PERMUTATION
AND
COMBINATION
Factorials
For any counting number n, the product of all counting numbers
from n down through 1 is called n factorial, and is denoted n!.
For any counting number n, the quantity n factorial is calculated
by:
n! = n(n – 1)(n – 2)…(2)(1).
Definition of Zero Factorial:
0! = 1
Examples:
a) 4! b) (4 – 1)! c)
4⋅3⋅2⋅ 3!
1 3⋅2⋅1
24 = 5⋅4 = 20
6
Arrangements of Objects
Factorials are used when finding the total number of
ways to arrange a given number of distinct objects.
The total number of different ways to arrange n distinct
objects is n!.
Example:
How many ways can you line up 6 different books on a
shelf?
6 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 4 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1
720 possible arrangements
or 6! = 720
Arrangements of n Objects Containing Look-Alikes
The number of distinguishable arrangements of n
objects, where one or more subsets consist of look-alikes
(say n1 are of one kind, n2 are of another kind, …, and nk
are of yet another kind), is given by
Example:
Determine the number of distinguishable arrangements of the
letters of the word INITIALLY.
9 letters with 3 I’s and 2 L’s
9!
= 30240 possible arrangements
3! ⋅2!
Permutation: The number of ways in which a subset of
objects can be selected from a given set of objects,
where order is important.
Given the set of three letters, {A, B, C}, how many possibilities
are there for selecting any two letters where order is important?
(AB, AC, BC, BA, CA, CB)
Combination: The number of ways in which a subset of
objects can be selected from a given set of objects,
where order is not important.
Given the set of three letters, {A, B, C}, how many possibilities are
there for selecting any two letters where order is not important?
(AB, AC, BC).
Factorial Formula for Permutations
Factorial Formula for Combinations
Evaluate each problem.
a) 5P3 b) 5C3 c) 6P6 d) 6C6
5⋅4⋅3
60 10 720 1
Ex. :How many three-letter codes
are there using letters A, B, C,
and D if no letter can be
repeated?
Note: The order does matter
Ex. How many committees of
three can be selected from four
people?
Use A, B, C, and D to represent the people
Note: Does the order matter?
Ex. How many five-card hands are
possible from a standard deck of
cards?
Ex. In how many ways can 9
horses place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a
race?
Ex. Suppose there are 15 girls and
18 boys in a class. In how many
ways can 2 girls and 2 boys be
selected for a group project?
How many ways can you select two letters followed by three
digits for an ID if repeats are not allowed?
Two parts:
1. Determine the set of two letters. 2. Determine the set of three digits.
P
26 2
P
10 3
26⋅25 10⋅9⋅8
650 720
= 650(720) = 468,000
Find the number of different Find the number of arrangements
subsets of size 3 in the set: of size 3 in the set:
{m, a, t, h, r, o, c, k, s}. {m, a, t, h, r, o, c, k, s}.
9
C3 P
9 3
9⋅8⋅7
504 arrangements
84 Different subsets
Guidelines on Which Method to Use
Application
There are 12 different-colored cubes in a bag.
How many ways can Edward draw a set of 4
cubes from the bag?
Step 1 Determine whether the problem represents
a permutation or combination.
The order does not matter. The cubes may be
drawn in any order. It is a combination.
Step 2 Use the formula for combinations.
n = 12 and r = 4
Divide out
common
factors.
5
= 495
There are 495 ways to draw 4 cubes from 12.
The swim team has 8 swimmers. Two swimmers
will be selected to swim in the first heat. How
many ways can the swimmers be selected?
n = 8 and r = 2
Divide out
common
factors.
4
= 28
The swimmers can be selected in 28 ways.
An English test contains five different essay
questions labeled A, B, C, D, and E. You are
supposed to choose 2 to answer. How many
different ways are there to do this?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
A family of 3 plans to sit in the same row at a
movie theater. How many ways can the family
be seated in 3 seats?
The order of outcomes is important, so this situation
involves permutations.
ABC BAC CAB
ACB BCA CBA
Ingrid is stringing 3 different types of beads on
a bracelet. How many ways can she string the
next three beads if they must include one bead
of each type?
