PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS

Permutation
 An arrangement of objects where order or position does matter
e.g. ATM’s PIN, lock of safe or vault
If the Personal Identification Number (PIN) is 2458, trying 5482 or 5248 will not work.
Combination
 An arrangement of objects where order or position does not matter
e.g. fruit salad
It doesn’t matter if avocado is place in first or banana, apple, papaya, etc.

Factorial Notation
n! = read as n factorial
n! = n (n-1) (n-2) (n-3)… (1)
e.g. 1. ) 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
5! = 120
2.) 10! = 10 x 9 x 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
10! = 3,628,800

PERMUTATIONS

Types of Permutations

1. Permutations With Repetition

 Repetition is allowed such as 3-digit number from 0 to 9 could be 333, 332, 323, 233,
etc..

 Formula: (nr)
where,
n is the number of things to choose from,
and you choose r of them

e.g. Choosing 3-digit numbers from 0 to 9 with repetition

nr = 103
= 10 x 10 x 10
= 1,000
There are 1,000 3-digit numbers that can be formed.

2. Permutations Without Repetition

 Repetition is not allowed (sometimes stated as used only once)
 If person is involved, automatically there could be no repetition if order is concern. A
person awarded as first, can no longer be second or third.

e.g. 1. Choosing 3-digit numbers from 0 to 9 without repetition

= 10 x 9 x 8
= 720
There are 720 3-digit numbers that can be formed.

2. In how many ways can a president, a secretary, and a treasurer be selected

from a committee of six?
=6x5x4
= 120
There are 120 ways they can be selected…

3. Permutations of n objects taken all together

 Choosing all the available choices
 Formula: nPn = n!
e.g. How many arrangements can be made out of the letters of the word BEAUTY?
6P6 = 6! = 720
 Twist:
e.g. How many arrangements can be made out of the letters of the word BEAUTY with
the vowels never being separated?
4P43P3 = 4!  3!
= 144
The vowels “EAU” is taken as one group. However, these vowels can also interchange
places within its group.

4. Permutations of n objects taken r at a time

𝒏!
nPr = (𝒏−𝒓)!

e.g. In how many ways may seven victims of dengue be assigned to four available beds
in a ward of the Regional Hospital?
7!
7P4 = (7−4)!

7𝑥 6 𝑥 5 𝑥 4 𝑥 3!
= 3!

= 840 ways

5. Permutations of n objects not at all distinct

This is the permutation of some similar objects or among objects that cannot be
distinguished in class or characteristics.

𝑵!
P=
𝒏𝟏 !𝒏𝟐 !…𝒏𝒌 !

where, N= total number of objects

n = number of objects belonging to the same group
e.g. In how many ways can 7 rabbits be arranged in 7 cages if 3 rabbits are white, 2 are
brown and 2 are gray.

7!
P=
3! 2!2!

= 210 ways

6. Circular Permutations
This permutation happens if the counting of movement of the objects in is the
form of circle (e.g. sitting in a round table, joining hands forming a circle)

P = (n-1)!

e.g. Five children are to join hands. In how many ways can they form a circle?

P = (5-1)!
= 4!
= 24 ways

COMBINATIONS

Types of Combinations

1. Combinations of n objects taken all together

nCn = 1
2. Combinations of n objects taken r at a time
𝒏!
nCr = (𝒏−𝒓)!
𝒓!
 e.g. How many ways can 4 candidates be selected from 10 accounting graduates
for the opening of a firm?
𝒏!
nCr = (𝒏−𝒓)!
𝒓!

𝟏𝟎!
10C4 = (𝟏𝟎−𝟒)!
𝟒!

10C4 = 210 ways

3. Combinations in a Series
nC1 + nC2 + … nCn = 2n – 1
e.g. In how many ways may one or more of 4 NGO workers be assigned to a
community to do development projects?
C = 24 – 1 = 15 ways

4. Multiplying Combinations
(n1Cr1) (n2Cr2)

e.g. In how many ways may 3 seniors and 2 juniors be selected from 5 seniors
and 4 juniors?
(n1Cr1) (n2Cr2) = (5C3) (4C2)
= (10) (6)
= 60 ways