TOPIC

PERMUTATION AND
COMBINATION
PRESENTER VERNON MBEWE
LUFWANYAMA DISTRICT
DEFINITION OF PERMUTATIONS

 The number of different ways in which items can be arranged is called

permutation.

 The words arrangement and assignment are often used in place of

permutation

 The arrangement of n objects is given by n! which is read as n factorial

 Note that 𝒏! = 𝒏 × 𝒏 − 𝟏 × 𝒏 − 𝟐 × ⋯ 𝟑 × 𝟐 × 𝟏
Example

1. Determine the number of ways in which 7 boys can be

on the line
 solution
 𝒏𝑷𝒏 = 𝒏!

 𝟕𝑷𝟕 = 𝟕! = 𝟓, 𝟎𝟒𝟎 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 ans


Permutation continued
1. In many ways can the letters of the word DISCOVERY be
arranged

 Solutions

 The word DISCOVERY has 9 letters

 𝒏𝑷𝒏 = 𝒏!

 𝟗𝑷𝟗 = 𝟗! = 𝟑𝟔𝟐, 𝟖𝟖𝟎 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 ans

Permutation contd
 The permutation (arrangement) of n different objects
taken r at a time (where n is total number of objects
and r is the number of objects less or equal n) is given
as
𝒏!
 𝒏𝑷𝒓=
(𝒏−𝒓)!
Examples
 in how ways can 4 letters of the word CHANGES and be arranged

 Solution

• The total number of letters of the word CHANGES are 7

• Only 4 letters are to be arranged and we do not know which letters exactly
are to be arranged

 Data n=7, r=4

 Therefore this is a permutation of n objects taken r at a time

Solution to the question

𝒏!
 𝒏𝑷𝒓=
(𝒏−𝒓)!

𝟕!
 𝟕𝑷𝟒= = 𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔
(𝟕−𝟒)!
PERMUTATIONS WITH RESTRICTIONS

1) Objects together

 This is permutation of n objects where some objects are required to be together

all the time it is calculated as follows

• Objects to be together are treated as one unity then

 Permutation=(total units )! × (𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔)!

 Example

 In how many ways can 9 letters of the word HYPERBOLA be arranged if

the letters P,E, and R must be together

 Solution
OBJECTS TOGETHER

• If the letters P,E and R are together then

HY{PER}BOLA has 7 units because PER is
treated as one unity

• The letters P,E and R to be together have 3

units .
 𝟕! × 𝟑! = 𝟑𝟎 𝟐𝟒𝟎 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔
Objects not Together

 The permutation of n different objects

when some objects are not to be together is
formed by subtracting the permutation of
those objects coming together from the
permutation of objects taken all at a time
FORMULA

No restriction=together +not

together

NR=T+NT
 Example
 In how many ways can 9 letters of the word
HYPERBOLA be arranged if letters HYPER cannot
be together

STEP 1

 First we find the permutation of all the letters of

HYPERBOLA taken
 𝟗𝑷𝟗 = 𝟗! = 𝟑𝟔𝟐 𝟖𝟖𝟎 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 ans (NR)
STEP 2
 Secondly, we find the permutation of the letters of
HYPERBOLA when letters 𝑯𝒀𝑷𝑬𝑹 come together

 (Units of {HYPER} BOLA) × ( units HYPER)

 5! × 𝟓! = 𝟏𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟎 (T)

 Therefore permutation of HYPERBOLA when HYPER are not

to be together

 NT=NR-T
 NT=362880-14400=348480
Permutation with repetitions

 the number of permutation of n objects taken n at a

time if there are a alike of one kind , b alike of
another kind , c alike of the third kind and so on is
given by

 𝒏𝑷𝒏 = 𝒏!
𝒂!𝒃!𝒄!
Example on repetitions
 how many arrangements of 5golf balls and 3 tennis
in row

 𝒏𝑷𝒏 = 𝒏!
𝒂!𝒃!𝒄!

 𝒏𝑷𝒏 = =56𝟖!
𝟓!𝟑!
Positional restrictions
 The easiest to handle the permutation concerning position restriction is
make use of fundamental counting principle

 Example

 In how many ways can the letters of the word CHANGES be arranged

a) Without restrictions

b) If only6 letters are arranged

c) Starts with an S

d) Begins with a consonant

e) Begins with exactly one consonant

 Solution

a) 7× 𝟔 × 𝟓 × 𝟒 × 𝟑 × 𝟐 × 𝟏 this means no restrictions

b) 𝟕 × 𝟔 × 𝟓 × 𝟒 × 𝟑 × 𝟐 this means only six letters are arranged

c) Since its starts with S it means S should be in the beginning followed

by the arrangement of the other letters 𝟏 × 𝟔 × 𝟓 × 𝟒 × 𝟑 × 𝟐 × 𝟏

d) 𝟓 × (𝟔 × 𝟓 × 𝟒 × 𝟑 × 𝟐 × 𝟏)[the first five starts with the five consonant

in the word CHANGES}

e) 5 (𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕) × 𝟐(𝒗𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒔 ) × 𝟓 × 𝟒 × 𝟑 × 𝟐 × 𝟏 (other remaining

letters)
DEFINITION OF COMBIANTIONS

 A Combination is a selection of group of objects

taken from a larger pool for which the kind of
objects selected is of importance but not the order in
which they are selected.

