A starting lineup in basketball consists of two guards, two forwards, and a center. (a) a certain college team has on its roster four centers, five guards, three forwards, and one individual (x) who can play either guard or forward. how many different starting lineups can be created? [hint: consider lineups without x, then lineups with x as guard, then lineups with x as forward.] 240 lineups

Answer: 300

Justification:

Follow the hint:

1) Line ups without x:

Number of guards to pick: 2 of 5 => C5,2
Number of forwards to pick: 2 of 3 => C3,2
Number of centers to pick 1 of 4 => C4,1

Number of possible combinations: C5,2 * C3,2 * C4,1

The formula for Cm,n is: Cm,n = m! / [n! * (m-n)! ]

=>

C5,2 = 5! / [2! (5-3)! ] = 5*4 / 2 = 10

C3,2 = 3! / [2! (3-1! ] = 3

C4,1 = 4! / [1!(4-1)!] = 4

=> 10*3*4 = 120 different starting lineups without x

2) Lineups with x as guard

You only need to pick one more guard

number of guards to pick: 1 of 5 => C5,1
number of forwards to pick: 2 of 3 => C3,2
number of centers to pick: 4 => 1 of 4 =>  C4,1

Number of possible combinations: C5,1 * C3,2 * C4,1 = 5 * 3 * 4 = 60

3) Lineups with x as a forward,

You only need to pick one more forward:

Number of guards to pick: 2 of 5 => C5,2
Number of forwards to pick: 1 of 3 => C3,1
Number of centers to pick: 1 of 4 => C4,1

.Number of possible combinations: C5,2 * C3,1 * C4,1 = 10 * 3 * 4 = 120

4) Total number of different lineups:

Number of lineups without x + number of lineups with x as guard + number of lineups with x as forward = 120 + 60 + 120 = 300