GROUP 1

Combinations
Combinations
 Problem
Problem #1
#1
Mackenzie has saved money to buy some
pens. So she went to the store to buy some
pens. There are 10 kinds of pens available in
the store, 2 pink pens, 1 mechanical pen, 5
blue pens, 2 marker pens, 1 whiteboard pen, 4
gel pens, 3 erasable pens, 1 sign pen, 2
double sided pen and 1 fountain pen. She
needs to select 4 pens since the money she
saved can only buy 4 pens. How many ways
can she buy 4 pens when repetition is not
allowed?
 Solution
Solution
• 10C4 = 10! / (10-4)! 4!
• = 10! / 6! 4!
• = 3,628,800 / 17,280
• = 210
• Therefore, there are 210
different sets of pen she can
choose from.
 Problem
Problem #2
#2
Find the number of
strings of 4 letters
that can be formed
with the letters of
the word
"EXAMINATION“
?
 Solution
Solution
There are 11 letters, but not all Case 2 :
of them are unique. Number of ways selecting 2 alike,2
They are "AA, II, NN, E, X, M, different
T, O" = C(3,1) ⋅ C(7,2)
The following combinations = 3 x 21
are possible: = 63 ways.
Case 1 : Number of ways Case 3 : Number of ways selecting all 4
selecting 2 alike, 2 alike different
= C(3,2) = C(8,4)
= 3 ways = 70 ways.
Total number of combinations
= 3 + 63 + 70
= 136 ways.
 Usage
Usage in
in everyday
everyday life:
life:
If we are going to apply the concept of
the given problem in our daily lives, we
can utilize this in finding and listing
words that can be formed from the letters
in a longer word. We usually encounter
this in crossword mobile games like
Wordscapes. The given problem can also
be used in board games that enhance our
vocabulary and thinking like Scrabble
and Boggle.
 Problem
Problem #3
#3
Margaret happened to win three
tickets to her favorite band’s concert.
The problem is, seven of her friends
are also big fans. Even if all seven
beg her to take them with her, she
can only choose two. How many
possible sets of friends can Margaret
take with her?
 Solution
Solution
• C(n,r)=?
• C(n,r)= C(7,2)

• C(n,r)=n!/(n-r)! r!
• C(7,2)=7!/(7-2)! 2!
• C(7,2)=7*6*5!/ 5! 2!
• C(7,2)=7*6/ 2*1
• C(7,2)=42/ 2
= 21 possible sets
 Problem
Problem #4
#4
Savannah must make a gift basket. Every
item she puts in it must come in groups
of three in order to have an equal amount
of each type of item for the receiver of
the gift basket. There are ten candy, eight
chocolates, sixteen roses and five
handcrafted wooden carvings. How many
possible sets of three of each can she put
in each gift basket?
 Solution
Solution
Candy Chocolates Roses
10C3 8C3 16C3
C(n,r)=? C (n,r)=? C (n,r)=?
C (n,r)=C(10,3) C (n,r)= C(8,3) C (n,r)= C (16,3)
C (n,r)=n!/ (n,r)! r! C (n,r)=n!/(n-r)! r! C (n,r)=n! / (n,r)! r!
C (10,3)=10!/ (10,3)! 3! C (8,3)=8! / (8-3)! 3! C (16,3)=16! / (16,3)! 3!
C (10,3)=10*9*8*7! / 7! 3!C (8,3)=8*7*6*5! / 5! 3!C (16,3)=16*15*14*13! / 13! 3!
C (10,3)=10*9*8/ 3*2*1 C (8,3)=8*7*6/ 3*2*1 C (16,3)=16*15*14 / 3*2*1
C (10,3)=720/ 6 C (8,3)=336/6 C (16,3)=3360/ 6
= 120 = 56 = 560
 Solution
Solution
Carvings
5C3
C (n,r)=?
C (n,r)= C (5,3)
C (n,r)=n! / (n,r)! r! Candy*Chocolates*Ros
C (5,3)=5! / (5,3) !3! es*Carvings
C (5,3)=5*4*3*2! / 2! 3!120*56*560*10
C (5,3)=5*4*3 / 3*2*1 = 37, 632, 000 sets
C (5,3)=60/6
=10
 
 Usage
Usage in
in everyday
everyday life:
life:
Many things in our life come in groups and sets.
Learning to apply the concept of combinations in
everyday life could boost efficiency and
optimization, because then you wouldn't have to
think too long to decide which set you'll go with, or
what the most efficient ways groups of items can be
chosen and swapped around for things like:

• Supermarket deals where buying certain packs

get you a discount
• Mixing and matching sets of food orders in order
to get the most value for your money
• Fairly assembling gift baskets
Thank You