Final answer:
To find the total number of three-course meal combinations, multiply the number of available options for each course: 9 starters, 8 main dishes, and 4 desserts. The calculation is 9 × 8 × 4, resulting in 288 different combinations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks how many different combinations of a three course meal one can choose from if there are 9 starters, 8 main dishes, and 4 desserts available. To solve this, we can use the fundamental counting principle, which states that if there are 9 ways to choose a starter, 8 ways to choose a main dish, and 4 ways to choose a dessert, the total number of different meal combinations can be found by multiplying these numbers.
Total combinations of meals = Number of Starters × Number of Main Dishes × Number of Desserts = 9 × 8 × 4.
Calculating this, we get:
9 × 8 × 4 = 288.
Therefore, there are 288 different combinations of a three course meal you can choose from in this restaurant.