Step by step
The question
Question: There are 5 shirts and 3 pants.
How many outfits can be made with one of each?
1 Count the choices
2 Multiply
Each of the 5 shirts goes with 3 pants.
So we multiply: 5 × 3.
outfits = 5 × 3
This is the counting principle: multiply the number of choices.
counting principle:
multiply the choices
5 groups of 3: that is 5 times 3.
3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 5 × 3
Careful!
We do not add the choices.
Every choice goes with every other one, so we multiply.
Careful: not 5 + 3 = 8 ✗
5 times 3 is 15.
5 × 3 = 15
So there are 15 outfits.
outfits = 15
3 Check
Let's check: 15 divided by 5 is 3.
That gives back the 3 choices.
So the answer is right!
15 ÷ 5 = 3
Let's look back.
First: count the choices.
Then: multiply.
Last: check.
Answer
outfits = 15