The multiplication principle determines the total number of outfits by multiplying the number of choices available at each independent stage. If there are multiple categories of items (like pants, shirts, and shoes) and you select exactly one item from each category, the total number of distinct combinations is the product of the counts of options in each category.
Conditions: The choices in each category are independent of the others.; Exactly one item is selected from each category.; The items within a category are distinct.
The multiplication principle determines the total number of outfits by multiplying the number of choices available at each independent stage. If there are multiple categories of items (like pants, shirts, and shoes) and you select exactly one item from each category, the total number of distinct combinations is the product of the counts of options in each category.
Conditions: The choices in each category are independent of the others.; Exactly one item is selected from each category.; The items within a category are distinct.