Solutions – Permutations-Combinations – IIT Mains – 2025 Problems

Let 𝐌 occupy the middile box (we have no other choice)

1 2 M 4 5

12
For 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝟏 , 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝟐 we have 𝐀, 𝐁, 𝐂, … , 𝐋 (12 letters) to choose from: 𝐶2 = 66 ways

For 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝟒 , 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝟒 we have 𝐌, 𝐍, 𝐎, … , 𝐙 (13 letters) to choose from: 13𝐶 ways = 78 way
2

(For the two chosen letters no different orders, the only order − alphabetical)

Required number of ways = 66 × 78 = 5148

The following two arrangements are possible: 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 and 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆

For 1 st arrangement:
Number of ways girls can be arranged: 3! = 6

Number of ways boys can be arranged had there been no B1 , B2 restriction: 4! = 24

Following 12 permutations are not allowed:

𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟒
𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟑

𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟒
𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟑

𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟏
𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟏 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟒 𝐁𝟑 𝐁𝟐 𝐁𝟏

Number of ways boys can be arranged: 24 − 12 = 12

Number of permutations: 6 × 12 = 72

For 2nd arrangement:

Number of permutations = 6 × 12 = 72 (same as 1st arrangement)

Required number of ways = 72 + 72 = 144

1
Number of words formed from 𝐃, 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐆, 𝐇, 𝐓, 𝐄, 𝐑: 8!

We group the vowels 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐄 together and treat the group as an element like any other individual letter.
Number of elements (after grouping): 6
Number of permutations: 6!

Number of permutations of 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐄: 3!

Number of words formed from 𝐃, 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐆, 𝐇, 𝐓, 𝐄, 𝐑 if 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐄 occur together: 6! 3!

Therefore, number of words formed from 𝐃, 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐆, 𝐇, 𝐓, 𝐄, 𝐑 if 𝐀, 𝐔, 𝐄 never occur together: 8! − 6! 3!

= 6! (7 ∙ 8 − 3!) = 720(56 − 6) = 36000

𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 5! 4! permutations
𝐆 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 5! 4! permutations
Arrangements total number
: 𝐆 𝐆 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐆 𝐆 5! 4! permutations } : 5(5! 4!)
when all boys sit together of permutations
𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐆 5! 4! permutations
{ 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 𝐆 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 𝐁 5! 4! permutations

(Alternatively, we can group the boys, ie we have: (𝟓𝐁), 𝐆, 𝐆, 𝐆, 𝐆 which means (5!)5! permutations)

The arrangement when no two boys sit together: 𝐁 𝐆 𝐁 𝐆 𝐁 𝐆 𝐁 𝐆 𝐁

for boys: 5!
Number of permutationss: { = 5! 4!
for girls: 4!

Required number of ways = 5(5! 4!) + 5! 4! = 5! 4! (5 + 1) = 5! 4! 6 = 120 × 24 × 6 = 17280

Possible combinations GroupA (4𝐁 + 1𝐆) + GroupA (3𝐆) ∶ ( 7𝐶4 3𝐶1 ) ∙ ( 5𝐶3 ) combinations
for picnic group of ∶ { GroupA (3𝐁 + 2𝐆) + GroupA (1𝐁 + 2𝐆) ∶ ( 7𝐶3 3𝐶2 ) ∙ ( 6𝐶1 5𝐶2 ) combinations
4𝐁 + 4𝐆 GroupA (2𝐁 + 3𝐆) + GroupA (2𝐁 + 1𝐆) ∶ ( 7𝐶2 3𝐶3 ) ∙ ( 6𝐶2 5𝐶1 ) combinations

Number of combinations: ( 7𝐶4 3𝐶1 ) ∙ ( 5𝐶3 ) + ( 7𝐶3 3𝐶2 ) ∙ ( 6𝐶1 5𝐶2 ) + ( 7𝐶2 3𝐶3 ) ∙ ( 6𝐶2 5𝐶1 )
= (35 ∙ 3) ∙ (10) + (35 ∙ 3) ∙ (6 ∙ 10) + (21 ∙ 1) ∙ (15 ∙ 5)
= 35 ∙ 3 ∙ 10 + 35 ∙ 3 ∙ 6 ∙ 10 + 21 ∙ 15 ∙ 5
= 7 ∙ 5 ∙ 5 ∙ 3 ∙ (2 + 12 + 3)
= 7 ∙ 5 ∙ 5 ∙ 3 ∙ 17
= 8925

We will first find out number of numbers greater than 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 5000 (simpler to calculate).

