Mathematical Methods Unit 1 Combinatorics Notes

When determining the probability of an event, we often need to know how many outcomes there are in the event and in the sample space. This can be done by: 1. listing all outcomes 2. Tree diagrams 3. Lattice diagrams

Sometimes listing the sample space is too difficult, so we use alternative ways to count the number of outcomes.

1. Addition Principle
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 type of transport can be used? Solution:

Example 2 Reannan wants to wear either a windcheater or a jacket or a shirt. She has 7 different windcheaters, 2 jackets and 3 shirts to choose from? How many choices does she have? Solution:

The Addition Rule To choose among alternatives, simply add up the available number of each alternative.

In general, if we have a and b and c different choices for the one event, then there will be a total of: a + b + c different possible choices.

2. Multiplication Principle:
Example 3 Alex wants to wear a shirt with a tie. He has 4 shirts to choose from and 3 ties. How many different styles of dress can Alan have? Solution:

The sequence of events can be represented by the boxed numbers method.

Shirts Ties

Each box contains the number of possible outcomes associated with the particular event.
Example 4 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? Solution:

The Multiplication Rule When sequential choices are involved the total number of possibilities is found by multiplying the number of options at each successive stage.

In general if there are a, b and c different choices for 3 different sequential events then there are: a x b x c different choices.

Example 5 Postcodes in Australia consists of 4 digits. The first digit represents the State or territory and can be any digit between 1 and 8 inclusive. (a) How many different postcodes are possible?

(b) How many different Victorian postcodes are possible?

Example 6 (a) In how many ways can you select a meal if you choose one entree, one main course and one dessert?

Entre Soup Antipasto Main Course Chicken Fish Steak Vegetarian Lasagna Dessert Fruit Salad Gelati Crme Brulee

(b) In how many ways can you select a 2 or 3 course meal?

Example 7 How may two digit or three digit numbers can be formed from the digits 1, 2, 3 .8 if the same digit may not be used more than once in any number?

Ex 12A 1 - 10
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3. Arranging Objects in a definite order Consider the bookshelf as having 3 possible positions in which books can be arranged. As we have 3 books there are three choices of books to place in position one. Having placed a book in position one, there are only two choices left for position two and similarly, after two books are placed there is only one choice for position three. Number of arrangements =
POSITION ONE POSITION TWO POSITION THREE

Using the multiplication principle = 3 x 2 x 1 = 6 Likewise if you have ten runners in a race, and you want to find how many different finishing orders are possible. There are ten choices for first position, leaving nine for second 2nd place, eight choices for 3rd place etc.

ie. Number of finishing orders = = For convenience we can write this as 10! which reads as ten factorial. To evaluate with a CAS calculator: Press Menu Select 5:Probability then select 1:Factorial In general, the number of ways of arranging n objects in a row is: n! = n(n 1)(n 2)x3 x 2 x 1 Taking the previous example, if we only wanted to the number of ways the first 3 places can be filled we would find,

Alternatively,

Using factorial notation, Number of arrangements =

n! (n r )!

where r is the size of the arranged group.

To evaluate with a CAS calculator: Press Menu Select 5:Probability 2:Permutations then type (n, r) 4

Example 1 If there are 14 teams in a football competition how many ways are there of filling the first 8 places.

Example 2 How many numbers each having 3 digits can be formed from the digits {1,2,3,4,5}, a) if a digit can be used more than once. b) if each digit can be used only once.

Example 3 If no digit can be used more than once, how many numbers can be formed from the digits {4,5,6,7,8,9} ? If they are to consist of, a) 5 digits b) 5 digits and even c) have a value greater than 8000

Example 4 (a) How many four letter words are to be made by arranging the letters of the word S P E C I A L.

(b) How many of these words start with a vowel?

Example 5 Ex 12B q15 p354

Example 6 How many different arrangements of the letters of the word Tuesday are possible if: (a) The first and last places are to filled by consonants? (b) The consonants and vowels are to occupy alternate positions?

Ex 12B 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13 & 14

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4. Selections where order is of no importance. In the previous section we were counting the number of ways in which objects can be chosen and then arranged, in this section we want to find the numbers of different groups of objects that can be selected but not arranged. For comparison lets consider a set of three people A,B,C if they were to be taken two at time, The possible arrangements would be AB, BA, BC, CB, AC, CA, Using the multiplication principle this would = The possible selections would be Note AB and BA are two different arrangements but represent only one selection of two people. Note also that each selection group contains 2 people who could be arranged among themselves in 2! Ways. Hence, Number of selections x 2! = number of arrangements Number of selections x 2! =

Number of selections =

we can denote the number of selections from 3 people taken 2 at a time by the symbol

or

To evaluate with a CAS calculator: Press Menu Select 5:Probability 3:Combinations then type (3, 2)

In general,

Cr =

n! where r is the size of the group selected. (n r )! r!

Example 1 In how many ways can a team of 11 cricket players be selected from 14 students.

Example 2 In a maths test consisting of 10 questions students are required to attempt 7 questions. How many choices are available to the students if the first question is compulsory and the last question carries a bonus and is not to be included in the 7 questions?

Example 3 A group of 20 students consists of 12 girls and 8 boys. A committee of 5 is to be selected To organize the school social: a) How many committees of five can be formed? b) How many committees will contain 3 girls and 2 boys? c) How many committees will contain at least 3 girls?

Example 4 In how many ways can six people be separated into 3 sets containing 3, 2, and 1 respectively?

Example 5 see Q11 EX 12C p359

Ex 12C 1 20 /{11, 19}

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4. Pascals Triangle Pascals triangle is an arrangement of particular whole numbers in a triangular pattern. Zero row 1st row 2nd row 3rd row 4th row 5th row nth row Pascals Triangle 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 4 6 4 1 1 5 10 10 5 1
2 3 4 5

Relationship to nCr 0 C0
1

Row total

Row number 0 1 2 3 4 5 n

C0 C1
5

1 2

C1 C2
5

C0
4

C0
5

C1
4

C2

C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 5C5 n C0 nC1nCn-1 nCn

C0

C1

C2

C3
5

C3

C4

Is there a pattern in the sequence? Yes, the sum of the entries in row n is __________ In general,
n

C0 + nC1 + nC2 ++ nCn-1 + nCn =

Example 1 Joshua is making a list for his dinner party. He has 20 friends and he cant decide how many to invite. If he may choose any number from one to all 20 to come to the party, how many possible dinner lists does he have? (Assume he must invite a minimum of one person) Note; He can invite 1 person consuming.
20

C1 or 2 people

20

C2 or 3 people 20C3 etc. to calculate very time

Joshuas total number of choices is But since we know that

Example 2 see Q19 EX 12C p360

5. Applications to probability. Example 1 Helen correctly picked the first and second horses in a race of ten horses. What is the probability of this, if each horse is equally likely to win.

Example 2 (a) How many different arrangements can be made from four of the letters of the word M A R B L E?

(b) In how many of these will a vowel come first?

(c) What is the probability that the word starts with a vowel?

(d) What is the probability that the word is MARE?

e) What is the probability that the word ARMS is formed?

Example 3 Three students are to be chosen to represent the class in a debate. If the class consists of 6 boys and 4 girls. What is the probability that the teams will contain; a) exactly one girl? b) at least two girls?

Ex 12D 1 11 / {9}
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