Word Problems

Involving Permutation
and Combination
PERMUTATIO
N
PERMUTATION
• A permutation of a set is, loosely speaking, an
arrangement of its members into a sequence or linear
order, or if the set is already ordered, a rearrangement of
its elements. The word "permutation" also refers to the
act or process of changing the linear order of an ordered
set.
COMBINATIO
N
COMBINATION
• combination is a mathematical technique that determines
the number of possible arrangements in a collection of
items where the order of the selection does not matter.
In combinations, you can select the items in any
order. Combinations can be confused with permutations.
PERMUTATION COMBINATION

• An arrangement of • An arrangement of
items in a items in which
particular order ORDER DOES
NOT MATTER
• ORDER
MATTERS
EXAMPLE OF
PERMUTATIO
N
 EXAMPLE: 5 P5 = 5! (5 – 5)!
• How many ways can you
= 120
arrange five canned goods
in a cabinet, where the 1
order is important? 5P5 = 120

Therefore, you can arrange 5

canned goods in a cabinet in
120 ways, where the order is
important
EXAMPLE OF
COMBINATIO
N
 EXAMPLE:
• You have 10 items of
clothing but can only
pack 7 in a suitcase. How
many different 10 c 7= 10! 7!(10-7)!
combinations of clothes
can you take
= 3628800

30240

10 c 7 = 120
 SOLVE THE
FOLLOWING
 IDENTIFY WHETER ITS PERMUTATION
OR COMBINATION THEN SOLVE IT.

• HOW MANY • IN A 30 PERSON

WAYS CAN YOU RACE, HOW MANY
PICK 2 CO- WAYS CAN YOU
CAPTAINS ON A AWARD GOLD,
TEA OF 20. SILVER & BRONZE
• HOW MANY
WAYS CAN YOU
PICK 2 CO-
CAPTAINS ON A
TEAM OF 20.

COMBINATIO 20 c 2= 20!

N 2!(20-2)!

20 c 2 = 190
• IN A 30 PERSON
RACE, HOW MANY
P3 = 30!
WAYS CAN YOU 30
(30 – 3)!
AWARD GOLD,
SILVER & BRONZE
30 P3 = 24,360
PERMUTATIO
N Therefore, the gold, silver, and
bronze awards can be given to
30 persons in 24,360 ways.