In this section you will learn how to:

 use the fundamental counting principle for the number of ways of doing different tasks
 find the number of arrangements of n distinct items
 find the number of permutations of r items from n distinct items
 find the number of combinations of r items from n distinct items
 solve problems using permutations and combinations
 apply the given restrictions in different scenarios of the given problems

Factorial notation
4 x 3 x 2 x 1 is called 5 factorial and is written as 4!
It is useful to remember that n! = n x (n – 1)! and n! = n x (n – 1) x (n – 2)!
For example 5! = 5 x 4! and 5! = 5 x 4 x 3!

Fundamental counting principle

If there are m ways of doing a task and n ways of doing another task then we have (m x n) total ways of
doing the tasks together, number of ways of doing different tasks are always multiplied for total no. of ways.

Arrangements

Permutations

n
** A quick method to find Pr specially when n is unknown and an equation is given is discussed also.

Combinations

n
** A similar quick short method to find Cr is also discussed to solve equations where n is unknown.

1
** A quick method to find nPr and nCr to be used when n is unknown :
n
Pr can be calculated in a short way by taking the product of r factors starting from n decreasing by 1.
5
e.g. P3 = 5 x 4 x 3 [ taking a product of 3 factors starting from 5 and decreasing by 1 ]
7
P4 = 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 [ taking a product of 4 factors starting from 7 and decreasing by 1 ]
Similarly if n is unknown,
n
P3 = n x (n – 1) x (n – 2) [ taking a product of 3 factors starting from n and decreasing by 1 ]
n
P4 = n x (n – 1) x (n – 2) x (n – 3) and the likes.
𝒏𝐏𝒓
With a very little addition to the above technique nCr can also be calculated as nCr =
𝒓!
n
Cr can be calculated by taking the product of r factors starting from n decreasing by 1 and dividing by r!
5 5𝑥4𝑥3
e.g. C3 = 3!
[ taking a product of 3 factors starting from 5 and decreasing by 1 divided by 3! ]

7 7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4
C4 = 4!
[ taking a product of 4 factors starting from 7 and decreasing by 1 divided by 4! ]

Similarly if n is unknown,
n 𝑛 𝑥 (𝑛 – 1) 𝑥 (𝑛 – 2)
C3 = 3!
[ taking a product of 3 factors starting from n and decreasing by 1 divided by 3! ]

n 𝑛 𝑥 (𝑛 – 1) 𝑥 (𝑛 – 2) 𝑥 (𝑛 – 3)
C4 = 4!
and the likes.

Problems where n is unknown with a given equation to find the value of n :

2
 Problems of permutations and permutations with restrictions :
4

6 Find the number of ways 4 boys and 5 girls can be arranged in a row if
(a) there are no restrictions, [1]
(b) a particular boy and a particular girl must be next to each other, [2]
(c) two particular boys must not be next to each other, [2]
(d) the first and last persons are of the same sex. [2]
7 There are 6 males and 6 females in the finals of a talent competition. A contest is
held to pick the top 3 winners in both the male and female categories in order of
merit. How many different entries must be completed to ensure a winning order? [2]

* 8 A certain contest awards three top prizes of $50 000, $20 000 and $ 10000 and five
consolation prizes of $1000 each. Twenty people have each submitted one winning
entry and a draw is carried out to pick the eight different winners.
Firstly, the five winners for the consolation prizes are drawn. How many outcomes
are possible? [1]
Next, the three winners for the top prizes are drawn. How many possible results are there?[1]
9 Find the total number of arrangements using all of the letters in the word
LOGARITHMS. [1]
How many of these arrangements
(a) start with H and end with A? [1]
(b) have three consecutive vowels? [2]
(c) have the consonants G and H separated? [2]
* 10 The number of applicants for a job is 15. Calculate the number of ways in which
6 applicants can be selected for interview. [1]
The 6 selected applicants are interviewed on a particularday. Calculate the number
of ways in which the order of the 6 interviews can be arranged. [1]
Of the 6 applicants, 3 havebackgrounds in business, 2 havebackgrounds in education
and 1 has a background in recreation. Calculate the number of ways in which the
order of the 6 interviews can be arranged, when applicants having the same
background are interviewed in succession. [2]
3
11

