from
the letters AAAABBBCC?
Solution:
determine 𝑁; number of sequences
For 𝑁
𝑁 = 9C4 ∙ 5C3 ∙ 2C2
9! 5! 2!
= ∙ ∙
4! 9 − 4 ! 3! 5 − 3 ! 2! 2 − 2 !
𝑁 = 1,260 sequences ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
EXERCISE NO. 2
1. A radio station is trying to decide whether to feature classical music
or rock. The station surveys 200 people and finds that 100 people
prefer rock music, and 35 prefer neither rock nor classical. music. How
many people prefer just classical music?
2. A college investment club has 100 members. The students in the
club are polled, and it is found that 40 students read The Peoples
Journal and 55 read Bulletin Today. If 15 students read neither paper,
how many read both papers?
3. A group of faculty members at a small college operate a carpool to
three kinds of activities; baseball games, opera, and the theater.
Suppose there are 86 families in the carpool and that in a given month
11 families attend none of the activities
33 families go to baseball games
35 families go to opera
39 families go to theater
14 families go to just baseball games
17 families go to just the theater
15 families go to just the opera
a. How many families go to all three activities?
b. How many families go to baseball games and the opera but not
the theater?
c. How many families go to at least two activities?
4. A local radio station conducts a survey in which each person in a
certain group is asked whether they have a dog, a cat, or a bird (sets
𝐷, 𝐶, and 𝐵)respectively. Suppose that 300 people were surveyed and that
130 have cats
135 have dogs
80 have birds
57 have dogs and cats
45 have dogs and birds
27 have cats and birds
15 have all three kinds of pets
How many people have no pets?
5. A menu lists two soups, three meat dishes, and five desserts. How
many different meals are possible consisting of one soup, one meat
dish, and a dessert?
6. In a lottery, a contestant is asked to pick a letter of the alphabet and
3 numbers from 0 to 9. How many possible such combinations are
there?
7. A shipment of 12 television sets contains 3 defective sets. In how
many ways can a hotel purchase 4 of these sets and receive at least 2
of the defective sets?
8..Six cards are chosen from an ordinary 52-card deck. In how many
ways is it possible to get:
a. all black cards b. all 4 aces?
c. all face cards? d. no face cards?
9. How many bridge hands are possible containing five spades, three
diamonds, three clubs, and two hearts?
10. From three red, four green, and five yellow apples, how
many selections consisting of six apples are possible if two of
each color are to be selected?
11. A class of 25 children is to be split into 4 groups: group A is
to have 8 children, group B is to have 9, group C is to have 5,
and group D is to have 3. How many ways are there to do this?
12. A senate committee consists of 5 Democrats, 4 Republicans,
and 2 Independents. How many 5 person sub-committees can
be formed that contain at least 2 Democrats and one
Republican?
13. In how many orders can three girls and two boys walk
through a doorway single file, given the following conditions?
a. There are no restrictions.
b. The boys go before the girls.
c. The girls go before the boys.
14. A shipment of twelve microwave ovens contains three
defective units. In how many ways can a vending company
purchase four of these units and receive (a) all good units, (b) two
good units, and (c) at least two good units?
15. Five cards are selected from an ordinary deck of 52 playing
cards. In how many ways can you get a full house? (A full house
consists of three of one kind and two of another; example: 𝐾𝐾𝐾88,
𝐴𝐴𝐴55).
16. Four people are to be selected at random from a group of four
couples. In how many ways can this be done, given the following
conditions?
a. There are no restrictions.
b. There is to be at least one couple in the group of four.
c. The selection must include one member from each couple.
17. A committee is comprised of 5 mathematicians, 2 historians, 7
economists, and 5 scientists. How many sub committees of 4
members can be formed if the sub committee must contain:
a. at least one mathematician;
b. at least one member from each area;
c. at most 3 economists.
18. A license plate has 3 letters followed by 3 numbers.
a. How many different license plates are there if both letters
and numbers cannot be repeated?
b. How many different license plates are there if letters
cannot be repeated but numbers can?
c. How many different plates are there if both letters and
numbers can be repeated?
19. A basketball team has 5 guards, 6 forwards, and 2 centers.
How many different 5 player teams can be chosen if it is required
to have:
a. exactly 2 guards, 2 forwards, and one center?
b. at least 2 guards?
20. a. How many 7 letter words, in which no letter is used more than
once, can you make from the letters of the alphabet? ( A word is just a
combination of letters; it need not have any meaning).
b. How many 7 letter words can you make if repeated letters are
allowed?
21. A deck of cards contains 7 red, 5 black, 8 orange, and 9 white cards.
a. How many different 4 card hands can be chosen from this deck?
b. How many different 4 card hands containing only white cards
are there?
c. How many different 4 card hands are there that contain only
black or white cards?
22. If the letters of the word volume are arranged in all possible ways,
find:
a. the number of words that ends in a vowel;
b. the number of words that start with a consonant and ends in a
vowel?
23. A high school wants to buy 6 minicomputers for its
computer laboratory from a local supplier. The supplier has 10
minicomputers in stock of which 4 are foreign made.
a. Find how many ways are there to buy 6
minicomputers from the supplier.
b. Find how many ways are there if the high school
wants 4 domestic and 2 foreign made computers.
24. A geology professor has 5 silicates, 7 pyrites, and 8
carbonates in a rock collection. He picks 6 rocks at random for
a student to analyze. Find the number of ways picking (a) 2
silicates, 1 pyrite, and 3 carbonates; (b) 3 silicates; (c) 2
silicates and 3 pyrites; (d) 3 pyrites and 2 carbonates; and (e)
4 carbonates.