Number Of Possibilities?

[Rade]

Here is the original question. Surely, that means:Of two types of organisms, I can put either 0, 1 or 2 in a test tube

and the test tube can then be put either in the dark or the light. I was wondering how many test tubes I will need to conduct this experiment.

I agree with your interpretation, it is how the experiment is conducted in a typical biology lab experiment. One does not put more than 1 snail and 1 elodea in any single test tube when doing this basic experiment. I do find it very interesting the number of different explanations given on this thread based on interpretation of the words "two types of organisms". A good example of how an attempt to explain some circumstance by different people can result in multiple rational conclusions with uncertain outcome.

[Qfwfq]

Cool it guys, you'd do better to interpret the OP in the light of Craig's interpretation, seeing it matches up with David's suggested own results. IOW it seems that, by his words:

 

"I can either put 0 1 or 2 of two types of organisms"

 

he really meant:

 

"I can either put 0 1 or 2 of each of two types of organisms"

 

hence his expectation that he should multiply [imath]3^2[/imath] by the number or lighting conditions. :shrug:

 

I simply misread the original post and I hope the confusion I helped to cause wasn't too great.

I'd say we all chipped in toward that goal, on top of wanting clarity in the OP.

:beer: