COMBINATION

THE SELECTION OF OBJECTS

REGARDLESS OF THEIR ORDER

(CHANGING THE ORDER OF THE OBJECTS

DOES NOT CREATE A NEW COMBINATION)
 COMBINATION
The combination of n things or objects taken r
at a time can be denoted in different ways:

𝑛
𝐶 𝑛, 𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑛𝐶 r or C 𝑟
 PERMUTATION COMBINATION
• order of the objects • arrangement/order of
matters objects is not important
𝑛! 𝑛!
• 𝑃 𝑛, 𝑟 = • 𝐶 𝑛, 𝑟 =
𝑛−𝑟 ! 𝑟! 𝑛−𝑟 !

Illustration:
Consider the number of permutations and combinations of the 4
letters A, B, C, and D taken at 2 times.

𝑛! 𝑛!
• 𝑃 𝑛, 𝑟 = • 𝐶 𝑛, 𝑟 =
𝑛−𝑟 ! 𝑟! 𝑛−𝑟 !
4! 4!
𝑃 4, 2 = = 12 𝐶 4, 2 = =6
4−2 ! 2! 4−2 !
 PERMUTATION
4!
𝑃 4, 2 = = 12
4−2 !
The 12 permutations are:
AB and BA – 2 permutations
AC and CA – 2 permutations
AD and DA – 2 permutations
BC and CB – 2 permutations
BD and DB – 2 permutations
CD and DC – 2 permutations
Total: 12 permutations
COMBINATION
4!
𝐶 4, 2 = =6
2! 4 − 2 !
The 6 combinations are:
AB or BA – 1 combination
AC or CA – 1 combination
AD or DA – 1 combination
BC or CB – 1 combination
BD or DB – 1 combination
CD or DC – 1 combination
Total: 6 combination
If the problems says “find in how many
ways can they be arranged/lined
up, made,…” then, its is a problem
on permutation.

If the problems says “find in how many

ways can it/they be selected/
chosen/drawn/taken/grouped
,…” then, its is a problem on
combination.
1. How many ways can you select a
committee of 4 students out of 10
students?
2. How many triangles can be drawn on a
plane using 4 non-collinear points?
3. In a culinary arts class, a 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?