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CAT Permutation and

Combination Practice
Questions with Solutions

Permutation and Combination Questions have always been

popular among CAT aspirants.
In CAT, questions from permutation and combination are
mostly based on the concepts of fundamental principles of
counting. There is very rare occasions when the questions on
P & C require a higher concept to solve.
We advice CAT aspirants to stick to the basics and solve
permutation and combination questions which requre basic
concepts and formulas.
They should not waste their time and energy to solve IIT JEE
level questions unnecessarily.
For Practice and reference, we are providing few selected
types of problems on permutation and combination which
we are expected to appear in CAT exam.
Question 1:
A train is going from Mumbai to Pune and make 5 stops on
the way. Three persons enter the train after it has started from
Mumbai with 3 different tickets. How many different sets of
tickets may they have had?
[1] P 15
3

[2] 3 × 15
P3

[3] 15
C3

[4]
15
C3
3

Answer & Solution

Option # 3
Since three persons enter the train after it has started from
Mumbai, so they could have entered at:
First station (from where they could have bought tickets for
the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th station or for Pune i.e.  5 tickets).
Second station (from where they could have bought tickets
for 3rd, 4th or 5th stations  or for Pune i.e. 4 tickets)
3rd station (from where they could have bought tickets for
the 4th or 5th stations or for Pune ie 3 tickets).
4th station (from where they could have bought tickets for
the 5th station or for Pune i e. 2 tickets).
5th station (from where they could have bought a ticket for
Pune i.e. 1 ticket)
Thus, we can see that there are 5+4+3+2+1=15 tickets available
out of which 3 tickets are to be selected This can be done in
C ways.
15
3
Question 2:
The sum of all the possible numbers of 4 digits formed by
digits 3, 5, 5, and 6 using each digit once is
[1] 64427
[2] 63327
[3] 65297
[4] 43521
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
Total number of different numbers of 4 digits formed by
using these digits only once = = 12. The numbers formed
4!
2!

whose unit digit is 3 = 3

The number formed whose unit digit is 5 = 6
The number formed whose unit digit is 6 = 3
(Same rule is applicable for 10th, 100th and 1000th units)
Sum of the total number of unit digits = 3×3+5×6 +6×3 = 57
Sum of the 10th digit number = 57×10
Sum of the 100th digit number = 57×100
Sum of the 1000th digit number = 57×1000
Sum of all the numbers formed = 57(1+10+100 + 1000) = 63327.
Question 3:
India and Australia player one-day international cricket series
until anyone team win 4 matches. No match ended in a  draw.
In how many ways can the series be won?
[1] 35
[2] 70
[3] 105
[4] 140
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
No. of India Wins Australia No. of Ways
Matches Wins

4 4 0 4
C4 = 1

5 4 1 4
C3 =
4!
3!
= 4

6 4 2 5
C3 =
5!
3!×2!
= 10

7 4 3 6
C3 =
6!
3!×3!
= 20

So, India can win the series in 1+4+10+20 = 35 ways. Similarly,

Australia can win the series in 35 ways. Hence, the total
number of ways in which the series can be won is 35+35=70
ways.
Question 4:
Spider has one sock and one shoe for each of its 8 legs. In how
many different ways can the spider put on its socks and shoes,
assuming that in each leg the sock has to be put on before the
shoe?
[1]
2
(8!)

[2] 16!
2
8

[3]
2
(16!)
8
2
[4] None of These
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
Let the spider's legs be numbered 1. 2, 3, …, 8.
Let ak, and bk, denote the Sock and the shoe respectively for
the kthleg where 1 ≤ k ≤ 8.
So a total of sixteen objects are there (a1b1a2b2a3b3…. a8b8)
which are to be arranged such that a­kcomes before bk
16 objects can be arranged in 16! ways, Out of these the
arrangements in which akcomes before bk= × 16! 1
2

Similarly out of the remaining, the arrangement in which

a2comes before b2
= 1
2
× 1
2
× 16! and so on
Finally arrangements in which akcomes before bk=( 1
2
)
8
× 16!

