Question

A parallelogram is cut by two sets of m lines parallel to its sides. The number of parallelograms thus formed is

• A. ${(}^m{C}_2{)}^2$
• B. ${(}^{m+1}{C}_2{)}^2$
• C. ${(}^{m+2}{C}_2{)}^2$
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is C

${(}^{m+2}{C}_2{)}^2$

Each set is having m+2 parallel lines and each parallelogram is formed by chossing two straight lines from the first set and two straight lines from the second set. Two straight lines from the first set can be chosen in ${}^{m+2}{C}_2$ ways and two straight lines from the second set can be chosen in ${}^{m+2}{C}_2$ ways.
Hence the total number of parallelograms formed
${=}^{m+2}{C}_2{.}^{m+2}{C}_2={(}^{m+2}{C}_2{)}^2.$