WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Mathematics 10, Quarter 3, Week 2

PERMUTATIONS OF OBJECTS

Name: ______________________________________ Section: ____________________

Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC)

Solves problems involving permutations (M10SP-IIIb-1)

Learning Objectives:
After going through this WLAS, you, the learner, are expected to
demonstrate the knowledge of permutations. Specifically, you will be able to:

1. Finds the permutation of n objects taken r at a time.

2. Illustrates distinguishable permutations.
3. Illustrates circular permutations.
4. Solves problems involving permutations.

Key Concepts

PERMUTATION

A permutation is an arrangement of objects where the order matters.

The number of permutations of 𝒏 objects taken 𝒓 at a time, denoted by
𝑷(𝒏, 𝒓), where 𝒏 ≥ 𝒓 is:
𝑷(𝒏, 𝒓) = 𝒏(𝒏 − 𝟏)(𝒏 − 𝟐) … (𝒏 − 𝒓 + 𝟏) or
𝒏!
𝑷(𝒏, 𝒓) =
(𝒏 − 𝒓)!

And the number of permutations of 𝒏 objects taken all at a time is:

𝑷(𝒏, 𝒓) = 𝒏!

DISTINGUISHABLE PERMUTATION

The number of distinguishable permutations is the number of distinct

permutations when there are alike objects to be arrange.
The number of distinguishable permutations, 𝑷, of 𝒏 objects where 𝒑
objects are alike, 𝒒 objects are alike, 𝒓 objects are alike, and so on, is:
𝒏!
𝑷=
𝒑! 𝒒! 𝒓! …

CIRCULAR PERMUTATIONS

Circular permutations is when the objects are arrange in a circle.

The number of circular permutations, 𝑷, of 𝒏 objects is

𝑷(𝒏, 𝒓) = (𝒏 − 𝟏)!
 2

Exercises / Activities:

Activity 1. Warming Up!

Solve for the unknown in each item. Show your solutions.

Examples:

1. 𝑃(6,3) =_____
6! 6!
Solution: 𝑃(6,3) = (6−3)! = Use the formula of 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑟)
3!
6(5)(4)(3!)
= = 120
3!

2. 𝑃(4,4) =_____ Use the formula of 𝑃

Solution: 𝑃(4,4) = 4! = 4(3)(2)(1) = 24 of 𝑛 objects taken all
at a time.

3. 𝑃(𝑛, 3) = 60
𝑛!
Solution: 𝑃(𝑛, 3) = (𝑛−3)! = 60 Use the formula of 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑟)

𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)(𝑛−3)! Expand 𝑛! until (𝑛 − 3)! to

= 60
(𝑛−3)! cancel out the denominator.

𝑛(𝑛 − 1)(𝑛 − 2) = 60 Cancel out (𝑛 − 3)!

𝑛3 − 3𝑛2 + 2𝑛 = 60 Multiply the factors

𝑛3 − 3𝑛2 + 2𝑛 − 60 = 0 Subtract 60 on both sides.

5 1 −3 2 − 60 Use the synthetic

5 10 60 division method to
1 2 12 0 find its zeros.

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 Use the quadratic

𝑥=
2𝑎 formula since the
rest cannot be solve
by synthetic division.
−2 ± √22 − 4(1)(12)
𝑛= Substitute the
2(1)
values to the
quadratic formula.
−2 ± √4 − 48
𝑛=
2 Evaluate the
numbers inside the
−2 ± √−44 radical expression.
𝑛=
2

∴𝒏=𝟓 Since the radicand is a negative number which

means that the other zeros are not real numbers.
 3

4. 𝑃(7, 𝑟) = 42
7!
Solution: 𝑃(7, 𝑟) = (7−𝑟)! = 42 Use the formula of 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑟)

7(6)(5)(4)(3)(2)(1)
= 42 Expand 7!
(7−𝑟)!

5040
= 42 Evaluate the numerator
(7 − 𝑟)!

5040 Divide both sides by 42

= (7 − 𝑟)! and multiply both sides
42
by (7 − 𝑟)!

120 = (7 − 𝑟)! Get the quotient on the left side.

5! = (7 − 𝑟)! Use the trial & error method to find

an integer 𝑛 which is equal to 120.

5 =7−𝑟 Equate the base of the

factorial notation.

𝑟 =7−5 Solve for 𝑟.

∴𝒓=𝟐

Guide Questions:

1. How did you calculate the different permutations?

2. What mathematics concepts or principles did you apply to solve each
permutation?

DO THIS:

Activity 1. Warming Up!

1. 𝑃(9,9) = _____
2. 𝑃(8,5) = _____
3. 𝑃(6, 𝑟) = 120
4. 𝑃(𝑛, 3) = 504
5. 𝑃(10,6) = _____

Activity 2. Ways to Go!

Answer each permutation problem completely.

Examples:

1. A teacher wants to assign 4 different tasks to her 4 students. In how

many possible ways can she do it?
 4

Solution: 𝑛=4 Use the formula of 𝑃 of 𝑛

𝑃 = 4! = 4(3)(2)(1) = 𝟐𝟒 objects taken all at a time.

2. In how many ways can 4 bicycles be parked if there are 7 available

parking spaces?
Solution: 𝑛 = 7, 𝑟=4
7! 7!
𝑃(7,4) = = Use the formula of 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑟).
(7 − 4)! 3!
7(6)(5)(4)(3!)
= = 𝟖𝟒𝟎
3!