Let the number be denoted by: 𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥4 𝑥5

2
 0
1
Choice1: 5 ,
2
3
For 𝑥1 , 𝑥5 , we have following choices: 0 = 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 choices.
Choice2: 6 , 1
2
0
Choice3 7 ,
{ 1

For reach of the above 9 choices, number of choices for 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥4 = 8 ∙ 8 ∙ 8 = 83

Number of choices (number of numbers more than 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 5000) = 9 ∙ 83 = 4608

Numbers of numbers more than 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 5000 = 4607

We will first find out number of numbers between 200 and 999, both incusive (simpler to calculate).

Let the number be denoted by: 𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3

0 9
1 9 0 8
2 9 1 8 0 7
3 9 2 8 1 7 0 6
4 9 3 8 2 7 1 6
4 8 3 7 2 6 1 5
5 8 4 7 3 6 2 5
5 7 4 6 3 5 2 4
6 7 5 6 4 5 3 4
2 , 3 6 6 , 4 , 5 5 5 , 6 , 7 4 4 , 8 , 9 3 3
7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3
7 5 6 4 5 3 4 2
8 5 7 4 6 3 5 2
8 4 7 3 6 2 5 1
⏟ 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1
first digit ⏟ 9 3 8 2 7 1 ⏟ 6 0
first digit ⏟ 9 2 8 1 ⏟ 7 0 first digit
chosen as 2
first digit ⏟ 9 1 ⏟ 8 0 first digit
chosen as 3
chosen as 4 first digit ⏟ 9 0 first digit chosen as 8
chosen as 9

chosen as 5 first digit chosen as 7

chosen as 6

Number of numbers (200 − 999) having sum of digits = 15: 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 = 64

Number of numbers (200 − 211) having sum of digits = 15: 0

Therefore, mumber of numbers (212 − 999) having sum of digits = 15: 64 − 0 = 64

Possible combination types:

11 3 11 2 1 22
1 + + + + 3 1 + +
{ 11 3 }, { 11 2 }, { 1 22 }
Comb1 Comb2 Comb3
7! 7! 7!
Number of permutations: { 5! 2! } + { 4! 2! } + { 3! 4! } = 21 + 105 + 35 = 141 (= number of elements 𝑃 has)
Comb1 Comb2 Comb3

3
First we find number of words containing one or more non‐ repeating letters.

𝑎 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
5𝐶 4𝐶 number of pemutations: 5𝐶1 4𝐶1 (6!⁄5!)
1 1
Only one non‐ repeating letter:
𝑎 𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
{ 5𝐶1 4𝐶
2 number of pemutations: 5𝐶1 4𝐶2 (6!⁄3! 2!)

𝑎𝑏 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
5𝐶 3𝐶
2 1 number of pemutations: 5𝐶2 3𝐶1 (6!⁄4!)
⍟
Two non‐ repeating letters:
𝑎𝑏 𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
5𝐶 3𝐶
{ 2 2 number of pemutations: 5𝐶2 3𝐶2 (6!⁄2! 2!)

𝑎𝑏𝑐 𝑥𝑥𝑥
Three non‐ repeating letters: { 5𝐶 2𝐶
3 1 number of pemutations: 5𝐶3 2𝐶1 (6!⁄3!)

𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑑 𝑥𝑥
Four non‐ repeating letters: { 5𝐶 1𝐶
4 1 number of pemutations: 5𝐶4 1𝐶1 (6!⁄2!)

