MATHEMATICS 10

Name of Learner: Grade Level:

Section: Date:

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Problems Involving Permutation and Combination

Background Information for Learners

The study of permutations and combinations is all about determining the number of
different ways of arranging and selecting objects out of a given number of objects without
actually listing them. Knowledge in some basic counting techniques are very useful in
determining the number of different ways of arranging or selecting objects. The basic counting
principles, multiplication and addition, are the most common principles of counting used in
solving problems involving permutation and combination.

In this self-learning material, you are expected to apply the knowledge acquired and
skills that you have developed in previous lessons in order to solve problems involving
permutations and combinations. The notation C(n, r) for combination and P(n, r) for
permutation are very useful in accomplishing the different learning activities contained in this
learning material.

𝒏! 𝒏!
P(n, r) = ( where n ≥ r
C(n, r) =
𝒏$𝒓)! 𝒓!( 𝒏$𝒓)!

n = total number of objects r = number of objects to selected/ arranged

Directions
Below are activities wherein the learners are anticipated to answer independently or
with the help of their parents/guardians. You may use other references or browse the internet if
there are concepts or terminologies that are not familiar to you for better understanding. You
may also contact your teacher through different forms of communication if necessary. Scores
obtained in the activities are to be recorded.
ACTIVITY 1: The Math Machine

Directions: Solve the problems below by completing the Math Machine. Write your answers
and solutions inside the blank figures.

Suppose you want to arrange your Mathematics, Science, English and Filipino books on a shelf.
In how many ways can you do it?
ANSWERS
Does the problem
illustrate permutation or
combination?

What is the formula to be used?

What is the value of n and r? What is

your solution?

What is your final answer?

ACTIVITY 2: Arrow Diagram on problem solving

Directions: Use the steps in the Arrow Diagram presented to answer the given problems. Write
answers in the boxes provided. You may use additional sheet/s if necessary.

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4

Identify if the Determine Write your

ANSWER
GIVEN
problem the final
Identify the values of n and r and answer.
indicates appropriate
substitute it in the formula and
combination or formula to
then solve.
1. A box contains 7 different marbles. In how many ways can you select 5 marbles for you to play
with your younger sibling?

2. In how many ways can the letters of the word “LEADER” be arranged?

3. There are six persons in an office. A group consisting of three persons has to be formed.
In how many ways can the group be formed?
4. In how many ways can a committee of 5 be formed from 5 juniors and 7 seniors if the
committee must have 3 seniors?

5. In how many ways can a group of 5 men and 2 women be made out of a total of 7 men and3
women?

6. A jar contains 5 white balls, 8 black balls and 6 red balls. In how many ways can 5 ballsbe
selected such that there are 2 red balls, 2 white balls and 1 black ball?

ACTIVITY 3: Combine Me…Again

Directions: Study each situation below, answer the given questions and accomplish the tasks.

Situation 1. A box contains 5 red balls, 7 green balls and 6 yellow balls. In how many ways
can 6 balls be chosen if there should be 2 balls of each color?
Guide Questions:
a. How many balls are there inside the box?
b. How many are green balls?
c. How many are red balls?
d. How many are yellow balls?
e. How many balls are to be taken inside the box?
Task: Fill-in the table with the missing data. Some values or formula are given as your guide.
Color of Number/count of balls Number of balls to be
Solution/s Answer/s
balls inside the box per color taken per color

Red Two (2)

7!
Green C(7, 2) =
2!( 7&2)!

