a simple math problem that came to mind as I was setting a pass-code.

DScaletta5

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Feb 20, 2017
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I have a remote device on a key-chain that will unlock a door when a button is pressed. Internally, there are 10 micro - switch toggles with a +1, a 0 and a -1 position. Therefore with (3) possible toggle positions (+1, 0, -1) and 10 micro-switches, how many possible combinations are there on this device?

Can you please distill this down to a formula? Thank you very much! :)
 
I have a remote device on a key-chain that will unlock a door when a button is pressed. Internally, there are 10 micro - switch toggles with a +1, a 0 and a -1 position. Therefore with (3) possible toggle positions (+1, 0, -1) and 10 micro-switches, how many possible combinations are there on this device?

Can you please distill this down to a formula? Thank you very much! :)
Hi. This is a tutoring web site, so we prefer to help you find a formula yourself.

To start thinking about how to count all of the possible combinations, try experimenting with simpler versions of the question. Write out the possibilities on scratch paper.

With a device that has only one micro-switch, how many possible settings are there?

With a device that has two micro-switches, how many possible settings are there?

What happens when there are three micro-switches?

Now that you've written down some combinations, you're familiar with how these counts add up. Next, google keywords fundamental counting principle, and check out some lessons, like the ones at the links below.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/basic-counting-principle.html

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/pr...mutations/v/counting-pot-and-flower-scenarios

Hopefully, this will help you learn a formula that makes sense for your exercise. But, if you're still stuck after trying, come back and let us know what you tried. Cheers :cool:
 
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