Two letters have been decided to be non‐ repeating. There shall be 5𝐶2 such combinations
either any letter repeating 4 times
With the remaining 3 letters we can have {
or, two different letters repeating twice
⍟Explantion: Any (one) letter from 3: 3𝐶 combinations; any two letter from 3 given ones: 3𝐶 combinations
1 2
𝑛! (here 𝑛 = 6)
Number of permutations:
{ (no. of repeatitions)! ((no. of repeatitions)!)! (… )! …

5𝐶 4𝐶 (6!⁄5!)
5! 4! 6! 6!
1 1 = × × = = 120
1! 4! 1! 3! 5! 3!
5𝐶 4𝐶 (6!⁄3! 2!) =
5! 4! 6! 5! 6!
1 2 × × = = 1800
1! 4! 2! 2! 3! 2! 2!2 3!
5𝐶 3𝐶 (6!⁄4!) =
5! 3! 6! 5! 6!
2 1 × × = = 900
2! 3! 1! 2! 4! 2!2 4!
5𝐶 3𝐶 (6!⁄2! 2!) =
5! 3! 6! 5! 6!
2 2 × × = 4 = 5400
2! 3! 2! 1! 2! 2! 2!
5𝐶 2𝐶 (6!⁄3!) =
5! 2! 6! 5! 6!
3 1 × × = 2 = 2400
3! 2! 1! 1! 3! 3!
5𝐶 1𝐶 (6!⁄2!) =
5! 1! 6! 5! 6!
4 1 × × = = 3600
4! 1! 1! 0! 2! 2! 4!
Number of words having one or more non‐ repeating letters: 14220 (sum of above)

Number of all possible numbers (without any restriction): 56 = 15625

Number of numbers having appearing letter repeated at least twice: 15625 − 14220 = 1405

𝐀 𝐊 𝐍 𝐏 𝐑 𝐔 1st position
𝐀 𝐊 𝐍 𝐏 𝐔 𝐑 2nd position
⋯ number of words: 5! = 120
⋯
𝐀 𝐔 𝐑 𝐏 𝐍 𝐊 120th position }

4
𝐊 𝐀 𝐍 𝐏 𝐑 𝐔 121st position
⋯
} number of words: 5! = 120 (cumm: 240)
⋯
𝐊 𝐔 𝐑 𝐏 𝐍 𝐀 240th position

𝐍 𝐀 𝐊 𝐏 𝐑 𝐔 241st position
⋯
} number of words: 5! = 120 (cumm: 360)
⋯
𝐍 𝐔 𝐑 𝐏 𝐊 𝐀 360th position

𝐏 𝐀 𝐊 𝐍 𝐑 𝐔 361st position
⋯
} number of words: 4! = 24 (cumm: 384)
⋯
𝐏 𝐀 𝐔 𝐑 𝐍 𝐊 384th position

𝐏 𝐊 𝐀 𝐍 𝐑 𝐔 385th position
⋯
} number of words: 4! = 24 (cumm: 408)
⋯
𝐏 𝐊 𝐔 𝐑 𝐍 𝐀 408th position

𝐏 𝐍 𝐀 𝐊 𝐑 𝐔 409th Position
⋯
} number of words: 4! = 24 (cumm: 432)
⋯
𝐏 𝐍 𝐔 𝐑 𝐊 𝐀 432nd Position

𝐏 𝐑 𝐀 𝐊 𝐍 𝐔 433rd Position
⋯
} number of words: 3! = 6 (cumm: 438)
⋯
𝐏 𝐑 𝐀 𝐔 𝐍 𝐊 438rd Position

𝐏 𝐑 𝐊 𝐀 𝐍 𝐔 439th Position
𝐏𝐑𝐊𝐀𝐔𝐍 ⍟
⋯ ⍟ word at 𝟒𝟒𝟎th position: 𝐏𝐑𝐊𝐀𝐔𝐍
⋯
𝐏𝐑𝐊𝐔𝐍𝐀 }