what should be the answer

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what should be the answer

by sana.noor » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:11 am
How many even number of 4 digits can be formed with the figures 3,4,7,8 if repetitions are allowed?

64
128
12
256
255

Is it 128
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:45 am
sana.noor wrote:How many even number of 4 digits can be formed with the figures 3,4,7,8 if repetitions are allowed?

64
128
12
256
255

Is it 128
Take the task of building 4-digit numbers and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Select the thousands digit
There are 4 digits to choose from (3, 4, 7 or 8), so we can accomplish stage 1 in 4 ways

Stage 2: Select the hundreds digit
Since repetitions are allowed, there are 4 digits to choose from (3, 4, 7 or 8), so we can accomplish stage 2 in 4 ways

Stage 3: Select the tens digit
We can accomplish stage 3 in 4 ways

Stage 4: Select the units digit
Since the 4-digit number must be even, the units digit must be EITHER 4 or 8
So we can accomplish stage 4 in 2 ways

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP) we can complete all 4 stages (and thus create a 4-digit number) in (4)(4)(4)(2) ways ([spoiler]= 128 ways[/spoiler])

Answer: B

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Aside: For more information about the FCP, we have a free video on the subject: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:46 am
sana.noor wrote:How many even number of 4 digits can be formed with the figures 3,4,7,8 if repetitions are allowed?

64
128
12
256
255

Is it 128
Take the task of building 4-digit numbers and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Select the thousands digit
There are 4 digits to choose from (3, 4, 7 or 8), so we can accomplish stage 1 in 4 ways

Stage 2: Select the hundreds digit
Since repetitions are allowed, there are 4 digits to choose from (3, 4, 7 or 8), so we can accomplish stage 2 in 4 ways

Stage 3: Select the tens digit
We can accomplish stage 3 in 4 ways

Stage 4: Select the units digit
Since the 4-digit number must be even, the units digit must be EITHER 4 or 8
So we can accomplish stage 4 in 2 ways

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP) we can complete all 4 stages (and thus create a 4-digit number) in (4)(4)(4)(2) ways ([spoiler]= 128 ways[/spoiler])

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent

Aside: For more information about the FCP, we have a free video on the subject: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:47 am
sana.noor wrote:How many even number of 4 digits can be formed with the figures 3,4,7,8 if repetitions are allowed?

64
128
12
256
255

Is it 128
Take the task of building 4-digit numbers and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Select the thousands digit
There are 4 digits to choose from (3, 4, 7 or 8), so we can accomplish stage 1 in 4 ways

Stage 2: Select the hundreds digit
Since repetitions are allowed, there are 4 digits to choose from (3, 4, 7 or 8), so we can accomplish stage 2 in 4 ways

Stage 3: Select the tens digit
We can accomplish stage 3 in 4 ways

Stage 4: Select the units digit
Since the 4-digit number must be even, the units digit must be EITHER 4 or 8
So we can accomplish stage 4 in 2 ways

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP) we can complete all 4 stages (and thus create a 4-digit number) in (4)(4)(4)(2) ways ([spoiler]= 128 ways[/spoiler])

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent

Aside: For more information about the FCP, we have a free video on the subject: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:49 am
Hmmm, looks like the BTG server is acting up :-)
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