In how many ways can we put 4 different balls in 3 different boxes when any box can contain any number of balls?
[A] 80
81
[C] 64
[D] 63
[E] 82
[A] 80
81
[C] 64
[D] 63
[E] 82
AJWILL wrote:In how many ways can we put 4 different balls in 3 different boxes when any box can contain any number of balls?
[A] 80
81
[C] 64
[D] 63
[E] 82
Each of the 4 balls has the option of going into any of the 3 bins.
Total number of ways = (options for ball 1)*(options for ball2)*(for ball3)*(for ball4)
= 3*3*3*3 = 3^4 = 81.
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