The 2 foundational ways of counting/Statements

Foundations

Let us be given two decisions:

• The first, [ilmath]A[/ilmath], for which we have [ilmath]m\in\mathbb{N}_{\ge 0} [/ilmath] outcomes
• The second, [ilmath]B[/ilmath], for which we have [ilmath]n\in\mathbb{N}_{\ge 0} [/ilmath] outcomes.

We require that:

• There always be [ilmath]m[/ilmath] options for [ilmath]A[/ilmath] and [ilmath]n[/ilmath] options for [ilmath]B[/ilmath] irrespective of which we decide first, and irrespective of what we decide first.
  • This does not mean the options cannot be different depending on which we tackle first and what we select, just that there must always be [ilmath]m[/ilmath] for [ilmath]A[/ilmath] and [ilmath]n[/ilmath] for [ilmath]B[/ilmath]

Then:

And

If we must choose once from [ilmath]A[/ilmath] and once from [ilmath]B[/ilmath], then the number of outcomes, [ilmath]\mathcal{O}\in\mathbb{N}_{\ge 0} [/ilmath] is:

• [ilmath]\mathcal{O}:\eq mn[/ilmath]

Caveat:Assume we always choose from [ilmath]A[/ilmath] first, this is poorly formulated. suppose if we choose [ilmath]B[/ilmath] first from options 1 to 6 inclusive, then we choose [ilmath]A[/ilmath] from 7 to 12 inclusive, if we choose [ilmath]A[/ilmath] first from 1 to 6 inclusive then we choose [ilmath]B[/ilmath] from 7-12 inclusive then we have:

• [ilmath]\underbrace{6\times 6}_{\text{B then A} }+\underbrace{6\times 6}_{\text{A then B} } \eq 72[/ilmath] ways to choose, as the set of options changes depending on whether we do [ilmath]B[/ilmath] or [ilmath]A[/ilmath] first - any formalism must account for this.
• However we must allow for some freedom, suppose we must choose two numbers from 1 to 6 inclusive, without replacement. For the first choice we can choose from 6 things, no matter what we pick for the first, the second choice is left with only 5 options. A different 5 options for each outcome of [ilmath]A[/ilmath], for example if [ilmath]A\eq 1[/ilmath] then the second choice has 2 to 6 as its options, if [ilmath]A\eq 6[/ilmath] then the second choice has 1 to 5 as its options, different from 2 to 6

Xor

If we must choose from either [ilmath]A[/ilmath] or [ilmath]B[/ilmath] - but not both, then the number of outcomes, [ilmath]\mathcal{O}\in\mathbb{N}_{\ge 0} [/ilmath] is:

• [ilmath]\mathcal{O}:\eq m+n[/ilmath]