MathBench > Probability

Mice with Fangs: Intro to Punnett Squares

Creating combinations at Chez Punnett

One easy way to represent each combination is simply to make a square, with possible entrees on the top and possible desserts on the side. Each box within the square represents a possible meal -- you can see it by placing your cursor in the box.

  1. Bikini Shrimp 2. Drunken Trout 3. Pinecone Gratin 4. Plum Hen 5. Turkey Puff
1. Chocolate Mink Bikini Shrimp with
Chocolate Mink 		Trout with
Chocolate Mink 		Pinecone Gratin with
Chocolate Mink		 Plum Hen with
Chocolate Mink		 Turkey Puff with
Chocolate Mink
2. 1000 Layer Cake Bikini Shrimp with
Chocolate Layer Cake 		Trout with
Chocolate Layer Cake 		Pinecone Gratin with
Chocolate Layer Cake		 Plum Hen with
Chocolate Layer Cake		 Turkey Puff with
Chocolate Layer Cake
3. Pom Popsicle Bikini Shrimp with
Pom Popsicle 		Trout with
Pom Popsicle 		Pinecone Gratin with
Pom Popsicle		 Plum Hen with
Pom Popsicle		 Turkey Puff with
Pom Popsicle
4. Avocado Gelato Bikini Shrimp with
Avocado Gelato 		Trout with
Avocado Gelato 		Pinecone Gratin with
Avocado Gelato		 Plum Hen with
Avocado Gelato		 Turkey Puff with
Avocado Gelato
5. Watermelon Croissant Bikini Shrimp with
Watermelon Croissant 		Trout with
Watermelon Croissant 		Pinecone Gratin with
Watermelon Croissant		 Plum Hen with
Watermelon Croissant		 Turkey Puff with
Watermelon Croissant

 

Notice that along the top we have the complete set of possible entrees. Along the side we have the complete set of possible desserts. Certainly no one person would order all five desserts, or all five entrees! In fact for any given meal, we only want to choose ONE from the top and ONE from the side.

Try it below: clicking on “Pick a meal for meal” will pick a random entrée and a random dessert

Meal-O-Matic



main course:

 -- 

dessert course:

  -- 

Your Meal for Tonight:

???