COmbination problem

Hi,
An ice cream shop sells ten different flavors of ice cream. You order a two-
scoop sundae. In how many ways can you choose the flavors for the sundae if
the two scoops in the sundae are different flavors?

That's what I did :

9+(9-1)+(9-2)+...+(9-9)=45

Would this be any good ?

Thank you!

Dick
Homework Helper
Hi,
An ice cream shop sells ten different flavors of ice cream. You order a two-
scoop sundae. In how many ways can you choose the flavors for the sundae if
the two scoops in the sundae are different flavors?

That's what I did :

9+(9-1)+(9-2)+...+(9-9)=45

Would this be any good ?

Thank you!

It might be if you explain your reasoning. It's not the usual way to write it. Why do you think it's correct?

It might be if you explain your reasoning. It's not the usual way to write it. Why do you think it's correct?

Well, we need two different sorts, so we have a total combination of 9 for 10 different flavour.

For example, if we consider each flavour a number, then : (1,2) (1,3) ... til (1,10)

Now, if we want to see for the second flavour, we already did the combination (1,2), so we must substract 1 combination from 9.

so we have 9+(9-1) and we continue this way.

I hope that's what you're seeking !

Mentallic
Homework Helper
Your reasoning is solid and your answer is correct. It may also be helpful for you to know that the answer is 10 choose 2, which is denoted by $^{10}C_2$.

Dick
Homework Helper
Well, we need two different sorts, so we have a total combination of 9 for 10 different flavour.

For example, if we consider each flavour a number, then : (1,2) (1,3) ... til (1,10)

Now, if we want to see for the second flavour, we already did the combination (1,2), so we must substract 1 combination from 9.

so we have 9+(9-1) and we continue this way.

I hope that's what you're seeking !

Yes, that's what I'm seeking and yes, it's correct. There is a more standard way to do this. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combination That would let you write it as 10*9/2=45. Same number.

Ok, Thank you again. I didn't know the standard way...^^

Simon Bridge