Final answer:
The total number of outcomes when choosing between a hamburger or hot dog and potato salad or macaroni salad is 4, since there are 2 options for the main course and 2 for the side, which are multiplied together.
Step-by-step explanation:
Finding Total Outcomes for Choices
When choosing between a hamburger or hot dog and potato salad or macaroni salad, we are dealing with two separate choices. To calculate the total number of outcomes, we multiply the number of options for each choice. There are 2 options for the main course (hamburger or hot dog) and 2 options for the side (potato salad or macaroni salad).
Multiply the two numbers of outcomes. There are 2 options for the first choice and 2 for the second, resulting in:
2 (for the main course) × 2 (for the side) = 4 total outcomes
Thus, the correct answer is: a) Total outcomes: 4.