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A Teaching- Learning Package in Mathematics 10

Teacher: Maryland V. Pasilan

Method: Five A’s

TLP 19: Combination

Objectives: Through the discussion and examples, the students will be able to:
1. Illustrates the combination of objects;
2. Differentiate permutation from combination of n objects taken r at a time;
3. Derives the formula for finding the number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time;
and
4. Solve problems involving permutations and combinations.

A. ACTIVATION
Can you use the word combination in a situation?
Here are my examples.
“I ordered Value Meal 1. It is a combination of a burger, fries, and a drink.”
“The combination of my padlock for my cabinet is 1-2-3-4.”
Can you give your own situation or experience using the word combinations? Write 2 situations.

F, B, O
From the given letter FBO, answer the following:
1. How many arrangement of the letters can be formed if two letters are taken at a time?
2. How many combinations of the letters can be formed if two letters are taken at a time?

B. BUILDING - UP
Combination refers to the selection of objects regardless of their order (ORDER DOESN’T
MATTER). That is, changing the order of the objects does not create a new combination.
For instance, the 3 combinations of the 3 letters F,B, and O taken two at a time are:
FB, FO and BO
FB and BF are considered one combination. Similarly, FO and OF, and BO and OB, are the same
combinations.
There is only 1 combination that can be made from the letters F,B,O taken 3 at a time. That is:
FBO
FBO, FOB, BFO, OFB and OBF are considered one combination.
The combination of n things or objects taken r at a time can be denoted in different ways:

C (n, r) or nCr or C (nr)

We will adopt the notation C (n, r).
In the first illustration, there are 3 things (letters F, B and O) taken 2 at a time.
C (3,2) = 1
In the second illustration, there are 3 things taken 3 at a time.
C (3,3) = 1

Here is some example of combinations.

 Handshakes
 Random Groups
 Number in No Particular Order
 Multiple picks in One Draw

Comparing Permutation and Combination

Combination is an arrangement of objects in which the order is not important. In permutation, the order
of the objects matters. For instance, AB and BA are two different permutations but they are counted as one and
the same combination.
Illustration 1.
Consider the number of permutations of the 4 letters A,B, C and D taken 2 at time.
n = 4 and r = 2

The permutations are listed below

There are 12 permutations but only 6 combinations. This is because the order of the objects in
combination is not important.
 Notice that the number of arrangements of 2 letters taken from the 4 letters A,B,C and D is equal to 2! or
2. The 2 arrangements represent only 1 group or 1 combination. The ratio is 2! to 1 or r!:1.

Illustration 2
Consider the number of permutation of the 4 letters A,B,C and D taken 3 at a time.

n = 4, r = 3

There are 24 permutations but only 4 combinations. This is illustrated below

Notice that the number of arrangements of 3 letters taken from the 4 letters A,B, C and D is equal to 3! Or 6.
The 6 arrangements represent only 1 group or combination. The ratio is 3! To 1 or r!: 1

o In the given illustrations above, what have you observed on its permutations and combination?
o Compare in your own words permutation and combination.
Let us have some problems.
Determine which situation is permutation and which is combination.
Situation A. Five seniors are chosen from sixteen to be member of the leadership board.
Situation B. Five senior are chosen from sixteen to be the class president, vice president, secretary, treasure, and
auditor.
Solution:
Situation A is a n example of combination because order does not matter in this case. Situation B is an
example of permutation because order matters in this situation. The group with student A as president is
different from the group with student B as president.

Practice!
Try This #1!
Determine whether the given situation is a combination or permutation problem.
1. A class has to elect 3 different officers from 6 candidates.
2. A class has to elect members of a committee from 6 candidates.

Example 1
How many ways can you select a committee of 4 students out of 10 students?
Solution:
Since we are going to select randomly from the 10 students, the arrangement or order of the students
chosen is not important. Therefore, this is a combination problem, where n = 10 and r = 4.

Substitute and Simplify.

Example 2
In culinary arts class, student is asked to select dishes from a list of 10.
a. How many ways can he or she select 6?
b. How many ways can he or she select 4?
Solution:
Selecting from the dishes needs no arrangement. Hence, the problem is a combination problem.

Practice!
Try This #2!
Solve the problem below.
As a party coordinator, you prepared 10 games for a children’s party. If there is just enough time to play 4
games, in how many ways can you choose the 4 games to play?

Example 3
A committee of 5 students is to be chosen form 10 boys and 11 girls. How many committees can be
formed if the committee is to be comprised as follows:
a. All are boys
b. At least 4 are girls.
c. There are 2 boys and 3 girls.
Solution:
a. We need to select 5 boys from 10 boys of the students. We ignore the number of girls since we are not
looking for any girls. From n = 10 boys, r = 5.
 Practice!
Try This #3!
Solve the problem below.
Sebastian’s Ice Cream Shop offers 15 flavors of ice cream and 10 toppings. How many combinations can
be made from choosing 3 flavors of ice cream and 5 toppings.

Example 4
Evaluate the following:
a. C (2,0) + C
(2,1) + C (2,2)
b. C (3,0) + C
(3,1) + C (3,2) + C
(3,3)

Solution:
 Practice!
Try This #4!
Evaluate.
C (4,0) + C (4,1) + C (4,2) + C (4,3) + C (4,4)

Note: In solving the problems, you need to identify the problem if it is a permutation or combination so
that you could use what appropriate formula. Find the keyword in problem.

SUMMARY
The students will make a Venn Diagram that shows comparisons of permutation and combination. Do it
on a separate sheet of paper.

C. CLOSURE
EVALUATION
A. Identify a) if order matters or not in each situation, b) if it’s a permutation or a combination problem, c) the
values of n and r then d) compute the answer. Check the appropriate box that applies for a and b, write down
the answers for c and d.
Order Answer
Order
Doesn’t Permutation Combination n r (Show your solutions)
Matters
Matter
 Choose 5
people from ten
on the waiting
list to board the
plane.

Choose the first

5 people from
ten on the
waiting list to
board the plane.

Choose 7 songs
out of 12 to
make a specific
playlist for the
party.

Choose 7 songs
out of 12 to
download

Choose 3
students from
30 to represent
the class in a
quiz bee.

Choose 3
students from
30 to be the
president, vice
president, and
secretary.

B. Solve the
following.
Show your
solutions.
C. Mixed permutation and combination. Solve the problem. Show your solutions.