Nausea and vomiting after surgery are common side effects of
Nausea and vomiting after surgery are common side effects of anesthesia and painkillers. Six different drugs, varying in cost , were compared for their effectiveness in preventing nausea and vomiting. The medical researchers looked at all possible combinations of the drugs as treatments, including a single drug, as well as 2 drug, 3-drug, 4-drug, 5-drug, and 6-drug combinations. The researchers stated that a total of 64 drug combinations were tested as treatments for nausea. Verify that there are 64 ways that the six drugs can be combined. (Remember to include the 1-drug and 6-drug combinations, as well as the control treatment of no drugs) ,
Solution
Consider the table:
Thus, there are 64 ways.
| Number of Drugs (x) | Number of Ways (6Cx) |
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 15 |
| 3 | 20 |
| 4 | 15 |
| 5 | 6 |
| 6 | 1 |
| Total | 64 |
