10.2. Examples of Product Rule

Try these first

1. 1.

   How many ways can you assign 3 different gifts to 2 people?

   Hint

   Think about the choices for each person.

2. 2.

   If an office has 4 desks, how many ways can 2 different employees choose desks?

   Hint

   Use the product rule for independent choices.

3. 3.

   If a task can be done in 4 ways and another can be done in 3 ways, how many total ways?

   • 7
   • 12
   • 1

   Hint

   Recall the product rule.

4. 4.

   True or False: The product rule can apply when tasks are dependent.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about task dependencies.

5. 5.

   How many different passwords can a system allow with combinations of 3 letters and 2 digits?

   Hint

   Use the product rule on groups.

6. 6.

   Calculate the number of ways to arrange 5 different books on a shelf of 3 spaces.

   Hint

   Think about reducing options for each book placed.