Q. Amari has 8 paint colors available, and he wants to mix 3 of them to create a new color.How many different sets of 3 colors can Amari choose?
Identify Problem Type: Identify the type of problem.We need to find the number of combinations of 3 colors that can be chosen from 8 colors. This is a combinatorics problem, specifically a combination problem where order does not matter.
Use Combination Formula: Use the combination formula to calculate the number of different sets.The number of ways to choose 3 items from 8 is given by the combination formula: C(n,k)=k!(n−k)!n!, where n is the total number of items, k is the number of items to choose, and “!” denotes factorial.
Plug in Values: Plug in the values into the combination formula.Here, n=8 (total colors) and k=3 (colors to choose). So, we calculate C(8,3)=3!(8−3)!8!.
Simplify Factorials: Simplify the factorial expressions.Calculate 8!=8×7×6×5×4×3×2×1, 3!=3×2×1, and (8−3)!=5!=5×4×3×2×1.
Cancel Common Terms: Cancel out common terms in the numerator and the denominator.C(8,3)=(3×2×1)×(5×4×3×2×1)8×7×6×5×4×3×2×1.The 5×4×3×2×1 in the numerator and denominator cancel out, and we are left with:C(8,3)=3×2×18×7×6.
Perform Calculation: Perform the calculation.C(8,3)=3×2×18×7×6=68×7×6=8×7=56.