To estimate the different ways a three-course meal can be ordered we just need to multiply the number of options we have for each part of the course.
We have 12 appetizers, and each appetizer can be selected with any of the 7 entrees, giving us 84 options (12x7). Having 84 different combinations appetizer-entree, we can combine each of those 84 with any of the 2 desserts, then having 168 different options (84x2).
This can be quickly summarized as:
![12\cdot7\cdot2=168.](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/vffxo5ljtiac8gaqzdrktmj8x7l698d2wt.png)
There are 168 possible three-course meals.