STAT & PROB

PERMUTATION & COMBINATION

FACTORIAL NOTATION

 n! = n x (n-1) x (n-2) x (n – 3) x 1

 7! = 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
Recall:Permutation
 It is the arrangement of a given set of elements in a specific order.
 For example: One permutation of the set of letters j, e, and b is jeb, while
other possible permutations are jbe, ebj, ejb, bej, and bje.
 Permutation of n different elements taken r at a time,
 P = n!
n r

 (n – r)!
COMBINATION
It is an arrangement of objects wherein the order is not important.
For example, in choosing a group of students to represent the school in a
national academic quiz bee. The arrangement of the selected students
{ Cedric, Angelo, Anela} and { Angelo, Anela, Cedric} refer to the same group.

Assume that you will choose a committee of 3 members out of 5 persons – Irish,
Ron, Vince, Jana, Sean. There are 10 possible ways:

Irish, Ron, Vince Irish, Jana, Sean

Irish, Ron, Jana Ron, Vince, Jana
Irish, Ron, Sean Ron, Jana, Sean
Irish, Vince, Jana Ron, Vince, Sean
Irish, Vince, Sean Vince, Jana, Sean
Combination of n Objects Taken r at a Time

 If a choice of several objects involves selections that regard order as

insignificant, the total number of selections, called combination, is given by

 n Cr = n!
 r!(n – r)!
 Recall: 5! = 5(4)(3)(2)(1)
 5 C3 = 5! = 5(4)(3!) = 5(4) = 10
 3! (5 – 3)! 3!(2!) 2
Illustrative Examples:
 1. Four children are chosen from a class of 30 for a survey. In how many ways
can this be done?
 n = 30 r=4

 2. A committee of 5 consisting of 3 girls and 2 boys is to be chosen from a

class with 15 girls and 10 boys. How many distinct committees are possible to
form? [Hint:Use the multiplication rule]
 15 C3 x 10 C2 = 15! X 10! =
 3! 12! 2! 8!
Try these:
 Solve.
 1. In how many ways can 3 books be drawn from 1,000?

 2. A group of nine people is to ride to Baguio in two cars. If one car can
accommodate six passengers and the other, three; in how many ways can the
group be divided for the ride?

 3. A man wishes to employ 4 men and 2 women. In how many ways can the
selection be made if 10 men and 6 women are available?
Assignment:
 Solve.
 1. How many ways can a coach choose 6 players for the first set of volleyball
match if there are 15 members in the team?