wunder beta🍽️ Listing All the Possibilities
Three starters and four mains - how many different meals? Learn to list every combination in an organized table so nothing gets missed and nothing gets counted twice.
2
lessons
~15 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Ages 6–12
level
What you’ll learn
- Why Be SystematicUnderstand why a systematic approach lists all combinations without gaps or repeats.Guessing combinations at random loses track, double-counting some and forgetting others. Instead, fix one choice - say a starter - and pair it with every main, then move to the next starter. This ordered method guarantees you find all 3 x 4 = 12 meals exactly once.
- Building the TableUse a systematic table to enumerate all combinations of two sets of choices.A grid with one set down the side and the other across the top gives every combination its own box. For 3 starters and 4 mains that's 3 x 4 = 12 boxes, one meal each. The same system counts any two choices - 2 hats and 5 scarves make 10 outfits - as long as you keep to a fixed order.
Questions this course answers
Why list combinations systematically instead of guessing?
A system guarantees every combination appears exactly once.
What's the smart way to start listing meals from 3 starters and 4 mains?
Hold one starter, run through all mains, then repeat.
How does a grid help you list possibilities?
Each box is one unique combination - none missed or repeated.
Why does the ORDER you list in matter?
A consistent order guarantees completeness.
Grounded in trusted sources
- NRICH - University of Cambridge
- BBC Bitesize - Maths
- Khan Academy
- Math is Fun
Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.
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