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## Probability query

tagged by: Brent@GMATPrepNow

This topic has 1 expert reply and 0 member replies
prernamalhotra Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Joined
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Posted:
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#### Probability query

Tue May 13, 2014 12:08 am
Hi,

A certain university will select 1 of 7 candidates eligible to fill a position in mathematics department and 2 of 10 candidates eligible to fill 2 identical positions in computer science department. If none of the candidates is eligible for a position in both departments, how many different sets of 3 candidates are there to fill the 3 positions?

A) 42
B) 70
C) 140
D) 160
E) 315

Thank you,
Prerna

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
Joined
08 Dec 2008
Posted:
11517 messages
Followed by:
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5254
GMAT Score:
770
Tue May 13, 2014 12:51 am
prernamalhotra wrote:
A certain university will select 1 of 7 candidates eligible to fill a position in mathematics department and 2 of 10 candidates eligible to fill 2 identical positions in computer science department. If none of the candidates is eligible for a position in both departments, how many different sets of 3 candidates are there to fill the 3 positions?

A) 42
B) 70
C) 140
D) 160
E) 315

We can take the task of filling both positions and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Fill the 1 math position
There are 7 candidates, so we can complete stage 1 in 7 ways

Stage 2: Fill the 2 computer science positions
Note that the order in which we select candidates doesn't matter. For example, selecting candidate B and then candidate C is the same as selecting candidate C and then candidate B. So, we can use combinations here.
We can select 2 candidates from 10 in 10C2 ways (= 45 ways)

Aside: If anyone is interested, we have a free video on calculating combinations (like 10C2) in your head: http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=789

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete the two stages (and thus fill the three positions in (7)(45) ways (= 315 ways)

--------------------------

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/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

Cheers,
Brent

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