The multiplication principle

Multiplication Principle.

The multiplication principle is very simple. It basically states that if you have an action that can be performed in 1 way, and for each of these ways another action can be performed in 2 ways, then the two actions can be performed together in X1X2 ways.
Basically, you just multiply the two or more numbers together to find out how many ways something can be done. This method can only be used though if you dont have restrictions.

Ways to help the problem to be easier to solve or work out is to draw a venn diagram.

-Restriction:A set of rules of what you cant use or do to find your set of how many ways.

For example, if a number can't be repeated in the problem.

Ex1 :
There are 10 runners in a race. They can win first, second, or third place. In how many ways can these runners win each award?

You would solve this problem by first:

-making sure you know how many places there are to win a prize.

-make sure that you know that a runner can't be repeated.

(once a prize is given away there is one less runner.)

So you would solve this problem by multiplying 10 x 9 x 8 which equals 720 different ways.