A menu has 2 starters and 4 mains, how many meals

Step by step

The question

Question: There are 2 starters and 4 mains.

How many meals can be made with one of each?

1 Count the choices

2 Draw a tree

3 Multiply

Each of the 2 starters goes with 4 mains.

So we multiply: 2 × 4.

This is the counting principle: multiply the number of choices.

2 groups of 4: that is 2 times 4.

Careful!

We do not add the choices.

Every choice goes with every other one, so we multiply.

2 times 4 is 8.

So there are 8 meals.

4 Check

Let's check: we count the ends of the tree.

There are 8 ends, one for each.

So the answer is right!

Let's look back.

First: count the choices.

Then: draw a tree.

Then: multiply.

Last: check.