How many rectangles can be formed by connecting the grid poi

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How many rectangles can be formed by connecting the grid points from the figure above? (Diagonal connection of grid points is not permitted)

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A. 72
B. 96
C. 108
D. 192
E. 315
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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Jun 17, 2019 2:13 am
Max@Math Revolution wrote:How many rectangles can be formed by connecting the grid points from the figure above? (Diagonal connection of grid points is not permitted)

Image

A. 72
B. 96
C. 108
D. 192
E. 315
Image

To form a rectangle, we must combine a HORIZONTAL LENGTH with a VERTICAL LENGTH:

Horizontal length:
Number of ways to choose a horizontal length of 1:
AB, BC, CD, DE, EF, FG = 6
Number of ways to choose a horizontal length of 2:
AC, BD, CE, DF, EG = 5
Number of ways to choose a horizontal length of 3:
AC, BE, CF, DG = 4
Number of ways to choose a horizontal length of 4:
AD, BF, CG = 3
Number of ways to choose a horizontal length of 5:
AF, BG = 2
Number of ways to choose a horizontal length of 6:
AG = 1
Total ways = 6+5+4+3+2+1 = 21

Vertical length:
Number of ways to choose a vertical length of 1:
AH, HI, IJ, JK, KL = 5
Number of ways to choose a vertical length of 2:
AI, HJ, IK, JL = 4
Number of ways to choose a vertical length of 3:
AJ, HK, IL = 3
Number of ways to choose a vertical length of 4:
AK, HL = 2
Number of ways to choose a vertical length of 5:
AL = 1
Total ways = 5+4+3+2+1 = 15

To combine our horizontal options with our vertical options, we multiply:
21*15 = 315

The correct answer is E.
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by Max@Math Revolution » Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:25 pm
Answer: E

Each collection of two horizontal and two vertical lines forms a rectangle. The number of ways to choose 2 vertical lines out of 7 lines is 7C2, and the number of ways to choose 2 horizontal lines out of 6 lines is 6C2.
Thus, the total number of rectangles is is 7C2 * 6C2.= [(7*6)/(1*2)][6*5]/(1*2)] = 21*15 = 315

Therefore, E is the answer.