 The letter of the of the word CAT can arranged in 6

ways

 CAT,CTA, ACT, ATC, TAC,TCA

Combination contd
 This is permutation, because the order of the arrangement of the
letters is important. However, if the order of the arrangement of
the letters is not important and we want only the grouping of the
letters of the word CAT , there is only one way which is called
combination

 The number of combination of n objects taken r at a time is given

by the formula

𝒏!
 𝒏𝑪𝒓 =
(𝒏−𝒓)𝒓!
Example
 From a class of 10 students, 6 girls and 4
boys , a committee of 3 students is to be
selected. How many possible committees
can be made in each of the following
GENERAL PICTURE
10𝐶3
situations
1. No restrictions of any kind

 Since there is no restrictions a committee may be made up

of all boys or all girls or a combination of boys and girls.
This is combination of n objects taken r at a time
𝒏!
 𝒏𝑪𝒓 =
(𝒏−𝒓)𝒓!

𝟏𝟎!
 𝟏𝟎𝑪𝟑 =
(𝟏𝟎−𝟑)𝟑!
120 possible committees
The committee must have at least 1
girl.
 At least 1 girl means there are the following composition
possibilities of students on the committee
 Note that they should be a minimum of 1 girl.
 1 girl and 2boys or 2girls and 1 boy or 3 girls and 0 boys
 Meaning that we are making the following choices
 = 𝟔𝑪𝟏 × 𝟒𝑪𝟐 𝑶𝑹 𝟔𝑪𝟐 × 𝟒𝑪𝟏 𝑶𝑹 𝟔𝑪𝟑 × 𝟒𝑪𝟎
In combinations OR means addition
And means multiplication
Therefore the possible committees
with at least 1 girls are
𝟔𝑪𝟏 × 𝟒𝑪𝟐 + 𝟔𝑪𝟐 × 𝟒𝑪𝟏 + 𝟔𝑪𝟑 × 𝟒𝑪𝟎 = 𝟏𝟏𝟔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒔

ans
A committee must have a particular
boy
 This means that a named boy is to be on
the committee no matter what and any
other two students

 𝟏𝑪𝟏 × 𝟗𝑪𝟐 =36 possible committees

A committee must have more than
boys than girls
 There are only possible in this situation. It is ether all
the members are boys or 2 boys and a girl.

 𝟒𝑪𝟑 × 𝟔𝑪𝟎 𝑶𝑹 𝟒𝑪𝟐 × 𝟔𝑪𝟏

 𝟒𝑪𝟑 × 𝟔𝑪𝟎 + 𝟒𝑪𝟐 × 𝟔𝑪𝟏 = 𝟒𝟎 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒔 ans

A committee have at most 2 girls only
 This means that the committee cannot have more
than 2 girls. The possibilities are that the committee
can be made up of all boys or 2boys and one girl
or 1 boy and 2 girls
 𝟒𝑪𝟑 × 𝟔𝑪𝟎 𝑶𝑹 𝟒𝑪𝟐 × 𝟔𝑪𝟏 𝑶𝑹𝟒𝑪𝟏 × 𝟔𝑪𝟐

 𝟒𝑪𝟑 × 𝟔𝑪𝟎 + 𝟒𝑪𝟐 × 𝟔𝑪𝟏 + 𝟒𝑪𝟏 × 𝟔𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒔 ans
EXAM QUESTION Example
(a) In how many ways can 7 red marbles and 3 green marbles be put in a
straight line if

(i) There are no restrictions

(ii) Green marbles should not be next to each other?

