Permutations & combinations

Permutations and Combinations

Introduction
I‘ve always confused ―permutation‖ and ―combination‖ — which one‘s
which?
Here‘s an easy way to remember: permutation sounds complicated, doesn‘t it? And
it is. With permutations, every little detail matters. Alice, Bob and Charlie is
different from Charlie, Bob and Alice (insert your friends‘ names here).
Combinations, on the other hand, are pretty easy going. The details don‘t matter.
Alice, Bob and Charlie is the same as Charlie, Bob and Alice.
Permutations are for lists (order matters) and combinations are for groups (order
doesn‘t matter).
A joke: A "combination lock" should really be called a "permutation lock".
The order you put the numbers in matters. (A true "combination lock" would accept
both 10-17-23 and 23-17-10 as correct.)

Permutations:
Let‘s start with permutations, or all possible ways of doing something. We‘re using
the fancy-pants term ―permutation‖, so we‘re going to care about every last detail,
including the order of each item. Let‘s say we have 8 people:
1: Alice
2: Bob
3: Charlie
4: David
5: Eve
6: Frank
7: George
8: Horatio

How many ways can we award a 1st , 2nd and 3rd place prize among eight
contestants? (Gold / Silver / Bronze)

We‘re going to use permutations since the order we hand out these medals matters.
Here‘s how it breaks down:
Permutations & combinations
Gold medal: 8 choices: (Clever how I made the names match up
with letters, eh?). Let‘s say A wins the Gold.

Silver medal: choices: . Let‘s say B wins the silver.

Bronze medal: choices: . Let‘s say… C wins the bronze.

We picked certain people to win, but the details don‘t matter: we had 8
choices at first, then , then . The total number of options was
.

Let‘s look at the details. We had to order people out of 8. To do this, we

started with all options (8) then took them away one at a time ( , then ) until we
ran out of medals.
We know the factorial is:

Unfortunately, that does too much! We only want How can we ―stop‖
the factorial at ?
This is where permutations get cool: notice how we want to get rid of
. What‘s another name for this? factorial!
So, if we do ! we get:

And why did we use the number ? Because it was left over after we picked
medals from . So, a better way to write this would be:

where is just a fancy way of saying ―Use the first numbers of If

we have items total and want to pick in a certain order, we get:

And this is the fancy permutation formula: You have items and want to find the
number of ways k items can be ordered:
Permutations & combinations
Combinations
Combinations are easy going. Order doesn‘t matter. You can mix it up and it looks
the same. Let‘s say I‘m a cheapskate and can‘t afford separate Gold, Silver and
Bronze medals. In fact, I can only afford empty tin cans.

How many ways can I give tin cans to people?

Well, in this case, the order we pick people doesn‘t matter. If I give a can to Alice,
Bob and then Charlie, it‘s the same as giving to Charlie, Alice and then Bob. Either
way, they‘re equally disappointed.

This raises an interesting point — we‘ve got some redundancies here. Alice
Bob Charlie = Charlie Bob Alice. For a moment, let‘s just figure out how many
ways we can rearrange 3 people.

Well, we have choices for the first person, for the second, and only 1 for the last.
So we have ways to re-arrange people.

Wait a minute… this is looking a bit like a permutation! You tricked me!
Indeed I did. If you have N people and you want to know how many
arrangements there are for all of them, it‘s just N factorial or N!

So, if we have 3 tin cans to give away, there are variations for every choice
we pick. If we want to figure out how many combinations we have, we just create
all the permutations and divide by all the redundancies. In our case, we get
permutations (from above), and we divide by the 6 redundancies for each
permutation and get

The general formula is

which means ―Find all the ways to pick k people from n, and divide by the k!
variants‖. Writing this out, we get our combination formula, or the number of ways
to combine k items from a set of n:

Sometimes is written as:

which is the binomial coefficient.

Permutations & combinations

A Few Examples
Here‘s a few examples of combinations (order doesn‘t matter) from permutations
(order matters).
Combination: Picking a team of 3 people from a group of 10.

