Counting Rules

Tree Diagram

Addition principle
Two operations can be
performed in A or B ways
respectively
then both operations can be
performed together in

A + B ways

Illustrative example 1
To reach the top of the hill, Jack
and Jill can use public transport
(tram or bus) or private
transport (hire-car, taxi or
motorbike).
In how many ways can Jack and
Jill go up the
hill if only one form of transport
is to be used for the entire trip?
Answer: 2 + 3 = 5 ways

Illustrative example 2
A particular mathematics
problem can be solved in 2 ways
using analytical methods, in 4
ways using approximation
techniques and in 3 ways by trial
and error strategies.
In how many ways can the
problem be solved?
Answer: 2 + 4 + 3 = 9 ways

Multiplication Principle
If two operations can be
performed in A and B ways
respectively,
then both operations can be
performed in succession in

A B ways

Illustrative example
From a cafeteria 4-course lunch menu, I can
choose 3 varieties of soup, 5 types of
seafood, 4 kinds of side dish and 2 types of
salad.
a. How many different dishes are offered?
b. How many different lunches can be
ordered if one dish from each course is
selected?
c. How many different types of dish are
possible if soup and seafood must be
included with each order?

Solution
a. The 4-course menu offers:
3 + 5 + 4 + 2 = 14 different dishes.
b.

Solution
c.
soup and seafood only
soup and seafood and a side
dish only

Permutations involving
restrictions
Identical Objects
Grouped objects
Arrangements in a circle

Identical Objects
The number of ways of
arranging n objects, which
include n1 identical objects of
one type, n2 identical objects of
another type, n3 identical
objects of yet another type and
so on is:

Grouped Objects
If n objects are to be divided
into m groups with each group
having
G1, G2, G3, . . . Gm objects
respectively,
the number of arrangements is
given by

Illustrative example 1
In how many ways can the
letters A, B, C, D be
positioned in a row if A and
B must be next to each
other?

Solution
Grouped AB or BA

If A and B are to be together we consider

the problem to be one of arranging 3
objects, say X, C and D, where one of the
objects, X is the group containing A and
B.

The 3 objects can be arranged in

3! ways and within the group A
and B can themselves be
arranged in 2! ways (namely AB
and BA).
The multiplication principle is
now used so that the number of

Illustrative
example
2
Consider the permutations if A, B, C
must be together.

Solution
We view the letters as consisting of
two objects X and D, where X is the
group of letters A, B and C.
Thus we have two objects to arrange
in 2! Ways

XD

and

DX

Illustrative Example 3
Five cars a Toyota, a Ford, a
Commodore, a Corolla and a
BMW are to be parked side by
side.
In how many ways can this be
done if the Toyota and BMW are
not to be parked next to each
other?

Solution
The five cars can be arranged in 5! ways
without
restriction.
Number of ways of arranging 5 cars = 5!
Calculate the number of arrangements where
the Toyota and BMW are together (4! 2!).
Number of ways where the Toyota and BMW
are not together = 5! 4! 2!
(Subtract from the unrestricted number of
arrangements the number of ways the two
cars are together)

Illustrative Example 4
The letters of the word REPLETE
are arranged in a row.
In how many ways can this be
done if the letters R and P must
not be together?

Solution
Find the number of unrestricted
arrangements of the 7 letters and consider
that there are 3 identical Es.
Calculate the (restricted) number of ways R
and P are together. Consider R and P as one
object so there are 6 objects to arrange.
There are three Es to consider (3! ways). R
and P can be arranged in 2! ways within their
group.
Subtract the number of ways with R and P
together from the total number of
arrangements.

Arrangements in a circle

n distinguishable objects
can be arranged in a circle
in

(n 1)! ways.

Illustrative example
Anna, Betty and Lin stand on the
circumference of a circle painted
on the schools playground.
How many different
arrangements are there?

Solution

Notice that Anna is locked in

position to provide a reference point
and Betty and Lin are arranged
around Anna in 2! (= 2) ways.

Illustrative Example 2
Continuing previous problem
Susie now joins the group to
make 4 people in a circle.
How many different
arrangements are now there?

Solution
We can designate any of the 4 girls
in the circle as our start by fixing
one person (in this case, Anna) in
one position and arranging the
remaining girls around her. This
reduces by one person the number
of girls to arrange.

Illustrative example 1
A captain and vice-captain are to
be chosen from a group
consisting of 10 cricket players.
From the remaining 8 players, 3
will be selected to be the wicket
keeper, spin bowler and fast
bowler.
Calculate how many different
ways the 5 positions can be
allocated.

 A box contains 16 marbles

numbered 1, 2, 3, . . . , 16. One
marble is randomly selected.
Let A be the event the marble
selected is a prime number
greater than 3 and
let B be the event the marble
selected is an odd number.
Are A and B mutually exclusive
events (MEE) or Independent
Events (IE)?

Illustrative Example
A card is chosen from a pack of 52
playing cards and its suit noted; then it
is returned to the pack before another
card is chosen.
Is this MEE or IE
Calculate the probability of choosing
i. two hearts
ii. a diamond then a spade
iii. a heart and a club.