Question 362452
You will do factorial in this question..
There 9 places as the sum of the number of tulips are 9.

You'll do 3 different calculations for 3 different colour..

(number of places)! / [(number of tulips in same colour)! * (number of places - number of tulips in same colour)!]

Start with red ones..

9! / [2! * (9-2)!] = a is the number of possibilities for red ones..

Continue with yellows but now you have 9-2=7 places left as you used 2 of them.

7! / [3! * (7-3)!] = b is the number of possibilities for yellow ones..

Continue with purples but now you have 7-3=4 places left as you used 5 of them.

4! / [4! * (4-4)!] = c is the number of possibilities for purple ones..

The total possibility in this question is the the multiplication of a*b*c

RF.