SOLVING PROBLEMS

INVOLVING
PERMUTATION AND
COMBINATION
z
 Activity 1: Collect and Select… and Arrange!
z

Solve the following permutation and combination

problems.
1. In how many ways can you arrange 5 Mathematics
books, 4 Science books, and 3 English books on a
shelf such that books of the same subject are kept
together?
2. A soloist is auditioning for a musical play. If she is
required to sing any three of the 7 prepared songs, in
how many ways can she make her choice?
 GUIDE QUESTIONS
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a. How did you find the activity?

b. How did you find the number of ways asked in each item?

c. Which situation above illustrates permutation?

Combination?

d. What word or words helped you determine whether the

situation illustrates permutation or combination?

e. How many ways can you arrange the books in situation 1?

f. In how many ways does the soloist in situation 2 make her

choice of songs?
 z
When trying to determine the number of possible
combinations in a set, it can be difficult to
differentiate between combinations and
permutations. With permutations, we calculate
the number of possible arrangements of a set of
items. With combinations we count the number
of combinations we can 'choose' from a larger
set of items. Combinations and permutations are
important statistical concepts.
 How to know when to use combinations or
z permutations?

Both combination and permutation count

the ways that (r) objects can be taken from
a group of (n) objects, but permutations are
arrangements (sequence matters), while
combinations are selections (order does
not matter).
In identifying which situation illustrates
permutation or combination, it is important
to understand and read the problem
carefully. As much as possible, look for
hints, like words, that will help you
determine whether permutation or
combination is being illustrated in a certain
situation.
Remember:
1. Use permutations if a problem calls
for the number of arrangements of
objects and different orders are to be
counted.
2. Use combinations if a problem calls
for the number of ways of selecting
objects and the order of selection is not
to be counted.
Illustrative Example 1:

The Racing Club organizes a race in

which five cars A, B, C, D, and E are
joined.
a) How many possible race results if
there are no ties?
b) In how many ways can the first two
positions be filled if there are no ties?
Solution:
a. The number of possible race results if
there are no ties is the same as the
number of permutations of 5 things
taken 5 at a time. We denote this
number by 5P5 where:
5P5 = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
= 120
Therefore, the number of possible race
results are 120 ways.
Solution:
b. Here, we are required to find the
number of permutations of 5 things
taken 2 at a time.
We denote this number by 5P2,
5P2 = 5 x 4
= 20
Therefore, the number of permutation is
20.
Note:
In (a), we used 5P5 to represent the
number of possible permutations of
5 things when all the 5 things are
taken.
In (b), we used 5P2 to represent the
number of permutation of 5 things
when only 2 out of 5 things are
taken.
Illustrative Example 2:
A basket contains 4 star apples, 5 mangoes,
and 8 guavas. How many ways can 2 star
apples, 1 mango, and 2 guavas be chosen?
Solution:
This involves the product of three
combinations, one for each type of item.
4C2 – Two of 4 star apples will be chosen
5C1 – One of 5 mangoes will be chosen
8C2 – Two of 8 guavas will be chosen
Activity 2: I Know Them So Well
Direction: Determine whether the following
situations involves permutation or combination,
then solve for what is asked.

1. In a dance contest, each participating group

must perform 3 kinds of dance. If there are 4
choices for ballroom dance, 8 choices for foreign
dance, and 5 choices for hip-hop, in how
many possible ways can a dance group select
their piece?
2. Suppose you are the owner of a sari-sari
store and you want to put 12 pieces of
canned goods in a row on the shelf. If there
are 3 identical cans of meat loaf, 4 identical
cans of tomato sauce, 2 identical cans of
sardines, and 3 identical cans of corned
beef, in how many different ways can you
display these goods?