Yellow
15 ways
 C(red balls) x C( green balls) x C( yellow balls)
Hint: 3150 ways
C means combination

Situation 2. From a group of 7 men and 6 women, five persons are to be selected to form a
committee so that there are at least 3 men in the committee? In how many ways
can it be done?
Guide Questions:
a. How many men are there in the group?
b. How many women are there in the group?
c. How many persons are needed to form the committee?
d. At least how many men are to be chosen to form the committee?
e. What is the highest number of women needed to form the committee?
Task: Fill-in the table with the missing data. Some values or formula are given as your guide.
From 6 Total persons
Options From 7 men Solution/s Answer/s
women chosen
C(7,3) x
1 3 2 5
C(6,2)
2 4 5

3 0 5
To find the total number of possible ways, add all the answers in
Hint: 756 ways
each options. ( option 1 + option 2 + option 3)

Situation 3. Out of 7 consonants and 4 vowels, how many words (with or without meaning) of
3 consonants and 2 vowels can be formed?
Guide questions:
a. How many consonants are given?
b. From these consonants given, how many are needed to form a word?
c. How many vowels are given?
d. Of these vowels given, how many are needed to form the word?
e. How many letters are needed to form the word?
f. In selecting the consonants and vowels to use to form a word, is order of letter
important?
g. In writing the word, is the order of the letters important?

Task: Fill-in the table with the missing data. Some values or formula are given as your guide.
7 Total letters
Part 4 vowels Solution/s Answer/s
consonants chosen
Combination Choose 3 Choose 2 5 C(7,3) x C(4,2)

Permutation 3 letters 2 letters 5-letter word P(5,5) =

To find the numbers of ways, multiply the result in 25, 200
Hint:
combinations to the result in permutation. Ways
Note: The table shows that, to solve the given problem, we need to find first the combination of
choosing 3 letters from 7 consonants and 2 letters from 4 vowels. Since the word consists
of 5 letters, then find the permutation of these 5 letters. Hence, to get the final answer,
simply multiply the results in combination and permutation.
Situation 4. In how many different ways can the letters of the word “OPTICAL” be arranged
so that the vowels always come together?
Guide questions:
a. How many letters are there in the given word OPTICAL?
b. From the given word, how many are vowels?
c. If the vowels are grouped and counted as one, how many letters are there in the new
word being formed?
Task: Fill-in the table with the missing data. Some values or formula are given as your guide.

Total
Permutation consonants vowels Solution/s Answer
letters
New Form
PTCL (OIA). The vowels 4 1 5 P(5, 5)=
are counted as 1
Vowels
none 3 letters 3 P(3, 3) =
OIA
To find the numbers of ways, multiply the result
Hint: permutation in New Form (PTCL(OIA)) and 720 ways
Vowels (OIA)
Note: The table will help you ponder on how to solve easily the given problem. In the table
above, the word OPTICAL with 7 letters is reformed such that all vowels are counted as
one. Thus, the new word now has 5 letters only. Permutation of the new 5 letter-word is
obtained. Furthermore, the vowels OIA can be arranged also in different ways. To get
the final answer, multiply the results obtained in the two permutations. Hence, the
required number of ways is 720.

Situation 5. In how many different ways can the letters of the word “MATHEMATICS” be
arranged such that the vowels must always come together?
Task: Fill-in the table with the answer. Some values or formula are given as your guide.
n
Original Vowels as one objects r Solution Answer
MTHMTCS(AEAI) M=2, P= 8!
8
(get the permutation) T=2 2! x 2!
MATHEMATICS
AEAI P = _4!_
4 A=2
(get the permutation) 2!
To get the final answer, multiply the permutation of the 4
120,960
Hint: vowels to the permutation of the whole word in which
ways
vowels are counted as one

ACTIVITY 4: SOLVE ME!

Directions: Solve the given problems on permutation and combination below. Show your
complete solutions in the box. You may use another sheet of paper if necessary.

1. In how many different ways can the letters of the word “JUDGE” be arranged such thatthe
vowels always come together?
2. In how many different ways can the letter of the word ‘RUMOUR’ be arranged if the
consonants always come together?

ACTIVITY 5: Cross Number Puzzle

Directions: Complete the cross-number puzzle below by evaluating specified permutations and
combinations. Use a separate sheet of paper for manual presentation of solutions.
Use a calculator only in verifying your answers.

1 2 Across:

3 4 1. C(9,2)
4. C(12,10)
5
5. C(15,9)
6 7
8. C(10, 4)
8
9. P(8,8)
9 10