Permutation: Picking a President, VP and Waterboy from a group of 10.

.

Combination: Choosing 3 desserts from a menu of 10. .

Permutation: Listing your 3 favorite desserts, in order, from a menu of 10.

.

Don‘t memorize the formulas, understand why they work. Combinations sound
simpler than permutations, and they are. You have fewer combinations than
permutations.

Permutations When All Objects Are Not Different

Theorem: The number of permutations of object taken all together, when of the
objects are alike of one kind, of them alike of another kind, of them alike of a
⌊
third kind and the remaining all different is ⌊ ⌊ ⌊

Proof. Let the required number of permutations be . Now, if we replace alike

objects with distinct objects, without altering the position of other objects, we get
⌊ arrangements as distinct objects can be arranged in ⌊ ways within
themselves. Now, if alike objects are also replaced by distinct objects, without
altering the position of other objects, we get ⌊ ⌊ ⌊ arrangements. Finally, if
alike objects are also replaced by distinct objects, we get ⌊ ⌊ ⌊ arrangements.
Now all the objects and hence number of arrangements should be ⌊ .
⌊
Hence ⌊ ⌊ ⌊ ⌊ ⌊ ⌊ ⌊
.
Permutations & combinations

Q1. In a class, there are 27 boys and 14 girls. In how many ways can the teacher from a
team of one boy and one girl from amongst the students of the class to represent the
class of a function?

Q2. Three persons enter a railway carriage, where there are 5 vacant seats. In how
many ways can they seat themselves?

Q3. How many automobiles license plates can be made if each plate containing two
different letters followed by three different digits?

Q4. In a certain city, all telephone numbers have six digits, the first two digits always
being or or or or . How many telephones numbers have six digits
distinct?

Q5. How many numbers lying between and can be formed with the digits
if the repetition of digits is not allowed.

Q6. How many – digits numbers are there with no digit repeated?

Q7. Find the number of – digit odd numbers, when repetition of digits is not allowed.

Q8. How many numbers are there between and (including but
excluding ) such that

(a) every digit is either or (b) there is no restriction

(c) no digit is repeated (d) the digit in hundred‘s place is

(e) the digit in unit‘s place is (f) atleast one of the digit is

(g) atleast one of the digit is repeated (h) exactly one digit is

Q9. Six pictures are to be arranged (in line from left to right) on a wall of an art gallery
for display, How many arrangements are possible?

Q10. How many four digits numbers can be formed in which all the digits are different?

Q11. How many numbers between and (both excluding) can be formed such
that
Permutations & combinations

(a) every digit is either 3 or 7? (b) there is no restriction?

(c) no digit is repeated? (d) the digit in hundred‘s place is ?

(e) the digit in ten‘s place is ? (f) the digit does not appear at any place?

(g) the digit in unit‘s place is ? (h) atleast one of the digit is ?

Q12. In how many ways 4 different balls be distributed in boxes so that all the balls
are not put in the same box?

Q13. Ankur has friends to invite for his son‘s birthday party. In how many ways can he
send invitation cards to them if he has three servants to carry the cards?

Q14. Two cards are drawn, one at a time, and without replacement, from a deck of
cards. Determine the number of ways in which cards can be drawn. What will be
the number of ways if the first card is replaced before the second is drawn?

Q15. How many – digit telephone numbers can be constructed using the digit from
to , If each number starts with and no digit appears more than once?

Q16. Given flags of different colours. How many different signals can be generated by
hosting the flags on a vertical pole (one below the other) if each signal requires the
use of atleast flags?

Q17. How many – digit even numbers can be formed from the digit and , if
repetition of digits is not allowed?

Q1. Find the value of

⌊ ⌊ ⌊ ⌊
(a) ⌊ (b) (c) ⌊ ⌊
(d) ⌊
(e)
⌊

Q2. Evaluate ⌊ when

(a) (b)
Permutations & combinations
Q3. Evaluate When

(a) (b) (c)

Q4. Find the value of , if

(a) ⌊ ⌊ (b) ⌊ ⌊ ⌊

⌊ ⌊ ⌊
(c) ⌊ (d) ⌊
and ⌊
are in the ratio 1 : 6

Q5. Find if:

(a) (b)

Q6. Find the value of is

(a) (b)

Q7. How many letters words, with or without meaning, can be formed out of the letter
of the word WONDER, if reception of letters is not allowed?

