select count(*) from table of mysql in php

I am able to get both the value and row of the mysql query result.

But I am struggling to get the single output of a query. e.g.:

$result = mysql_query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Students;");

I need the result to display. But I am not getting the result.

I have tried with the following methods:

1. mysql_fetch_assoc()
2. mysql_free_result()
3. mysql_fetch_row()

But I didn't succeed to display (get) the actual value.