COUNTING METHODS

4th Quarter Period

Math 8
IMPORTANCE
COUNTING METHODS are used to
determine the total number of
outcomes in an experiment. The
skill in these methods is also vital in
solving the probability of an event.
4 DIFFERENT COUNTING METHODS
1. TABLE METHOD
2. TREE DIAGRAM
3. SYSTEMATIC LISTING
4. FUNDAMENTAL COUNTING
PRINCIPLE (FCP)
EXAMPLE 1:

FIND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF

OUTCOMES WHEN A COIN IS
FLIPPED TWICE.
A. Table Method
 B. TREE DIAGRAM

1 ST FLIP

2 ND FLIP
Outcomes: HH, HT, TH, TT
C. SYSTEMATIC LISTING

S = { HH, HT, TH, TT }

D. FCP
The total number of outcomes is
the product of the possible
outcomes at each step in the
sequence.
2 x 2 = 4
1st flip 2nd flip total outcomes
EXAMPLE 2:
A new polo shirt is released in 3
different colors and 3 different
sizes. How many different color
and size combinations are available
to the public?
COLORS = RED, BLUE, YELLOW
SIZES = SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
A. TABLE METHOD
 B. TREE DIAGRAM

COLORS

SIZES
WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES?
C. SYSTEMATIC LISTING

S = {RS, RM, RL, BS, BM, BL,

YS, YM, YL}
D. FCP
3 X 3 = 9
colors sizes outcomes
 GROUP ACTIVITY
1. Find all the possible outcomes
when a coin is flipped 3 times.
(Use the tree diagram only and
check your answer using FCP)
2. Complete the table on page 572
of the Math Book and answer
the questions on page 573.
 EXERCISES
1. A student has to take one course of
physics, one of history and one of
mathematics. He may choose one of 3
physics courses (P1, P2, P3), one of 2
history courses (H1, H2) and one of 2
mathematics courses (M1, M2). In how
many ways can this student select the
3 courses he has to take?
2. To buy a computer system, a
customer can choose one of 2
monitors, one of 2 keyboards, and
one of 3 printers. Determine the
number of possible systems that a
customer can choose from.
3. A student can select one of 2
different mathematics books, one
of 3 different english books and
one of 2 different science books.
In how many different ways can a
student select a book of
mathematics, a book of english
and a book of science?
4. There are 3 different roads from
city A to city B and 2 different
roads from city B to city C. In how
many ways can someone go from
city A to city C passing by city B?
5. A man has 3 different suits, 4
different shirts and 3 different pairs
of shoes. In how many different
ways can this man wear a suit, a
shirt and a pair of shoes?
7. A coin is tossed and a die is
rolled. What is the total number of
all possible outcomes?
6. In a company , ID cards have 5
digit numbers.
a) How many ID cards can be
formed if repetition of the digit is
allowed?
b) How many ID cards can be
formed if repetition of the digit is
not allowed?