Overcounting

Strategic overcounting is the process of counting more than desired and then systematically "correcting" for overcounted elements by removing them from the total count via subtraction or division. The idea of strategic overcounting is fundamental to combinatorics and plays a role in incredibly important counting tools such as combinations and the Principle of Inclusion-Exclusion.

Related Videos

• (Counting the Number of Arrangements of Letters in a Word)
• (Counting pairs)
• (Counting Objects in a Circle Part 1)
• (Counting Objects in a Circle Part 2)

More Examples

• AIME 2004I/3

Introductory Problems

• How many different words can be formed with the letters ?(Not necessarily meaningful words)

See also

• Casework
• Complementary counting
• Constructive counting

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