Statistics of permutations and combinations
In mathematics, both Permutations and Combinations refer to how many different ways the elements within a set can be arranged.
The following problem illustrates how these two concepts can be applied to determine the number of unique breakfast menus which can be created from the food choices available:
You wake up in the morning and go to the kitchen to look for breakfast.
You have a choice of brownies, muffins, cheesecake, or cereal.
To drink you have a choice of fresh milk, hot chocolate, iced tea, orange juice, apple juice, or water.
Your mother also insists that you take a multi-vitamin with your breakfast. You can choose from Flintstones vitamins, Enervon vitamins, or Centrum vitamins.
How many possible breakfast menus can be made up if you combine one entrée, one drink, and one brand of vitamins?