(a) A group of 6 pupils is to be chosen from 8 boys and 6 girls. Find the
number of ways of choosing at least 4 girls

(b) the number of ways of choosing at least 4 girls

Solutions
a) Since this question is talking about selecting then it is a
permutation
i. Total marbles 7+3=10 therefore no restrictions
 𝟏𝟎𝑷𝟏𝟎 = 𝟏𝟎! = 𝟑𝟔𝟐, 𝟖𝟖𝟎 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 ans

i. Green marbles should be treated as one unity

 1(for green marbles)+𝟕 = 𝟖
 NR=𝟖! = 𝟒𝟎𝟑𝟐𝟎
 NT=NR−𝑻
 NT=362880-40320=3588480
EXAMPLE CONTD
a) Since this question is talking about choosing it is a combination

 Let’s find the total number of pupils 8+6=14pupils

 A group 6 is to be chosen from a total of 14 pupils

 Of the 6 chosen they should be at least 4girls (means a minimum of

4 girls)
 𝒏𝑪𝒓= 𝟏𝟒𝑪𝟔

 𝟔𝑪𝟒 × 𝟖𝑪𝟐 + 𝟔𝑪𝟓 × 𝟖𝑪𝟏 + 𝟔𝑪𝟔 × 𝟖𝑪𝟎

 𝟒𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒𝟖 + 𝟏 = 𝟒𝟔𝟗 ans

(a) A running track has six lanes. Find the number of ways of assigning 6 out of
8 runners to the lanes.

(b) A team of 9 students is to be chosen from 8 men and 7 women. Find the
number of ways of choosing

(i) 5 men and 4 women

(ii) At least 7 men.

Solution

a) Since this question is talking about assigning then this is a permutation

𝒏!
 𝒏𝑷𝒓=
(𝒏−𝒓)!

𝟖!
 𝟖𝑷𝟔= = 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟎𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔
(𝟖−𝟔)!
contd

a)

i) We are selecting so this is a combination

 We are choosing 5 men out of 8men and 4 women out of 7

women

 Therefore 𝟖𝑪𝟓 × 𝟕𝑪𝟒 = 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎 ans

i) At least 7 men (means 7 or more men)

 𝟖𝑪𝟕 × 𝟕𝑪𝟐 + 𝟖𝑪𝟖 × 𝟕𝑪𝟏 = 𝟏𝟔𝟖 + 𝟕 = 𝟏𝟕𝟓𝒂𝒏𝒔

contd

1) A badminton team of 4 men and 4 women is to be selected from 9men

and 6 women

i) Find the total number ways in which the team can be selected if there are
no restrictions on the selection

ii) Two of the men are twins find the number of ways in which the team can
be selected if exactly one of the twins is in the team
Solutions

i) The total of ways the team can be selected

 𝟖𝑪𝟒 × 𝟔𝑪𝟒 = 𝟏𝟐𝟔 × 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟎

i) The number of ways with exactly one twin

ii) 𝟐𝑪𝟏 × 𝟕𝑪𝟑 × 𝟔𝑪𝟒 = 𝟐 × 𝟑𝟓 × 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟎

 (We isolate the twins from the 9 men which means they became7
then we should remove one from the 4 to be chosen to become
𝟕𝑪𝟑 .
Exam 2020 adma specimen

 a) Assuming every arrangement of the letters from the following words is a

word, calculate the number of words that can be formed from the word,

 i) CHEMISTRY [1]
Solution

 The only thing we have to do is count the number of letters in the word
which is 9 and punch on your calculator 9

 9 =362880 ways

 ii) COMPUTER [1]

 8 =40320 ways
 b) A delegation of 4 students is to be chosen from a class of 15. In how
many ways can this be done? [2]

 Solution
𝟏𝟓
 𝑪𝟒 =1365 ways
 ii) If this class consists of 5 girls and 10 boys in how many ways can three
boys and one girl be chosen? [3]

𝟓
 𝑪𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝑪
𝟑

 =5 × 120

 =600 ways
EXERCISE

1. Calculate the number of arrangement of the letters in the word (a)

COMPUTER (b) MATHEMATICS

2. In how many ways can 5 boys and 3 girls stand in a straight line? if

(a) There are no restrictions (b) the boys stand to each other

1. (a) in how many ways can 8 people be seated on a bench given that only 4
seats are available

(a) If two seats are taken away. In how many ways can the 8 people be seated
contd

1. There are four awards (best player, most improved player, most consistent
and best effort) to be presented to players at Africa cup soccer competition.
If there are fifteen players in the squad, and no player is allowed to receive
more than one award, find the number of different ways can be
distributed.
contd

1. (a) A delegation of students is chosen from a class of 15. In how many ways
can this be done

 (b)If this class consist of 10 girls and 5 boys. In how many ways can three
girls and one boy be chosen?
contd

1. Calculate how many different 4 digits numbers can be

formed from the digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 if

a. Repetitions are allowed

b. Repetitions are not allowed

c. The last digit is zero and repetitions are not allowed.