Question 5:
Five digit numbers divisible by 9 are to be formed by using the
digits  0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 (without repetition).  the total number of
such numbers that can be formed is
[1] 216
[2] 214
[3] 212
[4] 200
Answer & Solution
Option # 1
Sum of all given numbers = 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 7 + 8 = 25
 Hence we will select only those five numbers whose sum is
18 or 9. But no five numbers will make the sum 9 So we
choose the five numbers which make their sum 18 Since the
sum of all the seven digits is 25 so we exclude those two
digits out of given seven digits whose sum is 7 Thus we
exclude either 0, 7 or 3, 4 as both these have sum 7. Hence
we have the following two sets
[(a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 8,  (0, 7 excluded) Therefore, sum = 18
They can be arranged in 5! = 120 ways
[(b) 1, 2, 7, 8,  (3, 4 excluded) Therefore, sum = 18
They can be arranged in 5! - 4! (0, in beginning) = 120 - 24 = 96
ways T
Thus the total number of numbers divisible by 9 is 120 + 96 =
216 
Question 6:
What is the number of whole numbers formed on the screen
of a calculator which can be recognised as numbers with
(unique) correct digits when they are read inverted? The
greatest number that can be formed on the screen of the
calculator is 999999.
[1] 100843
[2] 10843
[3] 1000843
[4] 108543
Answer & Solution
Option # 1
 The digits which can be recognised as unique digits when
they are Inverted in a calculator are 0, 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9 Since
the number cannot begin with zero all the numbers having
0 at units place should be discarded for otherwise when reed
upside down the number yen begin with 3 we now :1St the
different posibililities

Number of Digits Total number of numbers

1 7

2 6×6 = 6
2

3 6×7×6 = 6
2
×7

4 6×7×7×6 = 6
2
×7
2

5 6×7×7×7×6 = 6
2
×7
3

6 6×7×7×7×7×6 = 6
2
×7
4

Thus, the number of required numbers

2 2 2 4
= 7+6 +6 ×7+…+6 ×7

3
2 (7 −1) 5
= 7+6 = 7 + 6 (7 − 1)
7−1

= 100843
. Ans.(1)
Question 7:
In how many ways 2 different numbers can be chosen using
the numbers between 0 and 180 (both inclusive) so that 60 is
their average?
[1] 50
[2] 60
[3] 80
[4] None of these
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
Let x and y be 2 numbers such that x+y

2
= 60 ⇒ x + y = 120 x

and y both cant be equal to or greater than 60 (Since 60 cant

be used twice)
let 0 ≤ x ≤ 59 and 61 ≤ y ≤ 120
The total number of ways in which x can be chosen =
60C = 60 ways and the value of y depends on the value of x
1

and there will be only one value of y corresponding to a value

of x.
Therefore, total number of ways in which the numbers can
be formed = 60. Ans.(2)
Question 8:
The number of ways in which 4 squares can be chosen at
random on a chess board such that they lie on a diagonal line?
[1] 140
[2] 182
[3] 364
[4] 256
Answer & Solution
Option # 3
 Divide the chess board into two parts by a diagonal line 80 To
select 4 squares lying on diagonal line we have to choose the
squares lying on P , Q , P Q , P , Q , P Q and BD.
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4

