[Math] Combinatorics question- 8 football games- how many end with 4 wins, 3 losses and a tie

combinatoricspermutations

A college plays 8 football games during a season. In how many ways can the team end the season with 4 wins, 3 losses and a tie?

I started this question by trying to count the total number of possible permutations of wins, losses and draws for the 8 games: $3^8$.

I then thought I would divide the total by the number of kinds that I have-

$\frac {3^8}{4!3!}$

This doesn't work as I don't get the correct answer. Where am I going wrong?

Best Answer

See the wins can be selected in ${8\choose 4}$ ways now losses can be selected in ${4\choose 3}$ ways while only one way is left for tie.so toyal ways are their product=$70.4.1=280$ now another approach consider set{WWWWLLLT} in how many ways can you arrange these letters so its $\frac{8!}{4!.3!}$ which is again equal to $280$ hope its clear .