GRE Subject Test: Math : Combinational Analysis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #37 : Permutation / Combination

Jill is picking out outfits for a three-day weekend, one for Friday, one for Saturday, and one for Sunday.

Fortunately all of her clothes match together really well, so she can be creative with her options, though she's decided each outfit is going to be a combination of blouse, skirt, and shoes.

She'll be picking from ten blouses, twelve skirts, and eight pairs of shoes. How many ways could her weekend ensemble be lined up?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this problem, order matters! Wearing a particular blouse on Friday is not the same as wearing it on Sunday. So that means that this problem will be dealing with permutations.

With  selections made from  potential options, the total number of possible permutations(order matters) is:

What we'll do is calculate the number of permutations for her blouses, skirts, and shoes seperately (determining how the Friday/Saturday/Sunday blouses/skirts/shoes could be decided), and then multiply these values.

Blouses:

Skirts:

Shoes:

Thus the number of potential outfit assignments is

Example Question #1 : Permutations

Abby, Bryan, Cindy, Doug, and Ernie are sitting on a bench. How many ways can I arrange their seating order?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: We need to identify how many seats there are on the bench. We have 5 names, so 5 seats.

Step 2: When 1 person sits in seat 1, he/she cannot sit in the next set, and so on.

Step 3: Let's work out the math...

Seat 1- 5 people can sit
Seat 2- 4 people can sit
Seat 3- 3 people can sit
Seat 4/5-2/1 people/person can sit 

Total possibilities=. We can also say that 

Example Question #41 : Combinational Analysis

There are 12 boys in a football competition,  the top 3 competitors are awarded with an trophy. How may possible groups of 3 are there for this competition?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a permutation. A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations is:

This is written as 

There are  possible groups of 3.

 

Example Question #1 : Permutations

An ice cream shop has 23 flavors. Melissa wants to buy a 3-scoop cone with 3 different flavors, How many cones can she buy if order is important?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a permutation. A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations is:

This is written as 

 represents the number of permutations of 23 things taken 3 at a time.

 

Example Question #92 : Other Topics

Find the value of  .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is asking to find the permutation of seven items when you want to choose five. When dealing with permutations, order matters.

A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations is:

This is written as 

Example Question #1 : Permutations

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is asking to find the permutation of four items when you want to choose all four. When dealing with permutations, order matters.

A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations in this case will be,

 or  factorial.

Example Question #91 : Probability & Statistics

There are  people at a family dinner. After the dinner is over, people shake hands with each other. How many handshakes were there between these  people. Note: Once two people shake hands, they cannot shake hands again..

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: A handshake MUST ALWAYS be between TWO people.


Step 2: Break down each person and who they can shake hands with:

Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  can shake hands with: 
Person  already shook everybody's hand..

Step 3: Count how many handshakes each person can make:

Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  times.
Person  shakes hands  time.
Person  already shook everybody's hand.

Step 4: Add up the number of times each person shook hands:



There were  handshakes made between these  people.

Example Question #91 : Probability & Statistics

How many three-digit numbers can I create from the set of numbers ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: Identify if there are any restrictions to how the numbers can be made...

There are no restrictions, so we can have repeating numbers.

Step 2: Determine how many numbers can go in each slot..

First Slot: 7 choices
Second Slot: 7 Choices
Third Slot: 7 choices

Step 3: Multiply the choices for all three sets together:



We can create  different three-digit numbers...

Example Question #91 : Probability & Statistics

How many non-repetitive three-digit numbers can I create from the set of numbers ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: See if there are any restrictions..

We see we want only non-repetitive numbers...

Step 2: Find how many numbers can be put in each spot:

First Spot: 
Second Spot: 
Third Spot: 

Step 3: Multiply the number of choices of each spot



I can create  non-repetitive three-digit numbers...

Example Question #91 : Other Topics

How many ways can I arrange the letters in the word ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: Count how many letters are in the word MISSISSIPPI...

There are 11 numbers.

Step 2: Find which letters repeat, and how many times it repeats:

 times
 times
 times

Step 3: Use formula for arranging letters:



Step 4: Expand:



Step 5: Simplify Step 4:



I can rearrange the letters in MISSISSIPPI  times...

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