The Multiplication Principle – Outschool

The Multiplication Principle Lesson

If there are m ways of doing action 1 and n ways of doing action 2, then there are m • n ways of doing both actions.

HOW WILL THIS LOOK ON THE ACT?

Basic Multiplication Principle

Johnny is going to make a sandwich with 1 of three meat choices, 1 of four bread choices, and 1 of two condiment choices. How many different sandwiches are possible?

3 meat choices • 4 bread choices • 2 condiment choices

→ 24 different possible sandwiches

Multiplication Principle with Fractions

If Li Yung birdies hole 17 one-half of the time and birdies hole 18 one-third of the time, what is the probability of Li birdieing both holes 17 and 18 in the same round?

Probability = [latex]frac{1}{2} cdot frac{1}{3}[/latex]

→ [latex]frac{1}{6}[/latex]

We would predict Li would birdie both holes 1/6 of the time.

(This assumes birdieing the holes are independent events.)

The Multiplication Principle Quiz