Q8. From a sports committee of persons, in how many ways can you choose a
president and a vice president assuming that one person cannot be selected in
India?

Q9. In how many ways boys and girls be seated in a row so that no two girls are
together?

Q10. How many different (eight letter) words can be formed out of the letters of the
word DAUGHTER so that

(a) the word starts with D ad ends with R

(b) position of letter H remains unchanged
(c) relative position of vowels and consonants remain unaltered
(d) no two vowels are together
(e) all vowels occur together
(f) all vowels never occur together?

Q11. Eight chairs are numbered to . Two women and men wish to occupy one chair
each. First the women choose the chairs from amongst the chair to and then
men occupy the chair fro the remaining. Find the total number of possible
arrangements.
Permutations & combinations
Q12. How many words can be formed using all letters (using each letter exactly once) of
the following words:
(a) CATS (b) DELHI
(c) JAIPUR (d) HEXAGON (e) TRIANGLE

Q13. In how many ways can children be arranged in a line such that
(a) two particular children of them are always together?
(b) two particular children of them are never together?

Q14. Find the number of ways in which boys and girls may be seated in a row so that
no two boys are together?

Q15. How many words can be formed out of the letters of the word ORIENTEL so that A
and E occupy odd places?

Q16. How many words with or without meaning can be formed with the letters of the
word EQUATION so that the vowels and consonants occur together?

Q17. How many different five letters words starting with a vowels can be formed from
the letters of the word EQUATION?

Q18. How many arrangements can be formed by the letter of the word VOWELS if
(a) there is no restrictions
(b) each word begins with S
(c) each word begins with S and ends with e
(d) all vowels come together
(e) all consonants come together?

Q19. How many numbers greater that can be formed using the digits
and if each is used only once in a number?

Q20. How many odd numbers greater that can be formed using the digits
and if each digit is used only once in a number?

Q21. Find the number of permutations of the letter of the word HYDERABAD.

Q22. In how many ways can the letter of the word PERMUTATIONS be arranged such
that
(a) there is no restriction
(b) P comes before S
(c) words start with P and end with S
(d) T‘s are together
Permutations & combinations
(e) all vowels are together
(f) P comes before S ad there are always letters between P and S.
(g) there are four letters between P and S?

Q23. Find the number of arrangements which can be made from the letters of the word
INDEPANDANCE. In how many of these arrangements.
(a) words start with P
(b) words start with I and end with P
(c) all the vowels occur together
(d) all the vowels never occur together?
List all the values be promoted maintain our independence

Q24. Find the number of words which can be made using all letters of the word AGAIN.
If these words are written as in a dictionary, what will be the fiftieth word?

Q25. In the different word formed by all letters of the word EXAMINATION are written
as in a dictionary, how many words are there in this list before the first word
starting

Q26. How many arrangements can be ,made with the letter of the word
MATHEMATICS if
(a) there is no restriction (b) vowels occur together
(c) all vowels don‘t occur together (d) consonants occur together
(e) M is at both extremes (f) order of vowels remain unchanged?

Q1. Find if
(a) (b)

(c) and are in A.P.

Q2. (a) Find if (b) if find

(c) If find (d) If find

(e) If find and

Q3. If and , then find .

Permutations & combinations
Q4. How many committees of five persons with a chairperson can be selected from
persons?

Q5. In how many ways can find eleven be selected from cricket players if
(a) there is no restriction
(b) one of them must be included
(c) one of them, who is in bad form, must always be excluded
(d) two of them being leg spinner, one and only one leg spinner must be included?

Q6. Determine the number of ways of choosing cards out of a deck of cards which
include exactly one ace.

