Question 1
From a group of 10 people, a committee of 5 is to be formed. If 3 specific people must be in the committee, in how many ways can the committee be formed?
Step-by-Step Solution:
Concept: Combination with mandatory inclusion constraint.
Given:
- Total people: 10
- Committee size: 5
- Must include: 3 specific people
Strategy: Fix the mandatory selections first, then choose remaining from available pool.
Analysis:
We need to select 5 people total, with 3 already fixed.
- Fixed positions: 3 (these specific people are already in)
- Remaining positions to fill: 5 - 3 = 2
- People available for remaining positions: 10 - 3 = 7
Step 1 - Fix Mandatory Members:
3 specific people must be included: C(3,3) = 1 way
(This is automatic - we have no choice here)
Step 2 - Select Remaining Members:
Choose 2 people from remaining 7 people:
C(7,2) = 21
Calculation:
C(7,2) = (7)! / [2! × (5)!]
= 5040 / [2 × 120]
= 21
Alternative Approach - Verification:
Think of it as: "We've used 3 spots, now choose 2 more from 7 remaining"
Related Problem Types:
1. Must EXCLUDE specific people:
Select all 5 from remaining 10 - (people to exclude)
2. At least one specific person:
Total ways - Ways without that person
= C(10,5) - C(10-1,5)
3. Exactly k from group A, rest from group B:
C(|A|,k) × C(|B|,5-k)
Common Error: Don't forget to reduce both the total pool and the selection size by the number of mandatory inclusions.
Answer: 21 ways
Concept: Combination with mandatory inclusion constraint.
Given:
- Total people: 10
- Committee size: 5
- Must include: 3 specific people
Strategy: Fix the mandatory selections first, then choose remaining from available pool.
Analysis:
We need to select 5 people total, with 3 already fixed.
- Fixed positions: 3 (these specific people are already in)
- Remaining positions to fill: 5 - 3 = 2
- People available for remaining positions: 10 - 3 = 7
Step 1 - Fix Mandatory Members:
3 specific people must be included: C(3,3) = 1 way
(This is automatic - we have no choice here)
Step 2 - Select Remaining Members:
Choose 2 people from remaining 7 people:
C(7,2) = 21
Calculation:
C(7,2) = (7)! / [2! × (5)!]
= 5040 / [2 × 120]
= 21
Alternative Approach - Verification:
Think of it as: "We've used 3 spots, now choose 2 more from 7 remaining"
Related Problem Types:
1. Must EXCLUDE specific people:
Select all 5 from remaining 10 - (people to exclude)
2. At least one specific person:
Total ways - Ways without that person
= C(10,5) - C(10-1,5)
3. Exactly k from group A, rest from group B:
C(|A|,k) × C(|B|,5-k)
Common Error: Don't forget to reduce both the total pool and the selection size by the number of mandatory inclusions.
Answer: 21 ways