Expert: Abe Mantell - 1/4/2006

Question
Is there a simple method to counting principles?
thanks,
sarj

Answer
Counting problems can be some of the most challenging
mathematics problems, even though the methods may may
not be very advanced (perhaps nothing more than arithmetic)!

You have the general multiplication principle, which leads
to the formulas for combinations and permutations.  But,
that does not handle all such problems...often some
creativitity and keen insight is required!

Check these sites for an overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combinatorial_principles
http://www.mathwizz.com/statistics/combindex.htm
http://www.math.uah.edu/stat/foundations/Counting.xhtml
http://old-www.cis.uoguelph.ca/~sawada/2910/notes/counting_intro-1x2.pdf

Abe