Question

How many different ways can you place 4 identical marbles in three jars shown below? Note: Every marble needs to be in one of the jars, but not every jar needs to have a marble in it.

Answer 1

3 ways

Explanation:

How many different ways can you place 4 identical marbles in three jars shown below? Note: Every marble needs to be in one of the jars, but not every jar needs to have a marble in it.

We solve using combination

n-1 C r-1 = nCr = n!/r! (n - r)!

n = 4 identical marbles

r = 3 jars

Hence:

4 - 1 C 3 - 1 = 3C2

= 3!/2! (3 - 2)!

= 3 ways