Multiplication Rule - Tree Diagram – Shirts × Shoes

Multiplication Rule: If a process can be broken into stages, and Stage 1 can be done in m ways, and Stage 2 can be done in n ways, then the whole process can be done in m × n ways.

More generally, if there are several stages (Stage 1, Stage 2, …, Stage k) with n1, n2, …, nk options respectively, then the total number of outcomes is n1 × n2 × … × nk.

👉 We use this rule whenever we need to count how many combinations of choices are possible across multiple independent steps (e.g., picking an outfit, building a password, planning a route).

Total = 3 × 2 = 6