Combinations

INTRODUCTION

A Combination is a mathematical technique that determined the number

of possible arrangements in a collection of items where the order of the
selection does not matter. In this, you can select the items in any order. A wide
variety of counting problems can be cast in terms of the simple concept of
combinations, therefore, this topic serves as a building block in solving a wide
range of problems. With the different activities provided in this module, you
will be able to demonstrate and understand the concept of combinations in
formulating conclusions an in making wise decisions. May you find this
material engaging and challenging as it develops your critical-thinking and
problem-solving skills.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES AND OBJECTIVES

In this contextualized learning material, you will examine and determine

the number of possible ways of doing certain tasks, or selecting some objects
from a set. You will be able to demonstrate and understand the concepts of
combinations. How does the concept of combinations help you in formulating
conclusions and in making wise decisions? You will learn about these as you
go through this module.

 LEARNING COMPETENCY

M10SP – IIIc – 1: Illustrates the combinations of n objects

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

a. Illustrate the combination of n objects; and

b. Formulate and solve problems involving combinations.

Activity 1: Fall Frolics!

Solve each of the following combination problems. Be sure to show all
work for open response problems.  

1. Sarah has 3 skirts (black, white and blue) and 3 blouses (red, green
and yellow). How many different outfits can she make if each outfit has
one skirt and one blouse?
2. At the movie theater, Dave can pick from 7 movies and 16 snack
options. If Dave chooses to watch 1 movie and buy 1 snack, how many
Combinations
combinations are there?

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 3. Stone Croft High School offers 5 fall sports, 4 winter sports, and 6
spring sports for students to pick from. Grace plans on participating in 1
sport each season. How many different combinations of sports teams
can she pick from?
4. Rayne's school offers: Drum, flute, and piano lessons; A play and a
musical each year; Chess club, science club, and art club. This year
Rayne wishes to take lessons for 1 instrument, participate in either the
play or musical, and join 1 club. How many different combinations of
activities can she choose from?
5. During summer vacation, Carlos has the option of attending summer
camp for a week, working at a grocery store, volunteering in his
community, and taking driver's education. If Carlos can have decided to
do all, some, or none of these activities over his summer vacation, how
many different combinations are there from which he can select?

Guide Questions
How did you find the number of ways asked for in each item? What
mathematical concept or principle did you apply? How did you apply that
concept or principle?
Do you find the activity challenging?

Were you able to find what was required in each problem? Were you able to
recall and apply the different mathematics concepts or principles in solving
each problem? Why do you think it is important to be able to perform such
mathematical tasks? You will find this out as you go through this module.

There you have 4 sets of shirts and trousers and you want to take 2 sets with
you while going on a trip. In how many ways can you do it?
Let us denote the sets byS1,S2,S3,S4. Then you can choose two pairs in the
following ways :
1. {S1,S2} 2. {S1,S3} 3. {S1,S4}
4. {S2,S3} 5. {S2,S4} 6. {S3,S4}

[Observe that {S1,S2} is the same as {S2,S1}]. So, there are 6 ways of
Combinations
choosing the two sets that you want to take with you. Of course, if you had
10

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pairs and you wanted to take 7 pairs, it will be much more difficult to work out
the number of pairs in this way.

Now as you may want to know the number of ways of wearing 2 out of 4 sets
for two days, say Monday and Tuesday, and the order of wearing is also
important to you. We know from section 7.3, that it can be done in 4P2 =12
ways. But note that each choice of 2 sets gives us two ways of wearing 2
sets out of 4 sets as shown below:

1. {S1,S2} → S1 on Monday and S2 on Tuesday or S2 on Monday and S1 on

Tuesday
2. {S1,S3} → S1 on Monday and S3 on Tuesday or S3 on Monday and S1 on
Tuesday
3. {S1,S4} → S1 on Monday and S4 on Tuesday or S4 on Monday and S1 on
Tuesday
4. {S2,S3} → S2 on Monday and S3 on Tuesday or S3 on Monday and S2 on
Tuesday
5. {S2,S4} → S2 on Monday and S4 on Tuesday or S4 on Monday and S2 on
Tuesday
6. {S3,S4} → S3 on Monday and S4 on Tuesday or S4 on Monday and S3 on
Tuesday
Thus, there are 12 ways of wearing 2 out of 4 pairs.
This argument holds good in general as we can see from the following
theorem.
Theorem: Let n≥1 be an integer and r ≤n . Let us denote the number of ways
of choosing r objects out of n objects by nCr . Then

n
Cr= nPr ... (7.6)
r!

