Probability+and+Statistics

Page 1 - Permutations and Combinations
 * media type="custom" key="3927711"

media type="file" key="Chuck norris convo.mp3" || Objectives
 * Learn to solve problems including premutations and cominations
 * Learn to apply permutations and combinations to everyday life

Permutations and combinations are in Chapter 9 of your Pre-calculus curriculum. For further practice aside from the worksheets provided below please refer to the Chpater 9 Review in your textbook.

The definition of a permutation is a sequence of numbers becuase the order of the numbers matter. This is what makes permutations differ from combinations. In combinations the numbers are referred to as a set because the order of the numbers does not matter. A great example of this difference would be if one would like to create a commitee of people compared to a President, Vice President and Secretary. Since every person in the commitee holds the same title there is no difference between each person in the commitee however since the President, Vice President and Secretary are all different titles they must each be treated as there own event.

The equation for a permutation is nPr. The n is equal to the number of choices available. While r is equal to the number of positions that have to be filled with said choices. The P is there to inform you that the equation is a permutation. In order to solve thsi equation you must expand it into P(n,r) = n! / (n-r)!. However when n is equal to r the equation would simply be n!. For practice with permutaions see the worksheet below.

The equation for a combination is nCk. The n is equal to the number of choices available. While k is equal to the number of positions that need to be filled. The C is there to inform you that the equation is a combination. In order to solve a combination you must expand the equation to. C(n,k) = n!/ k!(n-k)!. ||
 * media type="custom" key="3949667" || One final note is that to define what ! is in mathematics. The ! tells you to multiply the number by every number below it. For example 3! is equal to 3*2*1 or 6. Another example is 4! which is equal to 4*3*2*1 or 24. For practice with combinations seet the worksheet below.

This Page was created by Michael Burdsall ||