EXAMPLE 3.3.14

The editorial board of the National Requirer has decided to launch two new series of investigative reports. One series will involve the theme

"Elvis ____ my ____!"

For this series, the writers will generate a story line by filling in the first blank with an item from this list:

"loved"; "sang to"; "got sick on"; "smoked" and filling in the second blank with an item from this list:

"fig tree"; "living room carpet"; "cat".

 

The other series will involve the theme "Aliens ____ my ____!"

The writers will generate a story line by filling in the first blank with an item from this list: "attacked"; "rescued"; "probed";

and filling in the second blank with an item from this list:

"home town"; "trailer park"; "granny's arrest record"

 

How many story lines are possible?

 

 SOLUTION

A story line is either an ÒElvisÓ story line or an ÒaliensÓ story line.  To generate an ÒElvisÓ headline we need to make two independent decisions:

1.  Fill in the first blank.          4 options        

2.  Fill in the second blank.     3 options

(4) times (3) = 12 possible ÒElvisÓ headlines (story lines).

 

To generate an ÒaliensÓ headline we need to make two independent decisions:

1.  Fill in the first blank.          3 options        

2.  Fill in the second blank.     3 options

(3) times (3) = 9 possible ÒaliensÓ headlines (story lines).

 

The total number of possible headlines is 9 + 12 = 21