12

13

14

4
 Problems of combinations and combinations with restrictions :

15

16 A committee of 6 members is to be chosen from 6 women and 5 men. Calculate the

number of ways this can be done if
(a) the selection is random. [1]
(b) a minimum of 4 men must be chosen. [2]
717 A squad of 20 boys, which includes 2 sets of twins, is available for selection for a cricket
team of 11 players.
Calculate the number of different teams that can be selected if
(i) there are no restrictions, [1]
(ii) both sets of twins are selected, [2]
(iii) one set of twins is selected but neither twin from the other set is selected, [2]
(iv) exactly one twin from each set of twins is selected. [2]
18 Calculate the number of ways of selecting 2 points from 6 distinct points. [1]
Six distinct points are marked on each of two parallel lines. Calculate the number of
(a) distinct quadrilaterals whichmay be formed using 4 of the 12pointsas vertices, [2]
(b) distinct triangles which may be formed using 3 of the 12 points as vertices. [2]

* 19 Calculate in how many ways each of the following choices can be made:
(a) 4 books are to be chosen from a list of 9 titles to take away for reading during
a holiday.
(b) 15 people have sent in winning entries for a magazine competition, and three
are to be chosen and placed in order of merit so as to receive the 1st. 2nd and
3rd prizes.
(c) A committee of 3 people comprising the president, secretary and treasurer are
to be chosen from 8 possible candidates.

* 20 A tennis team of 4 men and 4 women is to be picked from 6 men and 7 women.
Find the number of ways in which this can be done. [1]
It was decided that 2 of the 7 women must either be selected together or not at all.
Find how many possible teams could be selected in these circumstances. [2]
The selected team is arranged into 4 pairs, each consisting of a man and a woman.
Find the number of ways in which this can be done. [1]

* 21 Four letters are to be chosen from the letters in the word PROJECTS. Find the
number of choices. How many of these choices contain [1]
(a) the letter J. [1]
(b) no vowels. [1]
(c) at least one vowel? [2]
How many 5-letter code words can be formed from the given 8 letters? [1]

* 22 There are 6 men and 4 women.

(a) Find the number of possible committees which can be formed from 5 of these [1]
people.
(b) Find the number of possible queues which can be formed by 5 of them. [1]
(c) Find the number of possible groups of 4 if the groups must consist of at most 3 men. [2]
5
 23

24 Find the number of ways in which a team of 6 batsmen, 4 bowlers and a wicketkeeper
may be selected from a squad of 8 batsmen, 6 bowlers and 2 wicketkeepers.
Find the number of ways in which
(a) this team may be selected if it is to include 4 specified batsmen and 2 specified
bowlers.
(b) the 6 batsmen may be selected from the 8 available, given that 2 particular
batsmen cannot be selected together.

25 (a)

ANSWERS
1. n = 14 only 2. n = 30 3. n = 20
4.(i) 720 (ii) 480 (iii) 264
5. (i) 20160 (ii) 7200 (iii) 360
6. (a) 362880 (b) 80640 (c) 282240 (d) 161280
7. 14400 8. 15504 ; 2730
9. 3628800 ; (a) 40320 (b) 241920 (c) 2903040
10. 5005 ; 720 ; 72 11. (i) 120 (ii) 60 %
12. (i) 120 (ii) 48 (iii) 42 13. 2160
14. (i) 720 (ii) 600 (iii) 168
15. 700 16. (a) 462 (b) 81
17. (i) 167960 (ii) 11440 (iii) 22880 (iv) 45760
18. 15 ; (a) 225 (b) 180
19. (a) 126 (b) 2730 (c) 336
20. 525 ; 225 ; 24
21. 70 ; (a) 35 (b) 15 (c) 55 ; 6720
22. (a) 252 (b) 30240 (c) 195
23. (i) 44352 (ii) 8008
24. 840 ; (a) 72 (b) 13 25. (a) 27720 (b) 5775