Permutation and Combination

Important Facts And Formula

1. Factorial Notation:

Let n be a positive integer. Then, factorial n, denoted n! is defined as:

n! = n(n - 1)(n - 2) ... 3.2.1.

Examples:

i. We define 0! = 1.
ii. 4! = (4 x 3 x 2 x 1) = 24.
iii. 5! = (5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1) = 120.
2. Permutations:

The different arrangements of a given number of things by taking some or all at a time,
are called permutations.

Examples:

i.All permutations (or arrangements) made with the letters a, b, c by taking two at a
time are (ab, ba, ac, ca, bc, cb).
ii. All permutations made with the letters a, b, c taking all at a time are:
( abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba)
3. Number of Permutations:

Number of all permutations of n things, taken r at a time, is given by:

n n!
Pr = n(n - 1)(n - 2) ... (n - r + 1) =
(n - r)!

Examples:
6
i. P2 = (6 x 5) = 30.
7
ii. P3 = (7 x 6 x 5) = 210.
iii. Cor. number of all permutations of n things, taken all at a time = n!.
4. An Important Result:

If there are n subjects of which p1 are alike of one kind; p2 are alike of another kind; p3
are alike of third kind and so on and pr are alike of rth kind,
such that (p1 + p2 + ... pr) = n.
 n!
Then, number of permutations of these n objects is =
(p1!).(p2)!.....(pr!)

5. Combinations:

Each of the different groups or selections which can be formed by taking some or all of a
number of objects is called a combination.

Examples:

i. Suppose we want to select two out of three boys A, B, C. Then, possible

selections are AB, BC and CA.

Note: AB and BA represent the same selection.

ii. All the combinations formed by a, b, c taking ab, bc, ca.

iii. The only combination that can be formed of three letters a, b, c taken all at a time
is abc.
iv. Various groups of 2 out of four persons A, B, C, D are:

AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD.

v. Note that ab ba are two different permutations but they represent the same
combination.
2. Number of Combinations:

The number of all combinations of n things, taken r at a time is:

n n! n(n - 1)(n - 2) ... to r factors

Cr = = .
(r!)(n - r!) r!

Note:
n
i. Cn = 1 and nC0 = 1.
n
ii. Cr = nC(n - r)

Examples:

(11 x 10 x 9 x 8)
i.   11C4 = = 330.
(4 x 3 x 2 x 1)
16 x 15 x
16 x 15 x 14
ii.   16C13 = 16C(16 - 13) = 16C3 = 14 = = 560.
3! 3x2x1
1. From a group of 7 men and 6 women, five persons are to be selected to form a committee so
that at least 3 men are there on the committee. In how many ways can it be done?
A
564 B.645
.
D
C.735 756
.
E. None of these

Answer: Option D

Explanation:

We may have (3 men and 2 women) or (4 men and 1 woman) or (5 men only).

Required number of ways= (7C3 x 6C2) + (7C4 x 6C1) + (7C5)

7x6x5 6x5
= x + (7C3 x 6C1) + (7C2)
3x2x1 2x1
7x6x5 x 7x6
= 525 + +
3x2x1 6 2x1
= (525 + 210 + 21)
= 756.

2. In how many different ways can the letters of the word 'LEADING' be arranged in such a way
that the vowels always come together?
A
360 B.480
.
D
C.720 5040
.
E. None of these
Answer: Option C

Explanation:

The word 'LEADING' has 7 different letters.

When the vowels EAI are always together, they can be supposed to form one letter.

Then, we have to arrange the letters LNDG (EAI).

Now, 5 letters can be arranged in 5! = 120 ways.

 The vowels (EAI) can be arranged among themselves in 3! = 6 ways.

Required number of ways = (120 x 6) = 720.

3. In how many different ways can the letters of the word 'CORPORATION' be arranged so that
the vowels always come together?
A
810 B.1440
.
D
C.2880 50400
.
E. 5760
Answer: Option D

Explanation:

In the word 'CORPORATION', we treat the vowels OOAIO as one letter.

Thus, we have CRPRTN (OOAIO).

This has 7 (6 + 1) letters of which R occurs 2 times and the rest are different.

7!
Number of ways arranging these letters = = 2520.
2!
Now, 5 vowels in which O occurs 3 times and the rest are different, can be arranged

i 5!
= 20 ways.
n 3!
Required number of ways = (2520 x 20) = 50400.

4. Out of 7 consonants and 4 vowels, how many words of 3 consonants and 2 vowels can be
formed?
A
210 B.1050
.
D
C.25200 21400
.
E. None of these
Answer: Option C

Explanation:
 Number of ways of selecting (3 consonants out of 7) and (2 vowels out of 4)

    = (7C3 x 4C2)
7x6x5 4x3
= x
3x2x1 2x1
= 210.
Number of groups, each having 3 consonants and 2 vowels = 210.

Each group contains 5 letters.

Number of ways of
arranging = 5!
5 letters among themselves
=5x4x3x2x1
= 120.
Required number of ways = (210 x 120) = 25200.

5. In how many ways can the letters of the word 'LEADER' be arranged?
A
72 B.144
.
D
C.360 720
.
E. None of these
Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

The word 'LEADER' contains 6 letters, namely 1L, 2E, 1A, 1D and 1R.

