Question

a restaurant offers the following limited lunch menu.
main courses ham, chicken, fish
vegetables peas, squash, cauliflower, eggplant
beverages coffee, tea, milk
desserts ice cream, brownies
if one item is selected from each of the four groups, in how many ways can a meal be ordered?
there are ways a meal can be ordered.

Explanation:

Step1: Determine number of main - course options

There are 3 main - course options (Ham, Chicken, Fish).

Step2: Determine number of vegetable options

There are 4 vegetable options (Peas, Squash, Cauliflower, Eggplant).

Step3: Determine number of beverage options

There are 3 beverage options (Coffee, Tea, Milk).

Step4: Determine number of dessert options

There are 2 dessert options (Ice Cream, Brownies).

Step5: Use the counting principle

The total number of ways to order a meal is the product of the number of options in each group. So, the total number of ways is $3\times4\times3\times2$.
$3\times4 = 12$, then $12\times3=36$, and $36\times2 = 72$.

Answer:

72