Combinatorial

Analysis
Combinations
Permutations
 What is Combinatorial
Analysis?
Study of permutations and combinations
is concerned with determining the number
of logical possibilities of some event
without necessarily listing each case.

Example: Number of outcomes when we roll a die

Example: Number of outcomes when we toss a coin

Example: Number of outcomes when we toss a coin 10 times

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 Fundamental Principle of
Counting
If there are m different ways to do one
thing and n different ways of doing
another thing, there are m * n ways of
doing both. (Multiply m by n)

Total = m * n

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 An Example
Dr. Delong has 10 shirts and 8 ties.
How many shirt and tie outfits does
he have?

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 An Example
Dr. Delong has 10 shirts and 8 ties.
How many shirt and tie outfits does
he have?

(10) * (8) = 80
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 Applies to multiple events
License plates of a certain state contain
two letters followed by three digits, where
the first digit cannot be zero. What are
the number of possible different license
plates? There are 26 letters in the
alphabet!

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 Applies to multiple events
License plates of a certain state contain
two letters followed by three digits, where
the first digit cannot be zero. What are
the number of possible different license
plates? There are 26 letters in the
alphabet!

26 * 26 * 9 * 10 * 10 = 608 400

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 Factorial Notation
• n! “n factorial”
• denotes the product of the positive
integers from 1 to n, inclusive
Syntax:
• n! = 1 * 2 * 3 * 4………..(n-2) * (n-1) * n
Example:
• 7! = 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 * 7 = 5040

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 Factorial Facts
• 1! = 1
• n! = n * (n - 1)!
Example: 7! = 7 * (6!)
• 0! = 1

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 Factorial Examples
8! = 8 * 7 * 6 * 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1

6! = 6 * 5! = 6 * 120 = 720
8! 8x7x6!
= = 8x7 = 56
6! 6!

12!
Question: What is
9!

= 12*11*10 = 1320
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 Difference between
Combinations and Permutations

A combination lock, where order

matters, should be called a
Permutation lock.
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 Permutation Formula
Applied to find the possible number of
arrangements when there is only one
group of objects (no repetition).
All possible arrangements of a collection of
things, where the order is important.
n → number of possible objects
r → how many objects we want

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 Permutation Formula
n!
n Pr =
(n − r )!

Note: The order of arrangement is important in

permutations.

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 Permutation Example
Three electronic parts are to be
assembled into a plug-in unit for a
television set. The parts can be
assembled in any order. In how many
different ways can the three parts be
assembled? Each part is unique so the
order matters.

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 Permutation Example
Solution:
n = 3 and r = 3

3!
3 P3 = = 3! = 3x2x1 = 6
( 3 − 3)!
Lettered the parts A, B, C:
ABC BAC CAB ACB BCA CBA
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 Permutation Example
In how many ways can first and second
place be awarded to 10 people? Order is
important.

Jimmy and Susie, order is important, who

was first?

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 Permutation Example
Solution:
n = 10 and r = 2

10!
10 P 2 = = 10 x9 = 90
(10 − 2)!

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 Combination Formula
A Combination is the number of ways to
choose r objects from a group of n
objects without regard to order.

n!
nCr =
r! (n − r )!
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 Combination Formula
The order of the selected objects is NOT
important!

Any selection is called a Combination!

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 Combination Example
There are 12 players on the Carolina Forest High
School basketball team. Coach Thompson must
pick five players among the twelve on the team to
comprise the starting lineup. How many different
groups are possible? (Order does not matter,
same five players are counted only once)

12!
12C 5 = = 792
5! (12 − 5)!

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 Permutation or Combination?
Questions
1) How many choices of 3 different digits can be
chosen out of digits 0-9?
– Combination or permutation?
2) Jones is the chairman of a committee. In how
many ways can a committee of 4 be chosen from
8 given that Jones must be one of them?
– Combination or permutation?

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 Permutation or Combination?
Answers
1) How many choices of 3 different digits can be
chosen out of digits 0-9?
– Combination or permutation?
– Hint: word: different → order matters
– Another way to think of it: choose 10 for the
first, 9 for the second and 8 for the third
(multiply)
– Permutation: (10P3 or multiply) = 720

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 Permutation or Combination?
Answers
2) Jones is the chairman of a committee. In how
many ways can a committee of 4 be chosen from
8 given that Jones must be one of them?
– Combination or permutation?
– Hint: remove Jones from the equation
– Order does not matter: Sally, Fred and Joe
are chosen counts once
– Combination: exclude Jones (7C3) = 35

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 Permutation or Combination?
Questions
3) An encyclopedia has 8 volumes. In how many
ways can they be replaced on the shelf?
✓ Combination or permutation?
4) A student must answer 8 out of 10 questions on
an exam. How many choices does he have?
✓ Combination or permutation?
5) How many if he has to answer the first three?

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 Permutation or Combination?
Answers
3) An encyclopedia has 8 volumes. In how many
ways can they be replaced on the shelf?
✓ Combination or permutation?
✓ Permutation: 8P8 = 40,320
4) A student must answer 8 out of 10 questions on
an exam. How many choices does he have?
✓ Combination or permutation?
✓ Combination: 10C8 = 45
5) How many if he has to answer the first three?
✓ Combination: 7C5 = 21
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