PERMUTATION Versus

COMBINATION
The learner solves problems involving permutations and
combinations. ( M10SP-IIId-e-1)

a. Identify problems involving permutations and

combinations
b. Solve problems involving permutations and
combinations.
c. Appreciate the importance of permutation
and combination in making
wise decisions.
LET’S START!

Study the following situations then determine which

situations involve permutations and which involve
combinations. If the situations involves permutations say
“Pak Ganern” if it is combinations say “ Oukheiy
Keyouh ”.
1. A team of 8 basketball players needs to
choose a captain and co-captain.
PERMUTATION a k
“ P r n”
a n e
2. Rob and Mary are planning trips to G
nine countries this year. There are 13
countries they would like to visit. They
are deciding which countries to skip.
COMBINATION y
u k h e i
“O ”
e yo u h
3. The batting order for seven players on a
12 person team. a k
PERMUTATION “ P n ”
n e r
G a
4. There are 45 applicants for three
Computer Programmer positions.
e i y
COMBINATION “ Oukh
o u h ”
K e y
 Be a Lotto Winner!
1. Your city has a lottery where you have to pick 3
numbers (0-9) that match the three numbers drawn
by the lottery machine. Each number is only used
once. Order counts! The order of the numbers you
pick must match the order that the numbers are
drawn.
 5 minute full circle timers
5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes
1. Your city has a lottery where you have to pick 3 numbers
(0-9) that match the three numbers drawn by the lottery
machine. Each number is only used once. Order counts! The
order of the numbers you pick must match the order that the
numbers are drawn.
Question:
1. How many different numbers are there to pick
the winner from?
Question:
2. What if order does not matter? How many
numbers are there?
 Your city has a lottery where you have to pick 3 numbers
(0-9) that match the three numbers drawn by the lottery
machine. Each number is only used once. Order counts! The
order of the numbers you pick must match the order that the
numbers are drawn.
Question:
1. How many different numbers are there to pick
the winner from?
Answer:
n = 10, r =720
3
1. nPr = 10P3 =
Your city has a lottery where you have to pick 3 numbers
(0-9) that match the three numbers drawn by the lottery
machine. Each number is only used once. Order counts! The
order of the numbers you pick must match the order that the
numbers are drawn.
Question:
2. What if order does not matter? How many
numbers are there?
Answer:
n = 10, r = 3
1. nCr = 10P3 =120
 PERMUTATION vs. COMBINATION
How many permutations (arrangements)
are there for the letters C, A, and T?
3 3 = 3!
3 3= 6
{CAT, CTA, ACT, ATC, TCA, TAC}
How many combinations are there
for the letters C, A, and T?
3 3= 1
CAT, CTA, ACT, ATC, TCA, and TAC are
counted as one.
 THINK IT GOLD!

1. How are the situations similar?

2. How are the situations different?
In solving word problem involving permutation and
combination, YOU were able to determine the tasks/
situations that involve permutation from those that
involve combination.
Illustrative Example Permutations vs. Combination
Consider these situations.

Example 1: A group has to select a moderator and a secretary

from 5 members in the group. How many arrangements of
group leaders are possible?
Example 1: A group has to select a moderator and a secretary from 5
members in the group. How many arrangements of group leaders are
possible?
Solution:
Let the five group members be A, B, C, D, E Solution to Example 1 Since the
moderator and the secretary are considered different their order is
important, then the number of possible arrangements of group leaders is
5P2 = 5! = 5 · 4 · 3! = 5 • 4 = 20
(5 – 2)! 3!
These are the possible arrangements:
AB BA BC CB CD DC DE ED AC CA
BD DB CE EC AD DA BE EB AE EA
In solving word problem involving permutation and
combination, YOU were able to determine the tasks/
situations that involve permutation from those that
involve combination.
Illustrative Example Permutations vs. Combination
Consider these situation.

Example 2: A group has to select two leaders from the 5

members in the group. How many sets of group officers are
possible?
Example 2: A group has to select two leaders from the 5 members in the
group. How many sets of group officers are possible?

Solution: The problem looks at sets of group officers and is not

particular as to who is the moderator and who is the secretary. In
this situation, order is not important. AB and BA are considered as
the same set of objects as A and B.
When order is not important, the number of possible arrangements
is only 10. 5C2 = 5! = 5 · 4 · 3 ! = 20 = 10
(5 – 2)! 2! (3 !) 2! 2
From the possible arrangements in Example 1 let us remove those with the same
people.
AB BA BC CB CD DC DE ED AC CA BD DB CE EC AD DA BE EB AE EA
 Step 1 .Analyze the problem. In this problem, is order or arrangement important?
____

Step 2. What is the formula to be used? ________

Step 3. Solution. The order of being selected for a committee is not important, thus
the problem asks for the combinations of 7 objects taken 4 at a time.

7C4 = 7! = 7 . 6 . 5 . 4! = 7 . 6 . 5 = 210 =
4!(7 – 4)! 4! ( 3! ) 3! 6
35
Read the problem carefully solve and answer the question below:
b. A class is to select a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer
from 7 class members. How many arrangements

Step 1 .Analyze the problem. In this problem, is order or arrangement important?

____

Step 2. What is the formula to be used? ________

Step 3. Solution. The number of permutations of 7 class members taken 4 at a time.

7P4 = 7! = 7 . 6 . 5 . 4 . 3! = 840
(7 – 4)! 3!
 THINK IT GOLD!
1. Can you differentiate permutation from
combination?
2. Can you give other situations within our school
that illustrate permutation and combination?
Combination is the choice of r things from a set of n things
without replacement and where order does not matter.

Linear Permutation. A permutation is a linear

arrangement of objects, or an arrangement of objects in
rows, in which the order of the objects is important.
Circular Permutation. The number of ways to arrange
distinct objects along a fixed (i.e., cannot be picked up out
of the plane and turned over) circle is. The number is
instead of the usual factorial since all cyclic permutations of
objects are equivalent because the circle can be rotated.

Remember: The permutation of n objects taken r at a

time is

And the permutation of n objects taken all at the time

is:
Circular Permutation of n objects is:
Solve the following problems completely. Write your answers on a 1/4 sheet of paper.

1. Castel and Joe are planning trips to three countries this year. There are 7 countries they would like to visit. One trip will be
one week long, another two days, and the other two weeks.
2. There are 110 people at a meeting. They each shake hands with everyone else. How many handshakes were there?

Permutation ; 210
Combination ; 5,995
 AGREEMENT!

Study Probability
Define:
1. Probability
2. Outcome
3. Sample space
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