Key Stage Maths - Homework help [blush]

[Bowbelles]

Hi Can anyone help me explain the following to my DS as a sum. I can tell him the answer but not sure how to put it as a sum. Sorry, having a moment (we've been doing homework all day!). Thank you.
Problem:
A class enters a competition to design a new flag. They are given a choice of five colours: blue, red, green, orange and yellow. The flag must have three bands of colour, but the colours can be in any order. How many different flags can the class design?
Thanks so much from Mrs Thickie
PS is the answer 60? huge

If its any help, its got me stumped too
Can you give us a clue as to which Key stage & what maths topic it is !!?

Do all the stripes have to be different colours?
If they can be the same, then there are 5 x 5 x 5 = 125 different ways.

This is because there are 5 options for each stripe...

can the stripes be horizontal though & then the same colour combinations but vertical ??

if the stripes can't be the same, then the answer is 60 - because you have 5 x 4 x 3 = 60

THis is because you have 5 options for the first stripe, then only 4 for the second and then only 3 for the third

I'm guessing it's KS3?

Many thanks Worzella and Whizzz - I'm glad it's not only me who's confused! It's Key Stage 2 and I thought quite hard to explain. I think your explanation makes sense Worzella - we'll go for that. It doesn't say anything about vertical/horizontal combinations so will assume just either/or and I think each colour not to be repeated in one flag. Thanks so much. Maths never was my strong point...

Do you definitely have to represent this as a sum?

No Pointy - just wanted to show ds an easy way to work it out just in case he comes across this sort of question again. He says he gets it now