The order of outcomes is important, so this situation
involves permutations.
Nathan wants to order a sandwich with two of
the following ingredients: mushroom, eggplant,
tomato, and avocado. How many different
sandwiches can Nathan choose?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
A group of 8 swimmers are swimming in a race.
Prizes are given for first, second, and third place.
How many different outcomes can there be?
The order of outcomes is important, so this situation
involves permutations.
How many different ways can 9 people line
up for a picture?
The order of outcomes is important, so this situation
involves permutations.
Four people need to be selected from a class
of 15 to help clean up the campus. How many
different ways can the 4 people be chosen?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
Four people need to be selected from a class of
15 to help clean up the campus. How many
different ways can the 4 people be chosen, if
the only two girls refuse to help?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
A basketball team has 12 members who can
play any position. How many different ways
can the coach choose 5 starting players?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
A basketball team has 12 members who can
play any position. How many different ways
can the coach choose 5 starting players if the
captain MUST play the first half?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
When ordering a pizza, you can choose 2
toppings from the following: mushrooms,
olives, pepperoni, pineapple, and sausage.
How many different types of pizza can you
order?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
Nine people in a writing contest are
competing for first, second and third prize.
How many ways can the 3 people be chosen?
The order of outcomes is important, so this situation
involves permutations.
You are ordering a triple-scoop ice-cream
cone. There are 18 flavors to choose from
and you don’t care which flavor is on the
top, middle, or bottom. How many different
ways can you select a triple-scoop ice-cream
cone?
The order of outcomes is not important, so this
situation involves combinations.
An art gallery has 12 paintings in storage.
They have room to display 4 of them, with
each painting in a different room. How many
possible ways can they display the 4
additional paintings.
The order of outcomes is important, so this situation
involves permutations.
1. Six different books will be displayed in the
library window. How many different
arrangements are there?
2. In how many different ways can Carlos, Sergio,
Caleb, Moris, Eric, and Brayton stand in line
3. The three best essays in a contest will receive gold,
silver, and bronze stars. There are 10 essays. In
how many ways can the prizes be awarded?
4. In a talent show, the top 3 performers of 15 will
advance to the next round. In how many ways can
this be done?
1. 720 2. 720 3. 720 4. 455
PROBABILITY
USING
PERMUTATION
AND
COMBINATION
Probability with Permutations.
Five groups agree to randomly select the order of
performance by picking cards out of a hat, one at a time.
What is the probability of the Rolling Stones performing
fourth and the Beatles last?
Solution:
P (Rolling Stones fourth, Beatles last)
=
Number of permutations with Rolling Stones fourth, Beatles last
Total number of possible
permutations
the total number of possible permutations: 5.4.3.2.1 = 120
or
to find the number of permutations with the Rolling
Stones performing fourth and the Beatles performing last:
There are 3·2·1·1·1 = 6 possible
permutations.
P (Rolling Stones fourth, Beatles last)
Probability and Combinations
• A lottery game, LOTTO, is set up so that each player
chooses six different numbers from 1 to 53. With
one LOTTO ticket, what is the probability of winning
this prize?
• Solution:
Because the order of the six numbers does not
matter, this situation involves combinations.
P (winning) = number of ways of winning
total number of possible combinations
P (winning) = number of ways of winning
total number of possible combinations
Using the combinations formula, r = 6 and n = 53.
If a person buys only one ticket, then that person has
selected only one combination, thus
P (winning) = number of ways of winning ___ = __1___
total number of possible combinations 22,957,480
≈ 0.0000000436 = 4.36 x 10-8
• A club consists of five men and seven women. Three
members are selected at random to attend a
conference. Find the probability that the selected
group consists of 3 men.
• Solution:
Order of selection does not matter, so this is a
problem involving combinations.
P(3 men) = number of ways of selecting 3 men
total number of possible combinations
Consider the denominator: We are selecting r = 3
people from a total group of n = 12.
Consider the numerator. We are interested in
selecting 3 (r = 3)men from 5 (n = 5) men.
Therefore: P(3 men )