3. Find the number of ways that a family of 6 can be seated around a

circular table.
Solution: 𝑛=6
Use the formula of 𝑃 of
𝑃 = (6 − 1)! = 5!
circular permutations.
= 5(4)(3)(2)(1) = 𝟏𝟐𝟎

4. How many distinguishable permutations are possible with all the

letters of the word STATISTICS?
Solution:
The number of letters in the word
𝑛 = 10
statistics.
𝑝=3 There are 3 letter “S”.
𝑞=3 There are 3 letter “T”.
𝑟=2 There are 2 letter “I”.

10! Use the formula for distinguishable

𝑃= permutations.
3! 3! 2!

10(9)(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3!) Expand 10! until 3! To

=
3! 3! 2! cancel out one 3! in the
denominator.

Evaluate 3! & 2! In the

10(9)(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)
= denominator and cancel
6(4)
out 6 & 4
𝑷 = 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟎

Guide Questions:

1. How did you find the answer in each problem?

2. What technique or strategy can you think of to facilitate your way of
solving?
 5

DO THIS:

Activity 2. Ways to Go!

1. In a certain assembly, three major prizes are at stake. In how many

ways can the first, second, and third prizes be drawn from a box
containing of 120 names?
2. Find the number of distinguishable permutations of the digits of the
number 348, 838.
3. In how many different ways can 11 people occupy the 11 seats in the
front row of a mini theater?
4. In how many ways can Patrick assign the seats of 9 guests in an
occasion if they are arrange in a circular table?
5. How many ways can Xander set his PIN in his ATM card if it has 4
digits?

Activity 3 More of Me!

Solve the following problems using the concept of permutations and the
Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP).

Examples:

1. There are 4 mathematics booksand 5 science books. In how many

ways can the books be arranged on a shelf if
a. there are no restrictions?
b. books of the same subjects must be placed together?
c. they must be placed alternately?
Solutions:
a. Use the formula 𝑃 of 𝑛 objects taken all at a time since there are no
restrictions.
𝑛=9
𝑃 = 9! = 9(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3)(2)(1) = 𝟑𝟔𝟐, 𝟖𝟖𝟎
b. Since books of the same subjects must be placed together, then there
are three categories:
➢ Math books: 𝑛 = 4, 𝑃 = 4!
➢ Science books: 𝑛 = 5, 𝑃 = 5!
➢ Order of the subjects: 𝑛 = 2, 𝑃 = 2!
Thus, using FCP total 𝑃 = 4! 5! 2! = 24(120)(2) = 𝟓𝟕𝟔𝟎

c. If the books are place alternately, a Science book must be placed first,
followed by a math book, a science book, a math book and so on.
By using FCP, it looks like this:
5 (4) (4) (3) (3) (2) (2) (1) (1) = 2,880

Number of choices of Number of choices of

Science books to be placed. Math books to be placed.
 6

2. There are 12 people in a dinner gathering. In how many ways can the
host (one of the 12) arrange his guests around a dining table if
a. they can sit on any of the chairs?
b. 3 people insist of sitting beside each other?

Solutions:
a. Use the circular permutation formula:
𝑃 = (12 − 1)! = 11!
= 11(10)(9)(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3)(2)(1)
= 𝟑𝟗, 𝟗𝟏𝟔, 𝟖𝟎𝟎
b. Since 3 people insist on sitting beside each other, they can be
considered as one group, then there will be 10 people to be
arranged. Thus, using the circular permutation,
𝑃 = (10 − 1)! = 9! = 9(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)(3)(2)(1)
= 362,880
The 3 people that we consider as one group can still interchange
places by sitting beside each other by 3! = 6, thus the total
permutations would be:
6(362,880)=2,177,280

Guide Questions:

1. What kind of permutations you have used?

2. How did you determine the number of permutations in each situation?

DO THIS:

Activity 3. More of Me!

1. 5 couples wants to have their pictures taken. In how many ways can
they arrange themselves in a row if
a. couples must stay together?
b. they may stand anywhere?
2. Suppose you are the owner of a sari-sari store and you want to put 12
pieces of canned goods in a row on the shelf. If there are 3 identical
cans of meat loaf, 4 identical cans of of tomato sauce, 2 identical cans
of sardines, and 3 identical cans of corned beef, in how many ways can
you display these goods if
a. all cans can be placed anywhere?
b. identical cans must be placed together?
 7

Rubrics for Scoring:

4 3 2 1
The Solution in Activities 1, 2, & 3
Able to show a Able to show a Able to show a ➢ No solution.
correct and logical solution logical solution Answer only.
logical with at least 1 with more than 1
solution erroneous step erroneous step but ➢ Wrong solution
but the answer the answer is but with answer.
is correct. correct.

Reflection
Write two things that:

a. I have found out:

1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________

b. I have learned that:

1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________

References for learners:

Callanta, Melvin M., Allan M. Canonigo, Arnoldo I. Chua, Jerry D. Cruz,

Mirla S. Esparragaro, Elino S. Garcia, Arie N.Magnaye, Fernado B.
Orines,Rowena S. Perez, Concepcion S. Ternida,. Mathematics 10 Learner’s
Module, DepEd, 2015

Answer Key
5,040 5. 479,001,600
40,320 4. a. 2.
151,200 5. b. 3,628,880
n=9 4. 43,545,600 3.
a. 3,840 1.
r=3 3. 60 2.
6,720 2. 1,685,040 1.
Activity 3 More of Me
362,880 1.
Activity 2 Ways to go
Activity 1 Warming Up!

Author: CHARLOTTE S. LUSDOC

School/Station: Magallanes National High School
Division: Agusan del Norte
email address: charlotte.lusdoc001@deped.gov.ph

Validator: ELENITA S. VERDON