Permutations And Combinations
In these lessons, we will learn about permutations and combinations and how to differentiate between them
Related Pages
Permutations
Counting Methods
Factorial Lessons
Probability
Combinations and Permutations
When trying to determine the number of possible combinations in a set, it can be difficult to differentiate between combinations and permutations. With permutations, we calculate the number of possible rearrangements of a set of items. With combinations we count the number of combinations we can ‘choose’ from a larger set of items. Combinations and permutations are important statistical concepts.
How to know when to use combinations or permutations?
Both combination and permutation count the ways that (r) objects can be taken from a group of (n) objects, but permutations are arrangements (sequence matters), while combinations are selections (order does not matter).
For example, how many ways can you seat people at a table? That’s permutation. How many poker hands are available in five-card draw? That’s a combination.
Example:
Given a set of seven letters: {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}
How many permutations of three letters?
How many combinations of three letters?
How to find permutations and combinations using factorials?
- I have 20 students in a class. I am going to pick 5 students for a prize. The first person I pick will get 1st prize, the second student 2nd prize and so on. This is called a permutation because the order matters. How many ways can I choose the students?
- I have 20 students in a class. I am going to pick 5 students for a prize. They will all get the same prize. This is called a combination because the order does not matter. How many ways can I choose the students?
Permutations and Combinations
Basic definitions of permutations and combinations.
A permutation is an ordered arrangement of r objects chosen from n objects.
Examples are used to show permutation with repetition and permutation without repetition.
A combination is a selection of r objects chosen from n objects and the order is not important.
Probability - Combinations and Permutations
Fundamental Counting Principle
Example:
- Dana wants to buy a new care. She is trying to choose between a Chevy, Ford, Mazda or a Honda. Each vehicle can come in one of six different colors: black, green, blue, red, silver, or brown. How many different combinations of vehicle and color does Dana have to choose from?
- There are three different color cars parked along the side of the road, a blue car, a red car, and a green car. How many different combinations are there for the order in which these cars are parked?
- Forty-three drivers compete in NASCAR’s Daytona 500 race every year. How many different combinations are there for the first three drivers to cross the finish line?
Permutation with Repetition
Examples:
- How many different ways can the letters in the word FEET be arranged?
- How many different ways can the letters MISSISSIPPI be arranged?
Combinations
Example:
- How many different hands of cards can be dealt from a standard deck of cards?
Multiple Events
Examples:
- Tom and Jen decide to rent a movie. Jen wants to rent a comedy but Tom wants to rent an action movie, so instead they decide to each rent their own movie. The rental kiosk has 16 comedies, 10 action movies, and 14 dramas. How many different combinations of two movies can they rent if they both get the type of movie they want?
- How many different combinations of movies can they rent if they rent at most four movies?
An example using Permutations and Combinations
Examples:
In one game, a code made using different colors is created by one player (the codemaker), and the
player (the codebreaker) tries to guess the code. The codemaker gives hints about whether the colors
are correct and in the right position.
The possible colors are Blue,
Yellow, White, Red, Orange and Green. How many 4-color codes can be made if the colors cannot be repeated?
Examples:
A club of nine people wants to choose a board of three officers: President, Vice President and
Secretary. How many ways are there to choose the board from the nine people?
Example:
A card game using 36 unique cards: four suits (diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades) with cards numbered 1 to 9
in each suit. A hand is a collection of nine cards, which can be sorted however the player chooses. How many
nine card hands are possible?
Example:
To win a particular lottery game, a player chooses 4 numbers from 1 to 60. Each number can only be chosen once.
If all 4 numbers match the winning numbers, regardless of the order, the player wins. What is the probability
that the winning numbers are: 3, 15, 46 and 49?
Quick Ways of Doing Permutations and Combinations.
Try the free Mathway calculator and
problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own
problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.
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