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### GMAT/MBA Expert

Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member
Joined
23 Jun 2013
Posted:
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GMAT Score:
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Sat Aug 30, 2014 10:28 pm
Hi j_shreyans,

This question does NOT ask us to put players "in order", it asks us for groups of players. That clue points to using the Combination Formula. This question has 2 types of players though (guards and forwards), so we have to use the Combination Formula twice (once for each type of player), then multiply the results.

Guards:
There are 6 guards and we're asked for sets of 3.

6c3 = 6!/(3!3!) = 6(5)(4)(3)(2)(1)/3(2)(1)(3)(2)(1) = 20 different sets of 3 guards

Forwards:
There are 3 forwards and we're asked for groups of 2.

3c2 = 3!/(2!1!) = 3(2)(1)/(2)(1)(1) = 3 different groups of 2 forwards

(20)(3) = 60 possible teams

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
Joined
08 Dec 2008
Posted:
11404 messages
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1229 members
Upvotes:
5254
GMAT Score:
770
Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:01 am
j_shreyans wrote:
9 basketball players are trying out to be on a newly formed basketball team. Of these players, 5 will be chosen for the team. If 6 of the players are guards and 3 of the players are forwards, how many different teams of 3 guards and 2 forwards can be chosen?

A)23
B)30
C)42
D)60
E)126
Take the task of creating a team and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Select 3 guards from the 6 eligible guards
Since the order in which we select the guards does not matter, we can use combinations.
We can select 3 guards from the 6 eligible guards in 6C3 ways (= 20 ways)
So, we can complete stage 1 in 20 ways

If anyone is interested, we have a free video on calculating combinations (like 6C3) in your head: http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=789

Stage 2: Select 2 forwards from the 3 eligible forwards
Since the order in which we select the forwards does not matter, we can use combinations.
We can select 2 forwards from the 3 eligible forwards in 3C2 ways (= 3 ways)
So, we can complete stage 2 in 3 ways

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete the two stages (and thus create a basketball team) in (20)(3) ways (= 60 ways)

Answer: D
--------------------------

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: http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775

Then you can try solving the following questions:

EASY
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/what-should-be-the-answer-t267256.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/counting-problem-company-recruitment-t244302.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/picking-a-5-digit-code-with-an-odd-middle-digit-t273110.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation-combination-simple-one-t257412.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/simple-one-t270061.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/mouse-pellets-t274303.html

MEDIUM
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatorics-solution-explanation-t273194.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/arabian-horses-good-one-t150703.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/sub-sets-probability-t273337.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatorics-problem-t273180.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/digits-numbers-t270127.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/doubt-on-separator-method-t271047.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/combinatorics-problem-t267079.html

DIFFICULT
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/wonderful-p-c-ques-t271001.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/ps-counting-t273659.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation-and-combination-t273915.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/please-solve-this-real-gmat-quant-question-t271499.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/no-two-ladies-sit-together-t275661.html
- http://www.beatthegmat.com/laniera-s-construction-company-is-offering-home-buyers-a-wi-t215764.html

Cheers,
Brent

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Brent Hanneson â€“ Founder of GMATPrepNow.com
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