FACTORIAL,

PERMUTATION and
COMBINATION
Presented by:
Moraga, Shirley

Factorials

Let n be a positive number. Then n factorial denoted

by n! is:

n! = n x (n-1) x (n-2) x (n-3) x x 1

Note:

0! = 1
1! = 1

Example:
a.

4! = 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
= 24

b.

7! = 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
= 5,040

PERMUTATION
A

permutation of an objects is an
arrangement of those objects in which the
order is important.

Objects

may not be repeated.

Linear Permutation

Given a set of n objects, then we can take r from the

set

n!
P

n r
( n r )!
( permutation of n objects taken r at a time )

Evaluate:

a. 6P3

6!
6!

(6 3)! 3!
6 x5 x 4 x3 x 2 x1 720

3 x 2 x1
6

120

12!
12!
b. P

12 12
(12 12)!
0!
12 x11x10 x9 x8 x7 x6 x5 x 4 x3x 2 x1 479,001,600

1
1

479,001,600

1. In how many ways can 5

persons be seated in 5 chairs?
n

= 5 (5 people)
r = 5 (5 people taken to sit)

5!
5 P5
(5 5)!
5! 5 x 4 x3 x 2 x1

0!
1

120ways

1.How many 3 elements permutation can be

formed from { a, b, c}?
List all elements.
n=3
r=3
3

P3 =

3!
(3-3)!
= 6 arrangements

2. How many 4-digit postal codes

are there if no digit is repeated?
soln:
a. 10 x 9 x 8 x 7 = 5,040
b. n = 10
r=4
10!
10P4 =
(10-4)!
= 5,040

3. A computer password consists of 3

letters of the eng. alphabet. How many
passwords are there if repetition is not
allowed?
soln:
a. 26 x 25 x 24 = 15,600
b. n = 26
r=3
26!
26P3 =
(26-3)!
= 15,600

4. In how many ways can 10

vases be arranged in a row?
n

= 10
r = 10

10 10

10!

(10 10)!
10! 10 x9 x8 x7 x6 x5 x 4 x3x 2 x1

0!
1

3,628,800ways

5. In how many ways can 10 books

taken 5 at a time be arranged in a
shelf?

n = 10
r = 5

10!
10 P5
(10 5)!

10!
5!

30,240 ways

6. In how many ways can 6 boys

be seated in a row of 4 chairs?
n

=6
r = 4

6!
6 P4
(6 4)!

6!

2!

360ways

7. How many ways can 5 people line up for

a group picture if 2 wants to stand next to
each other?
Since 2 person wants to stand next to each other, we will consider them as
one. So the original 5 person will be 4.
4 P4

= ways to arrange 4 persons

2 P2

= ways to arrange that 2 person who wants to be

together in the picture.
4

P4 x 2P2 = 24 x 2 = 48 ways

8. In how many ways can you elect

a President and a Vice President if

there
n = 9are 9 members?
r

= 2 (take 2 members to be officer)

9!
9 P2
(9 2)!

9!

7!

72 ways

CIRCULAR PERMUTATION
The

arrangement of n objects in a circular

pattern is given

P=(n-1)!

9. In how many ways can 6

persons be seated around a
circular table?

n=6

P = (6-1)!
= 5!
=120 ways

10. In how many ways can 8 beads

be arranged to form a bracelet?

n=8
P = (8-1)!
= 7!
=5,040 ways

COMBINATION
Arrangements

of objects without the

reference of the order
Repetition is not allowed and order is NOT
important

n!
C

n r
r!(n r )!

List all permutation and combination,

taking 2 letters from
A, B, C, D.
n = 4 and r = 2

In Permutation

4!
4 P2
(4 2)!

12
AB BA AC CA AD DA
BC CB BD DB CD DC

In Combination

4!
4 C2
2!(4 2)!

AB AC AD
BC BD CD

1. In how many ways can a committee of

four people be selected from group of 5
doctors and 6 nurses?
n

= 11 (5 +6)
r = 4
11

C4

11!

4!(11 4)!
11!

4! 7!

330 ways

2. In how many ways can a committee of

four people be selected from group of 5
doctors and 6 nurses if at least 3 doctors
must
be included?

We can have 3 doctors and 1 nurse OR

We can have 4 doctors
5

C 3 x 6C 1

= ways of selecting 3 doctors and 1 nurse

C4

= ways of selecting 4 from 5 doctors

( 5C3 x 6C1 ) + 5C4 = ( 10x6 ) + 5

= 65 ways

3. In how many ways can a committee of

four people be selected from group of 5
doctors and 6 nurses if at most 2 nurses
must
We be
canincluded?
have 2 nurses and 2 doctors OR

We can have 1 nurse and 3 doctors OR

We can have 0 nurse and 4 doctors.

C2 x 5C2 = ways of selecting 2 nurses and 2 doctors

C 1 x 5C 3

= ways of selecting 1nurse and 3 doctors

C4

= ways of selecting 4 from 5 doctors

( 6C2 x 5C2 ) + (6C1 x 5C3 ) + 5C4 = ( 15x10) + ( 10x6 ) + 5

= 215 ways

4.

5.

6.

List the subsets of set X= {a, b, c} with relement.

r = 1?
r=2?
r=3?
r=0 ?
How many committees can be formed of six
numbers from a set of 12 people?
How many are there to select to form a
choral group composing 2 girls and 3 boys
from the set of 5 boys and 6 girls?

7. How many ways are there to select 6

cards from a deck of cards?

10. A basket contains 6 red balls and 5 blue

balls. How many are there to select:
a. 2 red/ 4 blue
b. 3 red/ 2 blue
c. 4 red
d. 3 blue