Exercise · ZW-COMBINATIONS-WITH-REPETITION-003 · ★★☆ Intermediate

How many nonnegative integer solutions does \(x_1+x_2+x_3=7\) have?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. 36

Explanation

It amounts to distributing 7 units among 3 variables: \(\binom{7+3-1}{7}=\binom{9}{7}=36\). The 21 comes from using \(\binom{7}{2}\) and the 15 from the version with positive variables.

Study Discrete mathematics in ZWMath →

Review the concept: Combinations with repetition

A combination with repetition of size \(k\) from \(n\) types of object is an unordered selection of \(k\) objects in which each type may be chosen several times.

\[\binom{n+k-1}{k}\]

More practice problems: combinations with repetition

← ZW-COMBINATIONS-WITH-REPETITION-002 ZW-COMBINATIONS-WITH-REPETITION-004 →