A diner offers a three-course meal deal where a customer selects 1 appetizer from a choice… — GMAT

A diner offers a three-course meal deal where a customer selects $1$ appetizer from a choice of $4$ , $1$ main dish from a choice of $5$ , and $1$ dessert from a choice of $3$ . How many different three-course meal combinations can a customer order?

A
$12$
B
$20$
C
$35$
$60$ Answer
E
$120$

Answer

The total number of unique three-course meal combinations is

60

According to the Fundamental Counting Principle, when a process involves a series of independent decision stages, the total number of possible outcomes is the product of the number of choices available at each stage. Multiplying

4

appetizers by

5

main dishes and

3

desserts yields

4 \times 5 \times 3 = 60

distinct meal combinations.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the number of independent choices available at each decision stage

Appetizer choices =

4

, Main dish choices =

5

, Dessert choices =

3

Each course selection represents an independent decision stage.

Apply the Fundamental Counting Principle by multiplying the number of options for all stages

4 \times 5 \times 3 = 60

The total number of multi-stage outcomes is the product of the number of options at each individual stage.

Key Concept

Fundamental Counting Principle

Question

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

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