6!
Required number of ways = (1!)(2!)(1!)(1!) = 360.
(1!)

6. In a group of 6 boys and 4 girls, four children are to be selected. In how many different ways
can they be selected such that at least one boy should be there?
A
159 B.194
.
D
C.205 209
.
 E. None of these
Answer: Option D

Explanation:

We may have (1 boy and 3 girls) or (2 boys and 2 girls) or (3 boys and 1 girl) or (4 boys).

Required number 6
= ( C1 x 4C3) + (6C2 x 4C2) + (6C3 x 4C1) + (6C4)
of ways
= (6C1 x 4C1) + (6C2 x 4C2) + (6C3 x 4C1) + (6C2)
6x5x
6x5 4x3 6x5
= (6 x 4) 4
x + x4 +
+ 3x2x
2x1 2x1 2x1
1
= (24 + 90 + 80 + 15)
= 209.

7. How many 3-digit numbers can be formed from the digits 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9, which are
divisible by 5 and none of the digits is repeated?
A
5 B.10
.
D
C.15 20
.
Answer: Option D

Explanation:

Since each desired number is divisible by 5, so we must have 5 at the unit place. So, there is 1
way of doing it.

The tens place can now be filled by any of the remaining 5 digits (2, 3, 6, 7, 9). So, there are 5
ways of filling the tens place.

The hundreds place can now be filled by any of the remaining 4 digits. So, there are 4 ways of
filling it.

Required number of numbers = (1 x 5 x 4) = 20.

8. In how many ways a committee, consisting of 5 men and 6 women can be formed from 8 men
and 10 women?
A
266 B.5040
.
D
C.11760 86400
.
 E. None of these
Answer & Explanation

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

Required number of ways= (8C5 x 10C6)

= (8C3 x 10C4)
8 x 7 x 6 10 x 9 x 8 x 7
x
= 3x2x1 4x3x2x1
= 11760.

9. A box contains 2 white balls, 3 black balls and 4 red balls. In how many ways can 3 balls be
drawn from the box, if at least one black ball is to be included in the draw?
A
32 B.48
.
D
C.64 96
.
E. None of these

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

We may have(1 black and 2 non-black) or (2 black and 1 non-black) or (3 black).

Required number of ways= (3C1 x 6C2) + (3C2 x 6C1) + (3C3)

3 6x5 3x2
= + x6 +1
x 2x1 2x1
= (45 + 18 + 1)
= 64.

10. In how many different ways can the letters of the word 'DETAIL' be arranged in such a way
that the vowels occupy only the odd positions?
A
32 B.48
.
D
C.36 60
.
E. 120
Answer: Option C

Explanation:
 There are 6 letters in the given word, out of which there are 3 vowels and 3 consonants.

Let us mark these positions as under:

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Now, 3 vowels can be placed at any of the three places out 4, marked 1, 3, 5.

Number of ways of arranging the vowels = 3P3 = 3! = 6.

Also, the 3 consonants can be arranged at the remaining 3 positions.

Number of ways of these arrangements = 3P3 3! = 6.

Total number of ways = (6 x 6) = 36.

11. In how many ways can a group of 5 men and 2 women be made out of a total of 7 men and 3
women?
A
63 B.90
.
D
C.126 45
.
E. 135
Answer: Option A

Explanation:

7x6 x
Required number of ways = (7C5 x 3C2) = (7C2 x 3C1) = = 63.
2x1 3

12. How many 4-letter words with or without meaning, can be formed out of the letters of the
word, 'LOGARITHMS', if repetition of letters is not allowed?
A
40 B.400
.
D
C.5040 2520
.
Answer: Option C

Explanation:

'LOGARITHMS' contains 10 different letters.

Required number of
= Number of arrangements of 10 letters, taking 4 at a time.
words
 = 10P4
= (10 x 9 x 8 x 7)
= 5040.

13. In how many different ways can the letters of the word 'MATHEMATICS' be arranged so
that the vowels always come together?
A
10080 B.4989600
.
D
C.120960 None of these
.
Answer: Option C

Explanation:

In the word 'MATHEMATICS', we treat the vowels AEAI as one letter.

Thus, we have MTHMTCS (AEAI).

Now, we have to arrange 8 letters, out of which M occurs twice, T occurs twice and the rest
are different.

8!
Number of ways of arranging these letters = = 10080.
(2!)(2!)
Now, AEAI has 4 letters in which A occurs 2 times and the rest are different.

Number of ways of arranging these letters 4!

= 12.
= 2!
Required number of words = (10080 x 12) = 120960.

14. In how many different ways can the letters of the word 'OPTICAL' be arranged so that the
vowels always come together?
A
120 B.720
.
D
C.4320 2160
.
E. None of these
Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The word 'OPTICAL' contains 7 different letters.

When the vowels OIA are always together, they can be supposed to form one letter.
Then, we have to arrange the letters PTCL (OIA).

Now, 5 letters can be arranged in 5! = 120 ways.

The vowels (OIA) can be arranged among themselves in 3! = 6 ways.

Required number of ways = (120 x 6) = 720.