Permutations

Permutations – is a group of things arranged that consider the specific order of arrangement.

FORMULA: The number of permutations of “n” things taken “r” at a time

n!
n Pr =
( n−r ) !

Where: 5! = (5)(4)(3)(2)(1)
0! = 1

Example: How many permutations can be made out of the letters Q, R, and S taken three at a
time?

Solution: For Q, R & S, taken 3 at a time, the following arrangements can be made:

QRS, RSQ, SQR

SRQ, QSR, RQS

Using the formula: (n = 3; r = 3)

n! 3!
no . of ways= = =6 ways
( n−r ) ! ( 3−3 ) !

A. Fundamental Principle

If an event E1 can happen in n1 ways and another event E2 can happen in n2 ways, then both
events happen in n1n2 ways.

Example: A factory building has 8 entrance doors. In how many ways can a person enter and
leave by any door and different door?
Solution:

a. For any door:

n1 = enter = 8 doors
n2 = leave = 8 doors
no. of ways = n1n2 = 8(8) = 64 ways

b. For a different door

n1 = enter = 8 doors
n2 = leave = 7 doors
no. of ways = n1n2 = 8(7) = 56 ways

B. Permutation of things, some of these are alike or similar.

The permutations of n things in which s are alike, t are alike, u are alike, and so on is:

n!
n Pr =
s!t !u !

Example: How many permutations are there in the word BANANA?

Solution: n = 6; A’s = 3 and N’s = 2

n! 6!
n Pr = = =60 ways
A ! N ! 3 ! 2!

C. Circulation Permutation

Permutation in a circle or round table by taking one object or things at a time.

P= ( n−1 ) !

Example: How many ways can 7 persons be seated in a round table?

Solution: P= ( n−1 ) != (7−1 ) !=720 ways

Combinations
Combinations – arrangement of things by taking r of out of n things without considering the
definite order of arrangement.

n!
n C r=
r ! ( n−r ) !

Example: How many combinations can be taken out of the letters M, N & O taken 2 at a time.

No. of combinations are: MN; NO; OM = 3 ways

Since MN & NM is one combination

NO & ON is one combination
OM & MO is one combination
Using the formula: n = 3; r = 2

n! 3!
3 C2 = = =3 ways
r ! ( n−r ) ! 2! ( 3−2 ) !

Probability

no . of occurances of certain event

Probability=
total no . of occurences

Events of probability:
A. Single Event
Event that occur only once

Example: From a bag containing 4 black balls and 5 white balls, what is the probability of
getting white?

Solution: Probability of getting white = 5

Total occurrences = 4 + 5 = 9

5 5
Probability= =
4 +5 9

B. Exclusive Event
Events that do not occur simultaneously
 Joint Probability = sum of the probability of all events

Example: In a throw of two dice, what is the probability of obtaining a total fall of 10 or 6?

Solution: Total no. of occurrences of two dice = (6)(6) = 36

For a fall of 10: For a fall of 6:

First Second First Second
Dice Dice Dice Dice
5 5 2 4
4 6 4 2
6 4 5 1
Number of ways = 3 1 5
3 3
Number of ways = 5

3 3 5 5
P 1= = P 2= =
6 36 6 36
2 2

3 5 8 2
P=P1 + P2= + = =
36 36 36 9

C. Probability in independent events

One event will not be affected in the probability of the previous event.

Joint Probability = product of probability of each event

Example: A box contains 4 white balls and 6 red balls. What is the probability of getting red and
white balls in two consecutive draws if the first ball is returned before drawing the second ball?

4 6
White balls = ; Red balls =
4+ 6 4+ 6

Solution: This is an independent event because the second draw is affected with the first draw.
First draw red, second draw white:

P=P1 P2

P= ( 4+6 6 )( 4+64 )=0.24

First draw white, second draw red:

P=P1 P2

P= ( 4+4 6 )( 4+66 )=0.24

PT =0.24+ 0.24=0.48

D. Probability in independent event

One event affects the probability of the previous event

Joint Probability = product of probability of each event

Example: A box contains 4 white balls and 6 red balls. What is the probability of getting red and
white balls in two consecutive draws if the first ball is not returned before drawing the second
ball?

Solution: This is a dependent event because the second draw is affected with the first draw

First draw red, second draw white:

P=P1 P2

P= ( 4+6 6 )( 4+54 )=0.296

First draw white, second draw red:

P=P1 P2

P= ( 4+4 6 )( 3+66 )=0.296

PT =0.296+0.296=0.593