Ball Distribution
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This question is a little ambiguous.nahid078 wrote:In how many ways 5 different balls can be distributed in three boxes?
I'm assuming that the 3 boxes are also different (call them boxes A, B and C)
Let's also call the balls V, W, X, Y and Z
So, take the task distributing balls and break it into stages.
Stage 1: place ball V in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 1 in 3 ways
Stage 2: place ball W in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 2 in 3 ways
Stage 3: place ball X in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 3 in 3 ways
Stage 4: place ball Y in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 4 in 3 ways
Stage 5: place ball Z in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 5 in 3 ways
By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete all 5 stages (and thus distribute all 5 balls) in (3)(3)(3)(3)(3) ways ([spoiler]= 243 ways[/spoiler])
--------------------------
Note: the FCP can be used to solve the MAJORITY of counting questions on the GMAT. For more information about the FCP, watch our free video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
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DIFFICULT
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/wonderful-p- ... 71001.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ps-counting-t273659.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation- ... 73915.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/please-solve ... 71499.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/no-two-ladie ... 75661.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/laniera-s-co ... 15764.html
Cheers,
Brent
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Sorry, I think you need to clarify that restriction. Are you saying that one box must have exactly one ball, and the other 2 boxes can have any number of balls?nahid078 wrote:But if it is said that, one box can contain only one ball. Then How many ways can we put three balls in three boxes?
5*4*3= 60
Would it be the answer?
Thanks
If so, the answer is (3)(2)(2)(2)(2)
If you mean something else, please tell me.
Cheers,
Brent
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Then yes, the answer is (5)(4)(3)nahid078 wrote:No i said every box can contain only one ball. Thus last two balls will not be in the box.
Choose a ball to go in box A: 5 balls to choose from
Choose a ball to go in box B: 4 balls remaining to choose from
Choose a ball to go in box C: 3 balls remaining to choose from
Total = (5)(4)(3)
Cheers,
Brent
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The question asks -In how many ways 5 different balls can be distributed in three boxes?
means 3 boxes to have 5 balls combined
balls can
1,1,3
1,3,1
3,1,1
1,2,2
2,1,2
2,2,1
Please suggest.
means 3 boxes to have 5 balls combined
balls can
1,1,3
1,3,1
3,1,1
1,2,2
2,1,2
2,2,1
Please suggest.
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Hi Brent,
Thank you for the answer; however I have a little question.
Why did you distribute the boxes on the balls and not vice versa?
I thought about distributing the balls on the boxes
so i thought that we have three boxes, for the first one we can put one of 5 balls and for the second we can put one of four balls and for the third we can put one of three.
leaving me with the following calculation 5x4x3 = 60 ways.
Why is this wrong?
Thank you for the answer; however I have a little question.
Why did you distribute the boxes on the balls and not vice versa?
I thought about distributing the balls on the boxes
so i thought that we have three boxes, for the first one we can put one of 5 balls and for the second we can put one of four balls and for the third we can put one of three.
leaving me with the following calculation 5x4x3 = 60 ways.
Why is this wrong?
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:This question is a little ambiguous.nahid078 wrote:In how many ways 5 different balls can be distributed in three boxes?
I'm assuming that the 3 boxes are also different (call them boxes A, B and C)
Let's also call the balls V, W, X, Y and Z
So, take the task distributing balls and break it into stages.
Stage 1: place ball V in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 1 in 3 ways
Stage 2: place ball W in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 2 in 3 ways
Stage 3: place ball X in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 3 in 3 ways
Stage 4: place ball Y in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 4 in 3 ways
Stage 5: place ball Z in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 5 in 3 ways
By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete all 5 stages (and thus distribute all 5 balls) in (3)(3)(3)(3)(3) ways ([spoiler]= 243 ways[/spoiler])
--------------------------
Note: the FCP can be used to solve the MAJORITY of counting questions on the GMAT. For more information about the FCP, watch our free video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
Then you can try solving the following questions:
EASY
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/what-should- ... 67256.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/counting-pro ... 44302.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/picking-a-5- ... 73110.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation- ... 57412.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/simple-one-t270061.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mouse-pellets-t274303.html
MEDIUM
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatoric ... 73194.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/arabian-hors ... 50703.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sub-sets-pro ... 73337.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatoric ... 73180.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/digits-numbers-t270127.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/doubt-on-sep ... 71047.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatoric ... 67079.html
DIFFICULT
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/wonderful-p- ... 71001.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ps-counting-t273659.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation- ... 73915.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/please-solve ... 71499.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/no-two-ladie ... 75661.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/laniera-s-co ... 15764.html
Cheers,
Brent
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
Which question are you referring to?Amrabdelnaby wrote:Hi Brent,
Thank you for the answer; however I have a little question.
Why did you distribute the boxes on the balls and not vice versa?
I thought about distributing the balls on the boxes
so i thought that we have three boxes, for the first one we can put one of 5 balls and for the second we can put one of four balls and for the third we can put one of three.
leaving me with the following calculation 5x4x3 = 60 ways.
Why is this wrong?
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:This question is a little ambiguous.nahid078 wrote:In how many ways 5 different balls can be distributed in three boxes?
I'm assuming that the 3 boxes are also different (call them boxes A, B and C)
Let's also call the balls V, W, X, Y and Z
So, take the task distributing balls and break it into stages.
Stage 1: place ball V in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 1 in 3 ways
Stage 2: place ball W in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 2 in 3 ways
Stage 3: place ball X in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 3 in 3 ways
Stage 4: place ball Y in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 4 in 3 ways
Stage 5: place ball Z in a box
There are 3 boxes, so, we can complete stage 5 in 3 ways
By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete all 5 stages (and thus distribute all 5 balls) in (3)(3)(3)(3)(3) ways ([spoiler]= 243 ways[/spoiler])
--------------------------
Note: the FCP can be used to solve the MAJORITY of counting questions on the GMAT. For more information about the FCP, watch our free video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
Then you can try solving the following questions:
EASY
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/what-should- ... 67256.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/counting-pro ... 44302.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/picking-a-5- ... 73110.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation- ... 57412.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/simple-one-t270061.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mouse-pellets-t274303.html
MEDIUM
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatoric ... 73194.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/arabian-hors ... 50703.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sub-sets-pro ... 73337.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatoric ... 73180.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/digits-numbers-t270127.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/doubt-on-sep ... 71047.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatoric ... 67079.html
DIFFICULT
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/wonderful-p- ... 71001.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ps-counting-t273659.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation- ... 73915.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/please-solve ... 71499.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/no-two-ladie ... 75661.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/laniera-s-co ... 15764.html
Cheers,
Brent
In my solution here, I am distributing the balls into the boxes.
Cheers,
Brent