15 pigs are entered in the best pet competition at the county fair. the judges will award very special pigs with blue, red, and white rabbits. in how many different ways can these rabbits be awarded to three of the 15 pics?

At the beginning, there are 15 pigs without ribbons. one of the pigs receives a ribbon. how many are left ribbonless? 
14. when another pig is given a ribbon, there are 13 left. after all the ribbons have been given out, 3 of the 15 pigs have ribbons. 
if any one of the 15 at the beginning is given a ribbon, there are 15 possible combos. for the second ribbon, there are 14 combos- but each of those combos has to go through the first 15. for the third ribbon, there are 13 combos, going through 14 and 15. 
simply put, 15 x 14 x 13.