Question

The local diner offers a meal combination consisting of an appetizer, a soup, a main course, and a dessert. There are six appetizers, two soups, four main courses, and six desserts. Your diet restricts you to choosing between a dessert and an appetizer. (You cannot have both.) Given this restriction, how many three-course meals are possible?

Answer 1

96?

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer: 96

Explanation:

According to the fundamental principle of counting:

Total number of meals possible = (Choices for appetizers) x (Choices for soups) x (Choices for main courses) x (Choices for desserts)

If there is a restriction to choose between appetizer and dessert.

Then, Total number of meals possible = (Choices for appetizers) x (Choices for soups) x (Choices for main courses) + (Choices for soups) x (Choices for main courses) x (Choices for desserts)

= 6 x 2 x 4 + 2 x 4 X 6

= 48+48

= 96

Hence, the number of three-course meals are possible= 96