Q7. A boy has library tickets and books of his interest in the library. Of these
books , he does not want to borrow Mathematics Part II unless Mathematics Part I is
also borrowed. In how many ways can he choose the three to be borrowed?

Q8. How many words, with or without meaning, each of 2 vowels and 3 consonants can
be formed from the letter of the word DAUGHTER?

Q9. How many four – letter words can be formed by using the letter of the word ‗HARD
WORK‘?
Write the importance of HARD WORK in our life.

Q10. Three are 18 points in a plane, no three of which are in the same straight line except
which are collinear. Find the number of
(a) straight lines (b) triangles formed by joining them.
Q11. Everybody in a room shakes hands with everybody else. The total number of shake
hands is . How many people are there in the room.

Q12. There are points in a plane of which are collinear. These points are joined in
pairs. Find the number of straight lines formed.

Q13. There are points in a plane, no three of which are collinear. Find the number of
triangles formed by joining them.

Q14. How many words, with or without meaning, each consisting of vowels and
consonants can be formed from the letters of the word INVOLUE?

Q15. How many five letter word containing vowels and consonants can be formed
using the letter of the word EQUATION so that the two consonants occur
together?
Permutations & combinations
Q16. In how many ways can three girls and nine boys be seated in two vans, each having
numbers seats, in front of at the back? How many seating arrangements are
possible if girls sit together in a back row on adjacent seats?

Q17. If all the letter of the ‗MOTHER‘ are written in all possible orders and the words so
formed are arranged as in a dictionary order, then find the rank of the word
‗MOTHER‘.

Q18. How many four – letter words can be formed by using the letter of the word
‗ ‘?

Q19. Find the number of rectangles formed on a chess board. How many of these are
squares?

Q1. There are points on a circle. By joining them how many chords canbe drawn?

Q2. If Find

Q3. How many different words can be formed by using all letters of word ‗School‖

Q4. A gentleman has 6 friends to invite. In how many ways can he send invitations
cards to them if he has three servants to carry the cards?

Q5. If there are 12 persons in a party, and if each two of them Shake hands with each
other, how many handshakes happen in the party?

Q6. If then find the value of the .

Q7. In how many ways positive and negative signs can be arranged in a row so that
two negative signs occur together?

Q8. If the letter of the word ―PRANAV‘ are arranged as in dictionary in al possible
ways, what will be word.

Q9. A polygon has diagonal. Find the number of its sides.

Permutations & combinations
Q10. Find the number of all positive arrangements of the letter of the word
―MATHEMATICS‖ taken four at a time.

Q11. Using the digits how many digit even numbers can be made, no
digit be repeated?

Q12. There are points in a plane out of which only are in a straight line, then
(a) How many different straight lines can be made?
(b) How many triangles can be made?

Q13. If all letters of word ―MOTHER‖ are written in all possible orders and the word so
formed are arranged in a dictionary order, then find the rank of word ‗MOTHER‘?

Answer Key
Assignment 01

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

(g) (h)

(9) (10)

(11) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

(g) (h)

(12) (13) (14) (15) (16)

(17)
Assignment 02
(1) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(2) (a) (b) (3) (a) (b) (c)

(4) (a) (b) (c) (d) (5)

(6) (a) (b) (7) (8) (9)

Permutations & combinations
(10) (a) ways (b) ways (c) (d)
(e) (f)

(11) (12) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(13) (14) (15) (16) (17)

(18) (a) (b) (c) (d) (d)

(19) (20) (21)

(22) (a) ⌊ (b) ⌊ (c) ⌊ (d) ⌊ (e) ⌊ (f) ⌊ ⌊

⌊
(g) ⌊
⌊

(23) (a) (b) (c) (d)

(24) (25)

(26) (a) (b) (c) (d)

(e) (f)

Assignment 03

(1) (a) (b) (c) (d)

(2) (a) (b) (d) (d)
(e)

(3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

(10) (a) (b) (11) (12) (13)

(14) (15) (16) (17) (19)

Exam Time Preparations

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

(7) (8) (9) (10) (11)

(12) (a) (b) (13)