Interesting question... It seems to me that, if the correct answer is 8, then the "questioner" was asking about permutations, taking birth order into account. If the question is about "combinations," then I see the possibilities as:
3 boys 2 boys, 1 girl 1 boy, 2 girls 3 girls... So I would propose "4" as the answer... Bill __________________________________________________________________________ William B. Ware, Professor Educational Psychology, CB# 3500 Measurement, and Evaluation University of North Carolina PHONE (919)-962-7848 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500 FAX: (919)-962-1533 http://www.unc.edu/~wbware/ EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________________________ On 6 Nov 2003, Curious George wrote: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Curious George) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>... > > I am an instructor, using 'Elementary Statistics: A Brief Version , > > 2/e' by > > Allan G. Bluman. A questions in the database states: > > > > A family has three children. How many combinations of boys and girls > > will be in the sample space? > > > > The answer given is: 8. > > _______________________________ > > > > Even if you allow for 'birth order' I can not identify more than 6 > > possible outcomes. Am I missing something? > > > > Thanks, > > George > > "I see, said the blind man....." I needed to reverse the birth order. > George > . > . > ================================================================= > Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the > problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: > . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . > ================================================================= > . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