Number of squares on one side of

BD =4 C4 +5 C4 +6 C4 + 7C4
= 56
. Thus total squares on either side of BO = 56 x 2 = 112.
On the diagonal BD,  we will have 8C4, squares=70. So total
squares = 112 • 70 = 182.
Similarly on the other side of the diagonal line AC we will
have 182 squares.
Hence total number of squares = 2 x 182 = 364 Ans.(3)
Question 9:
A Dubai based gangster Chhota Vakil is in Switzerland these
jays. He wants to rob a bank there, whose locker code
according to his information is an odd number between 50
and 450. He also knows that the numbers are from the set :0, 1,
2, 3, 4, 5}. How many maximum trials he has to take to unlock
the locker?
[1] 54
[2] 72
[3] 78
[4] 106
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
Case (i): 2 digit number The tenth place digit can be 5 only
(since number is greater than 50). The unit place can be filled
in 3 ways. either 1 or 3 or 5 (as the number is odd number).
 Case (ii): 3 digit number less than 400. 0 cannot be in the
hundred's place. So the 100 hundred's place can be filled 3
ways (either 1 or 2 or 3) any digit can occupy the tenth place.
Therefore it can be filled in 6 ways. The unit place can be
filled in 3 ways. either 1 or 3 or 5. (as the number is odd
number) Therefore number of ways = 3x 6x 3= 54.
Case (iii): number greater than 400 but less than 450. only 4
can come in the hundred's place. In the tenth place any digit
can come except 5 (since number should be < 450), so it can
be filled in 5 ways again the unit's place can be filled in three
ways. number of ways = 1 x 5 x 3= 15.
Total number of ways = 3 + 54 + 15 = 72.
Question 10:
Given five different yellow balls, four different black balls and
three different white balls. Then the number of combinations
of balls that can be chosen taking atleast one yellow and
atleast one black balls are
[1] 3255
[2] 4096
[3] 3720
[4] 3721
Answer & Solution
Option # 3
No. of ways in which at least one yellow ball can be selected =
25 - 1 = 31.
No. of ways in which at least one black ball can be selected =
24-1 = 15.
 No. of ways in which one or more red balls can be selected =
23 = 8,
Therefore. total number of ways = (2 5
− 1) (2
4
− 1) 2
3
= 3720

Question 11:
There are 4 letters and 4 addressed envelopes. If each letter is
randomly placed in an envelope, then in how many ways can
wrong choices be made? 
[1] 43
[2] 4! – 1
[3] 16
[4] 44-1
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
4 letters can go into 4 envelopes in 4! Ways, of these onIy one
choice is the correct one.
So. total number of wrong choices = 4! - 1 Ans.[2)
Question 12:
In the previous question, the number of ways in which only
one letter goes in the wrong envelope is
[1] 43
[2] 4
C1 +
4
C2 +
4
C3 +
4
C4

[3] 4
C0 +
4
C1 +
4
C2 +
4
C3

[4] 0
Answer & Solution
Option # 4
At least two letters have to be interchanged for a wrong
choice. So the number
 of ways in which only one letter goes in wrong envelope = 0.
Ans.(4)
Question 13:
In how many ways can the letters of the English alphabet be
arranged so that there are seven letters between the letters A
and B?
[1] 3! x 2!
[2] 24C 7 × 18! × 2

[3] 36 x 24!
[4] 26P 7 × 20! × 2

Answer & Solution

Option # 3
A and B can occupy the first and ninth places. the second
and the tenth places, the third and  eleventh place and so on
upto eighteenth and twenty sixth place. This an be done in 15
ways. A and B can be arranged in 2 ways.
All the other 24 alphabets can be arranged m 24! ways.
Hence. the required answer = 2 × 18 × 24! = 36 × 24!. Ans.(3)
Question 14:
How many words can be formed with the letters of the word
'PATALIPUTRA' without changing the relative order of the
vowels and consonants?
[1] 3600
[2] 4200
[3] 54000
[4] 3000
Answer & Solution
 Option # 1
There are 11 letters in the word 'PATALIPUTRA‘ and there are
two P's. two T's. three A's and four other different letters.
Number of consonants = 6. number of vowels = 5.
Since relative order of the vowels and consonants remains
unchanged. vowels can occupy only vowel’s place and
consonants can occupy only consonants place.
Now 6 consonants can be arranged among themselves 6!
2!2!

ways (since
there are two P's and two T’s).
And 5 vowels can be arranged among themselves in
5!/3!ways (since A occurs thrice)
Therefore, Required number = 6!
2!2!
×
5!
3!
= 3600 . Ans.(1)
Question 15:
A shop owner has an unlimited supply of 8 different types of
flowers. If a customer asks for a five flower arrangement such
that the arrangement should start and end with the same
type of flower, then in how many ways the arrangement can
be made by the shop owner?
[1] 8C × 3!
4

[2] 83
[3] 84
[4] 8C 4 × 4C1 × 3!

Answer & Solution

Option # 3
Chose with one flower which arrangement will start and end.
3 4
8C1x8 = 8
Question 16:
There are 21 balls which are either white or black and the balls
of the same colour are alike. If the number of arrangements of
these balls in a row be maximum then the number of white
balls can be
[1] 10
[2] 12
[3] 14
[4] 21
Answer & Solution
Option # 1
Let there be r white (alike) balls so that the number of black
balls is (21-r)
(These are also alike). Number of arrangements of these total
21 balls is
21!
A = =21 Cr
 (r!×21−r)!

