Sets and Combinations
Lecture 4
BY
ANANYA PANDEY
Permutation and combination both are important parts of counting. Counting the numbers
with pure logic is itself a big thing. Without counting we can’t solve probability problems.
This is the reason why we learn permutations and combinations just before probability.
Permutation
The permutation is a selection process in which the order matters. Permutation can simply be defined as the
number of ways of arranging few or all members within a particular order. This is all about the term
Permutation.
Example: The permutations of the letters in a small set {a, b, c} are:
abc acb
bac bca
cab cba
A formula for the number of permutations of k objects from a set or group of n. This is generally written nPk.
Formula:
n
Pk = n! /(n-k)!
There are Two Types of Permutation:
1. Permutations with Repetition
How many 5 digit numbers can be formed from 1,2,3,4 with repetition?
4x4x4x4x4 = 4^5
So, the general formula is simply: n^r where n is the number of elements to choose from (ie. set or sink of
elements) and we choose r of them, repetition is allowed, and order matters.
How many 3 letter words with or without meaning can be formed by NUTS when repetition is allowed?
4x4x4 = 4^3
2. Number of permutations of ‘n’ objects where p1 objects are of one kind, p2 objects are of second kind……...pk objects are of
kth kind:
n!/p1!xp2!....pk!
Example 1: Total number of permutations of word ALLAHABAD.
9!/4!x2! = 4560 ways
Example 2: In how many ways 4 red, 3 yellow and 2 green discs be arranged in a row if the disk of the same color are
indistinguishable.
9!/4!x3!x2!
3. Permutations Without Repetition
n
Pk = n! /(n-k)!
Find the number of arrangements of the letters of the word ‘INDEPENDENCE’. In how many of
these arrangements,
(1) Do the words starts with P
(2) Do all vowels always occur together
(3) Do all vowels never occur together
(4) Do the words begin with I and end with P
(5) Repeat (4) with I and P interchangeable
Total arrangements = 12!/4!x3!x2! = 1663200
(1) 11!/4!x3!x2! = 138600
(2) There are 5 vowels in the given word 4 times E and 1 time I, since they have to always
occur together so let’s consider them as one single object EEEEI. This single object
together with 7 remaining objects will account for 8 objects, in which there are 3 N’s and 2
D’s so total number of arrangements will be:
8!/3!x2!
Correspondingly, to each of these arrangements, the 5 vowels EEEE and I can be
rearranged in: 5!/4! Ways
Therefore, the required number of arrangements will be: 8!/3!x2! X 5!/4! = 16800
(3) total number of arrangements - number of arrangements where all vowels occur
together : 1663200-16800 = 1646400
(4) After fixing I and P we are left with 10 letters therefore: 10!/4!x3!x2! = 12600
(5) I and P can be further arranged in 2! Ways therefore, 12600x2! = 25200 ways
From a club of 24 members a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and
historian are to be elected. In how many ways can office be filled?
24P5 = 24!/(24-5)!
Combination
What is Combination?
Combination is the way of selecting items from a bulk collection, such that (non-similar permutations) the
order of selection does not matter.
nCr = n!/r!(n-r)!
Example: To play a particular card game, each player is dealt five cards from a standard deck of
52 cards. How many different hands are possible?
52C5 = 52!/5!x(52-5)! = 2,598,960
A student must answer 3 out of 5 essay questions on a test. In how many different ways can the student
select the question?
5C3 = 5!/3!x(5-3)!
The traveling squad for a basketball team consists of two centers, five forwards, and four guards. In
how many ways can the coach select a starting team of one center, two forwards, and two guards?
2C1 x 5C2 x 4C2 = 2 x 10 x 6 = 120
Difference between Permutation and Combination with Examples
We’ll see some examples to understand the difference between them.
Permutations
● Arrangement of people, digits, numbers, alphabets, letters, and colours etc.
● Picking a team captain or keeper and a particular one from a group.
● Picking two favourite colours, in order, from a colour book.
● Picking first, second and third prize winners.
Combinations
● Selections of the menu, food, clothes, subjects, team etc.
● Picking three team members from a group.
● Picking two colours from a colour book.
● Picking three winners only.
The Binomial Theorem
The binomial theorem gives the coefficients of the expansion of powers of binomial
expressions. A binomial expression is simply the sum of two terms, such as x + y.
Middle term in the expansion of (a+b)^n
(1) If n is even then the middle term will be: [n/2 + 1]th term.
(2) If n is odd then the 2 middle terms will be:
[ (n+1)/2 ]th term and [ (n+1)/2 + 1]th term
