counting methods

Counting methods are systematic ways to determine the number of possible outcomes or arrangements in a problem. They include techniques like addition (summing outcomes when options are mutually exclusive), multiplication (finding the total when sequences of choices are independent), permutations (arrangements of items where order matters), and combinations (selecting items where order doesn't matter). These methods help organize and simplify complex counting problems, ensuring accurate results without listing every possibility. They are fundamental tools in probability, statistics, and combinatorics to analyze and solve real-world decision-making and uncertainty challenges efficiently.