Since r are alike of one kind and (21 - r) are alike of other kind,
we have divided by r! and (21 - r)!
Again A = 21
Cr , will be maximum when r = 21+1
2
or 21−1
2
i. e. 10
or 11
Question 17:
How many five letter words (with or without meaning) can be
formed such that the letters appearing in the odd positions
are taken from the unrepeated letters of the word
MATHEMATICS whereas the letters which occupy even places
are taken from amongst the repeated letters of the same?
[1] 3600
[2] 540
[3] -150
[4] None of these
Answer & Solution
Option # 2
There are 3 odd places namely lst, 3rd and 5th which are to
be f‌illed by unrepeated 5 letters H. E. l, C. S. This can be done
in 5P3 = 5 X 4 X 3 = 60 ways. We have two even places namely
2nd and 4th which is to be filled by repeated letters (2M. 2A,
2T) i.e., 6 letters. These two even places can be f‌illed by 3
different types of letters as under.
(i) All different: : 3P 2 = 3×2 = 6 .
(ii) Both alike ∴ 3
C1 × 2!
2!
= 3

Thus even places can be f‌illed in 6 + 3 = 9 ways. Hence by

fundamental principle of counting. the required number of
words is 60 x 9 = 540. Ans.(2)
Question 18:
An entomologist noticed 15 ants crawling on his table. Exactly
13 of them were male and 2 were female. He noticed that they
were crawling on the table in a random order such that no
three of them were ever in the same straight line. Suddenly,
three of the male ants start following one of the female ants
such that, all four of them were in a single line. Then the
maximum number of distinct straight lines that the
entomologist can draw passing through any two ants is
[1] 56
[2] 44
[3] 105
[4] 100
Answer & Solution
Option # 4
Initially there were 15C2 = 105 lines. Now for the four ants
among themselves the number of lines are decreased by
(4C2 - 1) = 5 i.e., a net decrease of 5 lines i:e., there are 105 - 5 =
100 possible lines. Ans.(4)
Question 19:
A train is going from Mumbai to Pune and makes S stops on
the way. 3 persons enter the train after it has started from
Mumbai with 3 different tickets. How many different sets of
tickets they may have had?
[1] 15p 3

[2] 3 × 15P 3

[3] 15C 3

[4] 15C3
3

Answer & Solution

Option # 3
Since three persons entered the train after it has started from
Mumbai, so they could have entered at: 
1st station (from where they could have bought tickets for
the2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th stations or for Pune i.e. 5 tickets).
2nd station (from where they could have bought tickets for
the 3rd, 4th for 5th stations or for Pune i.e. 4 tickets).
3rd station (form when: they could have bought tickets tor
the 4th or 5th stations or tor Pune i.e. 3 tickets).
4th station from where they could have bought tickets tor
the 5th station or for Pune i.e., 2 tickets)
 5th station (from when: they could have bought a ticket for
Pune i.e. 1 ticket)
Thus, we can see that there are 5+4+3+2+1= 15 tickets
available out of which 3 tickets are to be selected. This can be
done in 15C3 ways.
Question 20:
Suppose a city has m parallel roads running East-West and n
parallel roads running North-South.  How many rectangles are
formed with their sides along these roads?
[1] mn
4

[2] mn(m−1)(n−1)
4

[3] (m−1)(n−1)

[4] None of these

Answer & Solution
Option # 2
To form a rectangle. we require two lines from East to West
and two lines from North to South. Therefore, total number
at rectangles which we can get is:
m(m−1) n(n−1)
mC2 × nC2 = ⋅
2 2

mn(m−1)(n−1)
=
4

Question 21:
Mohan, a thief, went to a liquor shop where he decided to take
away 15 bottles. In the shop there are bottles of Wine, Whisky,
Rum, Vodka and Gin. In how many ways he can select the
bottles?
[1] 19C4
[2] 20C4
[3] 15C5
[4] 2200
Answer & Solution
Option # 1
As there is no restriction in choosing the bottles,
Therefore, By using the formula n+r−1
Cr−1

15+5−1 19
= C5−1 = C4

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