Question

can some one teel me how to work out probability e.g. a clothing scenario... 3 hats, 5 shirts, 8 pants, 6 socks, and 4 shoes. how many different outfits? Please show working!!!

Answer 1

It's simply 3 * 5 * 8 * 6 * 4

Answer 2

Let's take an example of 2 shoes and 2 socks, we have 2 shoes for every 2 socks.

Answer 3

So we multiply.

Answer 4

is there a scenario where it might not use this method?

Answer 5

There are some questions that are changed so that the question is made difficult. let me think.

Answer 6

They manipulate the questions sometimes.

Answer 7

Like if you have five letters A,B,C,D,A.. how many different ways can you fill it in?

Answer 8

We'll not have 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1, but we'll have (5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1)/2

Answer 9

Because the letters are repeating, get it?

Answer 10

not really, sorry DX

Answer 11

And now think if you have five letters A,A,A,B and C. The number of ways you can fill them in is 5!/3!

Answer 12

When something repeats, then we have (number of letters)! over (number of times the letter repeats)!

Answer 13

! means factorial.

Answer 14

yes ok i see what you are geting at!!

Answer 15

Why do we divide? Think of letters A,A,A,B,C.. now let's name the 3 A's
First is A1.
Second is A2.
Third is A3.

Answer 16

If we have something like this - A1, A2, A3, B, C
and then this - A2, A1, A3, B, C

Of course they aren't any different, because A1, A2 and A3 are just damn A's!

Answer 17

haha i get what you mean XD

Answer 18

Exactly xP

Answer 19

So we divide the number of ways the 3 A's can be arranged, which is just 3 factorial :P

Answer 20

so if the A's did matter then it would just be 5!

Answer 21

Yep you got it!

Answer 22

ok thanks a lot XD