Cagayan State University – Carig Campus

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

Conceive Design Implement Operate
tel. No.(078) 304-12
Transforming Lives
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Counting Sample Points

(Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientist by Ronald Walpole, Raymond Myers, et. Al. )

In many cases, we shall be able to solve a probability problem by counting the

number of points in the sample space without actually listing each element.
The fundamental principle of counting, often referred to as the multiplication
rule.

Multiplication Rule
Rule: if an operation can be performed in N1 ways, and if for each of these a
second operation can be performed in N2 ways, and for each of the first two a
third operation can be performed in N3 ways, and so forth, then the sequence
of k operations can be performed in N1N2…Nk ways

From the example of getting 3 samples

N1=2
N2=2
N3=2

Therefore there are (2)(2)(2)=8 possible ways

Example
1. How many four digit numbers can be formed from the digits 1,2,5,6,9 if each
digit can be used only once.
�1 = �ℎ������
�2 = ℎ�������
�3 = ����
�4 = ����
�1 × �2 × �3 × �4
5 × 4 × 3 × 2 = 120

2. How many even four-digit numbers can be formed from the digits 0,1,2,5,6
and 9 if each digit can be used only once?

Representing the digits

�1 = �ℎ������
�2 = ℎ�������
�3 = ����
�4 = ����

There are two ways to write the ones digit �4 , the number zero and non zero.
If the ones digit is zero then there are 5 options on the thousands digit �1 . If
the ones digit is non zero (2,6 two options ) then there are just 4 options to
choose since the number zero cant be an option in the thousands digit. Then
 Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
Conceive Design Implement Operate
tel. No.(078) 304-12
Transforming Lives
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

there are only 4 options for hundreds �2 and 3 options for tens �3 for both
zero and nonzero digit.
In the figure

The Number of The Number of The Number of

If the digit �4 options in thousands option in hundreds option in tens
is
0 5 4 3

2 4 4 3

6 4 4 3

Using the Multiplication Rule

The number of sample space in the highlighted area is 1 × 5 × 4 × 3 = 60

In the figure

The Number of The Number of The Number of

If the digit �4 option in thousands option in hundreds option in tens
is

0 5 4 3

2 4 4 3

6 4 4 3

And

2 × 4 × 4 × 3 = 96

Thus the total number of sample points is 96 + 60 = 156

3. Three people A,B and C rode in a minibus that has six vacant seats on each side.
In how many ways can they be seated if A insists on sitting at the right side of the
minibus?
 Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
Conceive Design Implement Operate
tel. No.(078) 304-12
Transforming Lives
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

6(1 × 10 × 11) = 660

4. How many ways can 3 marines and 4 army soldiers be seated on a bench if the
marines must be seated together?
3 x2 x1 x4 x3 x2 x1
4 x3 x2 x1 x3 x2 x1
4 x3 x3 x2 x1 x2 x1
4 x3 x2 x3 x2 x1 x1
4 x3 x2 x1 x3 x2 x1

3 × 2 × 1 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 5 = 720