HOME WORK

1. A boating club has 5 men and 4 women. find the

number of committees of that can be formed with 3
men and 2 women

2. A party of 9 people consists of five men and four

women. Find the number of committees of 5 that can
be formed with 3 men and 2 women.
1. A class consist of 8girls and 12 boys. un many ways can

a) 6 students be chosen from this class

b) 4 boys and 2 girls be chosen from this class

ASSIGMENT

1. A collection of 16 books one contains of Harry potters books. Mary is

going to choose 6 of these books to take on holiday

(a) In how many ways can she choose 6 books

(b) How many of these choices will include the harry potter book
1. A group of four pupils is to be chosen from 4 boys and 7 girls. find the
number of ways of choosing

(a) 2 boys and 2 girls (b) at least 2 girls


 Example 19

(a)Find the number of different selections of

3 letters that can made from the letters of
the word SUCCESSFUL.
(b)How many of these selections contain at
least one vowel.
 Solution
(a) Lets rearrange the letters of SSS UU CC E L F
 There are 2 C’s. 2 U’s. 3 S’s and 3 other different letters. We must
consider all the mutually exclusive selections of 3 letters; these are:
 Number of selections containing 3 S’s =1 selection
 Number of selections containing 2 C’s + 1 other letter =1 × 5C1 = 5
 Number of selections containing 2 U’S + 1 other letter =1 × 5C1 = 5
 Number of selections containing 2 S’s + 1 other (non S) =1 × 5C1 = 5
 Number of selections containing 3 different letters (from 6)= 6C3 =20
 Total number of selections of 3 letters = 36
Without the vowels, there are 3 S’s, 2
C’s, 1 F and 1 L.
 As in (a) 3 S’s = 1 selection

 2 C’s + 1 other letter ( S, F, L) = 1 × 3C 1 = 3

 2 C’s + 1 other letter (C, F, L) = 1 × 3C 1 = 3

 3 different letters from 4 (S, C, F, L) = 4C 3 =4

 Number of selections without any vowel = 11

 Hence number of selections with at least 1 vowel = 36 – 11 = 25

Example 20

 A team of 7 players is to be chosen from a group of from a group

of 12 players. One of the 7 is then to be elected as captain and
another as vice-captain and another as a vice- captain. In the
many ways can this be done?

𝟏𝟐!
 Number of ways of choosing 7 from 12 is 12C7 =
𝟓!𝟕!

 =792
 In the each chosen team there are 7 ways of choosing a captain
and there are 6 ways of choosing a vice-
captain

 (alternatively we say the captain and vice-captain can be elected

in 7P2 ways).

 Total number of selections is 7 × 6 × 792 = 33264.

 Example 21

 A group consists of 4 boys and 7 girls. In the many ways can a

team of five be selected if it is to contain (a) no boys, (b) at least
one member each sex, (c) 2 boys and 3 girls, (d) at least 3 boys?

(a) No boys are selected, so the team is chosen from the 7 girls.

𝟕!
 Number of ways of choosing 5 girl from 7 is 7C5=
𝟐!𝟓!

 = 21
 TASK

 PAST EXAM QUESTIONS

1.
A family consists of a father, mother and six children. Find the number of ways
of arranging them in a straight line if

(a) There are no restrictions

(b) The arrangements start and end with a parent [4030/2/2014]

1. A chess team consisting of 8 boys and 5 girls is to be chosen from 10 boys and 7
girls. In how many ways can this be done [4030/2/2014]

2.
(a) Calculate the number of arrangements of the letters in the word
PREVIOUSLY

(b) A School has three grade 10 classes. In how many can three out of 8
Mathematics teachers be allocated to the classes?

(c) A group of 7 students is to be chosen from 11 boys and 9 girls. Find the
number of ways of choosing 5 boys and 2 girls.
[4030/2/2013]
(a) Calculate the number of arrangements of the name GROSJEAN

(b) Seven runners are hoping to take part in a race, but the truck has only five
lanes. In how many ways can five of the seven runners be assigned to the
lanes.

 A team of five persons is chosen from 7 women and 8 men. How many
different teams can be selected, if the team has to contain at least 3
women?
TASK CONTD

(a) In how many ways can 7 red marbles and 3 green marbles be put in a
straight line, if

(i) There are no restrictions

(ii) Green marbles should not be next to each other?

(a) A group of 6 pupils is to be chosen from 10 boys and 8 girls. Find the of
ways of choosing at least 4 boys. [4030/2/2012
(a) In how many ways can 5 boys and 3 girls stand in a straight line, if

(i) There are no restrictions

(ii) The boys stand next to each other

(a) A collection of 16 books contain one of Harry Potter’s book, Mary is going
to choose 6 of these books to take on holiday.
(i) In how many ways can she choose 6 books

(ii) How many of these choices will include the Harry Potter’s books?
[4030/2/2000]


(a) Calculate the number arrangements of the word ‘’DISCOVERY’.

(b) A group of 7 pupils is to be chosen from 11 boys and 9 girls. Find the
number of ways of choosing

(i) 7 pupils

(ii) At least 5 boys

THE END OF TOPIC