Proof: We can choose r objects out of n objects in nCr ways. Each of the r
objects chosen can be arranged in r! ways. The number of ways of arranging
r objects is r!. Thus, by the counting principle, the number of ways of
choosing r objects and arranging the r objects chosen can be done in nCr r!
ways. But, this is precisely nPr . In other words, we have

n
Pr=r! nCr ... (7.7)

Dividing both sides by r!, we get the result in the theorem.

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Combinations
Example: A committee of 5 persons is to be formed from 6 men and 4
women. In how many ways can this be done when
i. at least 2 women are included?
ii. at most 2 women are included?

Solution :
i. When at least 2 women are included. The committee may consist of 3
women, 2 men: It can be done in 4C3× 6C2 ways.

= 4C2. 6C3+4C3-6C2+4C4- 6C1

= 6×20 + 4×15 + 1×6
=120 + 60 + 6 =186

ii. When at most 2 women are included. The committee may consist of 2
women, 3 men: It can be done in 4C2.6C3 ways Or, 1 woman, 4 men: It
can be done in 4C1.6C4 way or, 5 men : It can be done in 6C5 ways

∴Total number of ways of forming the committee

= 4C2.6C3+4C1.6C4+6C5

= 6×20 + 4×15 + 6

= 120 + 60 + 6 = 186

Activity 2: Fantastic Fall!

Solve each of the following combination problems.

1. How many combinations can be made out of the letters ABCD and E
taken two at a time?
2. How many triangles are determined by 8 points, no three of which are
collinear?

3. There are four balls of different colors. Two balls at a time are taken
and arranged in anyway. How many such combinations are possible?

4. From the given digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9, find the number of six-
digit combination.

5. From the given digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8, find the number of 4-digit
combination.

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Combinations

How did you find the preceding activities? Are you ready to learn about
combinations? From the activities you have done, you identified tasks in
which the arrangement or order is important (permutations) and those in
which order is not (combinations). You recalled the Fundamental Counting
Principle as well as permutation which are essential concepts in
understanding combinations. In the next sections of this learning module,
keep in mind the important question: How can the concept of combinations
help in solving real-life problems or in formulating conclusions and making
wise decisions? You will find out when you do the next activities.

Activity 3: Family Ties!

Answer the following combination problems given below.

1. Compute the number of 12 letter combination of all letters in alphabet.

2. Compute the number of 8 letter combination of all letters in alphabet.

3. How many 6-number combinations can be generated from the

numbers from 1-42 inclusive, without
repetition and with no regards to the
order of the numbers?

4. In how many ways can you invite one

or more of your five friends in a party?

5. How many committees can be formed

by choosing 4 men from an organization of a membership of 15 men?

Were you able to do the activity successfully? I am sure you did! Go on to the
next activity to see if you can solve the following set of combination problems.

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Combinations

Activity 4: Far Out!

Given below are problems about combinations. Solve the following.

1. A semiconductor company will hire 7 men and 4 women. In how many

ways can the company choose from 9 men and 6 women who qualified
for the position?

2. There are 13 teams in a tournament. Each

team is to play with each other only once.
What is the minimum number of days can
they play without any team playing more
than once game in any day?

3. The lotto uses numbers 1-42. A winning

number consist 6 different numbers in any
order. What are your chances of winning
in it?

4. A certain organization consists of 8 lawyers, 10 engineers and 12

accountants. How many ways can a committee of 4 members can be
formed?

5. In a licensure examination, an examinee may select 7 problems from a

set of 10 questions. In how many ways can he make his decision?

6. How many line segments can be formed with 10 distinct points, no two
of which are collinear?

7. The Classical Studies Department has 7 faculty members. Three must

attend the graduation ceremonies. How many different groups of 3 can
be chosen?

8. There are 9 balls in a hat. The balls are numbered 1-9. You need to
choose 3 of the balls. How many possible combinations are there?

