Last visit was: 08 Nov 2024, 16:12 It is currently 08 Nov 2024, 16:12

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
GRE Prep Club Team Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2017
Posts: 2508
Own Kudos [?]: 3582 [12]
Given Kudos: 1053
GPA: 3.39
Send PM
Most Helpful Community Reply
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12184 [6]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
General Discussion
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Jan 2021
Posts: 44
Own Kudos [?]: 43 [4]
Given Kudos: 463
GPA: 3.9
Send PM
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Feb 2016
Posts: 42
Own Kudos [?]: 27 [1]
Given Kudos: 6
Send PM
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
1
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
GeminiHeat wrote:
The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models of cars available, Model A and Model B, each of which is available in four colors: blue, black, red, and green. How many different combinations of three cars can the Carsons select if all the cars are to be different colors?

A. 24

B. 32

C. 48

D. 60

E. 192


Take the task of selecting cars and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Select 3 different colors.
Since the order in which we select the colors does not matter, we can use combinations.
We can select 3 colors from 4 colors in 4C3 ways (4 ways).

ASIDE: If anyone is interested, we have a video on calculating combinations (like 4C3) in your head (see below)

Stage 2: For one color, choose a model
There are two models (A or B) so this stage can be accomplished in 2 ways.

Stage 3: For another color, choose a model
There are two models (A or B) so this stage can be accomplished in 2 ways.

Stage 4: For the last remaining color, choose a model
There are two models (A or B) so this stage can be accomplished in 2 ways.

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP) we can complete all 4 stages (and thus select the 3 cars) in (4)(2)(2)(2) ways (= 32 ways)

Answer: B

Note: the FCP can be used to solve the MAJORITY of counting questions on the GRE. So, be sure to learn it.


FCP is indeed a great method to solve such problems. Could you mention any situations in counting problems where FCP isn't appropriate?
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12184 [1]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
1
computerbot wrote:
FCP is indeed a great method to solve such problems. Could you mention any situations in counting problems where FCP isn't appropriate?


The most common situation in which the FCP won't work is when the order in which we select objects doesn't matter (i.e., combination questions)
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 05 Aug 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 6
Send PM
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
I understand the approach of 4c3 x 2 x 2 x 2 (Here we are selecting three colors out of 4 and the 3 cars can be any of the A,)


What is wrong with my approach

Ways to select first car -> 4c1 * 2c1 = 8
Ways to select first car -> 3c1 * 2c1 = 6
Ways to select first car -> 2c1 * 2c1 = 4
8+6+4 = 18

Any help is appreciated
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 29915
Own Kudos [?]: 36151 [0]
Given Kudos: 25894
Send PM
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
Expert Reply
We are selecting 3 different color cars out of 4 possible colors. In how many ways it can be done? \(C^3_4=4\), selecting 3 out of 4.

Next, there are 2 models of each selected car of a certain color available, hence each selected car has 2 options: Model A or Model B. Since there are 3 selected cars then total ways is 2*2*2.

Grand total 4*2^3=32.
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 05 Aug 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 6
Send PM
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
Carcass wrote:
We are selecting 3 different color cars out of 4 possible colors. In how many ways it can be done? \(C^3_4=4\), selecting 3 out of 4.

Next, there are 2 models of each selected car of a certain color available, hence each selected car has 2 options: Model A or Model B. Since there are 3 selected cars then total ways is 2*2*2.

Grand total 4*2^3=32.


Could you please highlight the mistake in my approach
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 29915
Own Kudos [?]: 36151 [0]
Given Kudos: 25894
Send PM
The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
Expert Reply
\(C^3_4*2^3=4*8=32\), (\(C^3_4\) selecting 3 different colors from 4 and multiplying by 2*2*2=2^3 since each color car has two options: model A or model B).

but your mistake is common

quote

Quote:
The method of selecting 8 for the first choice, 6 for the second and 4 for the third is what we call 'basic counting principle'. When you do 8*6*4, you are effectively selecting and ARRANGING the cars: you say 'The FIRST car is selected in 8 ways, the SECOND car in 6 ways etc'. But you don't have a first second third car. You only have a group of 3 cars. So to un-arrange (so to say), you need to divide by 3!


Hope now is clear

see more here for the counting method https://gre.myprepclub.com/forum/gre-permu ... tml#p83002
Intern
Intern
Joined: 05 Feb 2024
Posts: 26
Own Kudos [?]: 17 [1]
Given Kudos: 151
Send PM
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
1
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
computerbot wrote:
FCP is indeed a great method to solve such problems. Could you mention any situations in counting problems where FCP isn't appropriate?


The most common situation in which the FCP won't work is when the order in which we select objects doesn't matter (i.e., combination questions)





But don't you think that even in this case the order didn't really matter?

We could've chosen any car at any position. We just had to choose 3 different cars.
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: The Carson family will purchase three used cars. There are two models [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
77 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1111 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne