What is the focus of combination in math?

In the previous section we answered the following two problems with ease:

Suppose 5 people are to be chosen from 12 and the order in which folk are chosen is not important. How many ways can this be done?

Suppose 5 people are to be chosen from 12 for a team and the order in which they are chosen is considered important. In how many ways can this be done?

All we had to do was think through what labeling is appropriate in each context.

But the traditional mindset on these matters is to give each of these situations different names and to focus on different formulas for solving them.

Here is the traditional approach. (And please forget this!)

COMBINATIONS:

Vaguely, and confusingly, a “combination” is a counting problem in which order chosen does not matter. A typical combination problem would be:

Suppose \(r\) people are to be chosen from a pool of \(n\) people and the order in which folk are chosen is not important. How many ways can this be done?

We would answer this as:

\(r\)  people are to be labeled “chosen.”

\(n-r\) people are to be labeled “not chosen.”

The answer is: \(\dfrac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}\).

This is called the “ \(n\) choose \(r\) ” formula and is denoted \(_{n}C_{r}\) on a calculator and in text books.

PERMUTATIONS:

Vaguely, and confusingly, a “permutation” is a counting problem in which order chosen does matter. A typical combination problem would be:

Suppose  \(r\) people are to be chosen from  a pool of \(n\) people and the order in which folk are chosen is important. How many ways can this be done?

We would answer this as:

1 person is to be labeled “chosen first.”

1 person is to be labeled “chosen second.”

            …

1 person is to be labeled “chosen \(r\)th.”

\((n-r)\) people are to be labeled “not chosen.”

 The answer is: \(\dfrac{n!}{1!1!\cdots1!(n-r)!}\) .

This formula is usually written as \(\dfrac{n!}{(n-r)!}\) and is denoted \(_{n}P_{r}\)  on a calculator and in text books.

Now really do forget these words and these special formulas! Just label!

Download PDF

Concept of Permutation and Combination

Permutation and the combination is the study of arranging elements in a set, and of combining and rearranging elements. Permutations may be represented by a specific sequence of permutation numbers, while combinations may be represented by a specific sequence of combination numbers.

Concept of Permutation And Combination 

Permutation and Combination are the methods of counting which help us to determine the number of different ways of arranging and selecting objects out of a given number of objects, without actually listing them. In this article, you will be able to learn the daily life application of permutation and combination along with their proper meaning and formula.

Before discussing permutation and combination, we will learn the important mathematical term ‘Factorial’.

What is Factorial?

Factorial is defined as the product of all natural numbers less than or equal to a given natural number. 

For a natural number ‘n’, its factorial is denoted by n! 

And, n! = n (n-1) (n-2) (n-3) (n-4) …... 3 x 2 x 1.

For example: 7! = 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 5040 

                     10! = 10 x 9 x 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 3628800

Note: (1) 0! = 1

           (2) 1! = 1 

What is Permutation?  

The arrangement of objects in a definite order is called Permutation. 

For example, You have two books, one book on each subject, Mathematics, and Science. You want to keep them properly on a shelf. So, you can keep them either Mathematics book first and then science book (i.e. M than S), or Science book first and then Mathematics book next to it (i.e. S then M). Therefore, there are two ways to arrange the two books on a shelf.

The number of permutations of n different objects taken r objects out of them without replacement, where 0 < r ≤ n, is given by:  

\[^{n}P_{r} = \frac {n!}{(n-r)!}\]

From the previous example, the number of permutations of 2 different books, Mathematics and Science, taken both of them is: 

\[^{2}P_{2} = \frac {2!}{(2-2)!} = \frac {2!}{0!} = 2! = 2 \times 1 = 2 ways\]

What is Combination?

The selection of some or all objects from a given set of different objects where the order of selection is not considered is called Combination.

For example: Suppose you have three friends, Aman, Mohit, and Raj, you want two of them to go with you for a picnic. You are not able to decide which two of them you should take for a picnic, so you think of an idea that you will write each of their names on a separate paper and pick two of them. Then,  the possible ways you could get the names of your two friends will be:

  1. Aman and Mohit

  2. Mohit and Raj

  3. Aman and Raj,

Therefore, there are three ways to select two friends out of three friends.

The number of combinations of n different objects taken r objects out of them without replacement, where 0 < r ≤ n, is given by:

\[^{n}C_{r} = \frac {n!}{r!(n-r)!} = \frac {_{n}Pr}{r!}\]

From the previous example, the number of ways of picking the names of two friends out of three names is: 

\[^{3}C_{2} = \frac {3!}{2!(3-2)!} = \frac {3!}{2! \times 1!} =\frac {3 \times 2 \times 1}{2 \times 1} = 3ways\]

Note: 

  1. If in a problem statement, you are asked for selection and their ordering, then you should use Permutation.

In simple words, Permutation = Selection + ordering 

  1. If in a problem statement, you are asked only for selection then you should use Combination.

In simple words, Combination = Selection

Difference Between Permutation and Combination

Permutation

Combination

The number of ways to arrange objects

The number of ways to select objects

order is considered

Order is not considered

Clue words: arrangement, order, placed

Clue words: select, group, choose

It is denoted by, \[^{n}P_{r} = \frac {n!}{(n-r)!}\]

It is denoted by, \[^{n}C_{r} = \frac {n!}{r!(n-r)!} = \frac {_{n}Pr}{r!}\]

Example: Arranging books, numbers, alphabets

Example: selecting team members, clothes


Solved Examples:

Q.1. How many words can be formed from the letters of the word ‘VEDANTU’ using each letter only once?

Solution: There are 7 letters in the word ‘VEDANTU’.The number of ways of arranging all the 7 letters of a given word is: 

\[^{7}P_{7} = \frac {7!}{(7-7)!} = \frac {7!}{0!} = 7! = 5040 words\]

Q.2. How many 5 digit telephone numbers can be formed if each number starts with 21 and no digit appears more than once?

Solution: Since, the first two places have to be filled only by 2 and 1 respectively there is only 1 way for doing this.

Also, it is given that no digit appears more than once. Hence, there will be 8 digits remaining (0, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and 3 places have to be filled with these remaining digits.

So, the next 3 places can be filled with the remaining 8 digits in 8P3 ways.

Total number of ways =

\[^{8}P_{3} = \frac {8!}{(8-3)!} = \frac {8!}{5!} = \frac {8 \times 7 \times 6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1}{5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1} = 8 \times 7 \times 6 = 336 \]

Q.3. How many chords can be drawn through 15 points on a circle?

Solution: Since a chord is drawn by joining two points on a circle.

Given that, there are 15 points on a circle. The total number of ways of selecting two points on a circle will give the total number of chords of the circle.

Therefore,the required number of chords 

\[^{15}C_{2} = \frac {15!}{2!(15-2)!} = \frac {15!}{2!(15-2)!} = \frac {15!}{2!(13)!} = \frac {15 \times 14}{2 \times 1} = 105\]

Conclusion

This is all about the introduction to permutation and combination. Focus on how this mathematical operation is being conducted and utilized in different subjects. Your conceptual development in this topic will help you get through the advanced subjects of science and mathematics.

What is the focus of combinations?

With Combinations on the other hand, the focus is on groups of elements where the order does not matter.

What is the purpose of combination?

A combination is a mathematical technique that determines the number of possible arrangements in a collection of items where the order of the selection does not matter. In combinations, you can select the items in any order. Combinations can be confused with permutations.

Why is combination important in math?

Combinations are important in probability as well as to the binomial theorem. All the possible combinations of an integer n make up the nth row of Pascal's triangle.

What is meant by combination in maths?

In mathematics, a combination is a way of selecting items from a collection where the order of selection does not matter. Suppose we have a set of three numbers P, Q and R. Then in how many ways we can select two numbers from each set, is defined by combination.