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Combinations
9. How many different combinations of management can there be to fill
the positions of manager, sectary and advisor of a company knowing
that there are 12 eligible candidates?

How did you find all the activities you have done? I hope you have answered
the exercises correctly.

Activity 5: Fabulous Fab!

Answer the following problems completely.

Give 2 examples of situations in real life that illustrate combinations. Use the
graphic organizer below as your guide. In each situation,

1. Formulate a problem.
2. Solve the problem.
3. Explain how this particular problem may help you in formulating
conclusions and/or making wise decisions.

Situation 1 Situation 2

Rubric on Problems Formulated and Solved

Score Descriptors
5 Poses a more complex problem with 2 or more correct
possible solutions and communicates ideas accurately,
shows in-depth comprehension of the pertinent concepts
and/or processes, and provides explanations wherever
appropriate.
4 Poses a more complex problem and finishes all significant
parts of the solution and communicates ideas accurately,

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 shows in-depth comprehension of the pertinent concepts
and/or processes.

3 Poses a complex problem and finishes most significant parts

of the solution and communicates ideas accurately , shows
comprehension of major concepts although neglects or
misinterprets less significant ideas or details .
2 Poses a problem and finishes some significant parts of the
solution and communicates ideas accurately but shows gaps
on theoretical comprehension.

Combinations
1 Poses a problem but demonstrates little comprehension, not
being able to develop an approach.

Generalization
This lesson was about combinations and their applications in real life.
Through the lesson, you were able to identify situations that describe
combinations and differentiate them from those that do not. You were also
given the opportunity to perform practical activities to further understand the
topic, formulate related real-life problems, and solve these problems. You also
applied your knowledge to formulating conclusions and making wise
decisions.

What you know… What do you want to What you have

know… learned…

Glossary of Terms

 Combinations – a mathematical technique that determined the

number of possible arrangements in a collection of items where the
order of the selection does not matter. In this, you can select the items
in any order.it can be computed using the formula:

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 n!
C (n , r )= ,n≥r
( n−r ) ! r !
Combinations
References:
 Does Order Matter- Combinations and Non-Combinations. Brent
Hanneson. Sept. 27, 2013. www. beatthegmat.com/mba/2013/09/27/
does-order-mattercombinations-and-non-combinations-partiii.
Accessed on Feb. 27, 2014.

 The Importance of Permutations and Combinations in Modern Society.

Valerie Hansen.Nov.7, 2005.http://voices.yahoo.com/the-importance
permutations-combinations-in-10262.html?cat=41
Accessed on Feb. 26, 2014

 Pierce, Rod. (30 Sep 2018). "Combinetions and Permutations". Math Is

Fun. Retrieved 28 Dec 2019 from http:/www.mathsisfun.com/
combinatorics/ combinations -pemutations.html

 (nd). (2017, September 30). Permutation and Combination: Difference

beween Permutation and Combinetion, Permutation Meaning,
Pemutation and Combination Formuta, Questions, Problems. Retrieved
1 Jan 2020 from https:/leamingpundits.com/module-view/45-
permutations-and-combinaion/1aptitude-tips-pemutations-&
combination

 Sarells,c. (2018, February 5). Moth Combinations: Formula and

Example Problem. Retrieved 1 January 2020 from
https:/study.com/academy/lessonvhat-is-a-mathematical
combination.html#transcriptHeader

 Gallanta. M., Canonigo A., Chua, Aguz, J., ESPAtago, M., Garcia, E.
Magnaye A., OoneS, F, Perez, R., & Uemida, C. (2015). Mathematics
Combination. 5th Floor Mabioi Building, DepEd Complex Meralca
Avenue, Pasig city Philippines 1600: DepEd

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Combinations
Answer Key

Activity 1
1. 5995 ways
2. 1081575 ways
3. 1287 ways
4. 330 ways
5. 680 ways

Activity 2
1. 10 ways
2. 56 ways
3. 6 ways
4. 210 ways
5. 126 ways

Activity 3
1. 9657700 ways
2. 1562275 ways
3. 5245786 ways
4. 31 ways
5. 1365 ways

Activity 4
1. 540 ways
2. 12 ways
3. 1/5245786
4. 27405 ways
5. 120 ways
6. 360 ways
7. 45 ways
8. 84 ways
9. 220 ways

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