Question

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Answer 1

So it doesn't actually matter whether I get a gold medal or a silver one?

Answer 2

Meaning, winning first place is the same as winning second?

Answer 3

yeah it is combination so order doesn't matter

Answer 4

Okay, then that would be \(\large _3C_3=1\). Gold-silver-bronze is the same as silver-bronze-gold and all the other possible permutations, so you can count them all as one combination.

Answer 5

i don't think so that this question is combination,, is it??

Answer 6

Well you're the one that said "combination" in the question...

Answer 7

But counting the number of combinations/permutations IS a counting principle. Every principle you learn is pretty much derived from the multiplication/addition rules.

Answer 8

but the have different formula, isn't that right ??

Answer 9

The only thing up for debate here is the word choice in the question. It asks for combination, so I expect you'd give the number of combinations.

If we want to find the number of permutations, then you would compute \(\large_3P_3\) which indeed has a different value.

Answer 10

Identifying which computational approach you use is pretty easy to get used to. You already have an understanding of the order mattering for permutations and not mattering for combinations, right? If you understand when to use that stuff, you should have an even higher understanding of when to use the multiplication/addition rules.