Principles of counting

The principles of counting help us determine the number of possible outcomes in a situation. The main idea is that if there are multiple steps or choices, you multiply the number of options at each step. For example, if you have 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants, you can make 3 x 2 = 6 outfit combinations. This method ensures all possibilities are accounted for without counting any twice. It's a useful way to systematically figure out the total outcomes in many scenarios, from organizing choices to solving problems in probability.