From a group of three boys and four girls . .

This topic has expert replies
Moderator
Posts: 2058
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:24 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:5 members

From a group of three boys and four girls . .

by M7MBA » Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:52 am
From a group of three boys and four girls, a school hallway monitor group is to be selected. If the group is to be formed of two boys and three girls, how many different such groups can be formed?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 12
D. 72
E. 144

The OA is C.

How could I determine the possibilities? With permutations?

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 503
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 9:03 am
Thanked: 86 times
Followed by:15 members
GMAT Score:770

by ErikaPrepScholar » Mon Nov 06, 2017 9:15 am
Let's find the number of possibilities for just boys and just girls first.

Boys: 3, choose 2
$$\frac{3!}{2!}=3$$

Girls: 4, choose 3
$$\frac{4!}{3!}=4$$

So there are 3 possible groups of boys and 4 possible groups of girls. Now, any of these groups of boys can be paired with any of these groups of girls.So the total number of possibilities is 3 * 4 = 12.
Image

Erika John - Content Manager/Lead Instructor
https://gmat.prepscholar.com/gmat/s/

Get tutoring from me or another PrepScholar GMAT expert: https://gmat.prepscholar.com/gmat/s/tutoring/

Learn about our exclusive savings for BTG members (up to 25% off) and our 5 day free trial

Check out our PrepScholar GMAT YouTube channel, and read our expert guides on the PrepScholar GMAT blog

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
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

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:36 am
M7MBA wrote:From a group of three boys and four girls, a school hallway monitor group is to be selected. If the group is to be formed of two boys and three girls, how many different such groups can be formed?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 12
D. 72
E. 144
Take the task of creating the hallway monitor group and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Select two boys for the group
Since the order in which we select the boys does not matter, we can use combinations.
We can select 2 boys from 3 boys in 3C2 ways (3 ways)
So, we can complete stage 1 in 3 ways

If anyone is interested, we have a free video on calculating combinations (like 3C2 or 11C2) in your head: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/789

Stage 2: Select two girls for the group
We can select 3 girls from 4 girls in 4C3 ways (4 ways)
So, we can complete stage 2 in 4 ways

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete the two stages (and thus create the hallway monitor group) in (3)(4) ways (= 12 ways)

Answer: C
--------------------------

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- ... /video/775

You can also watch a demonstration of the FCP in action: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat ... /video/776

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


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/permutation- ... 73915.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutation-t122873.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/no-two-ladie ... 75661.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/combinations-t123249.html


Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 7223
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times
Followed by:29 members

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:16 pm
M7MBA wrote:From a group of three boys and four girls, a school hallway monitor group is to be selected. If the group is to be formed of two boys and three girls, how many different such groups can be formed?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 12
D. 72
E. 144

The OA is C.

How could I determine the possibilities? With permutations?
The number of groups that can be formed is:

3C2 x 4C3 = 3 x 4 = 12

Answer: C

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage