Question

How can you tell whether a counting problem is a permutation or combination problem? Give examples to support your answer

Answer 1

Explanation:

Permutation is the ways in which a fixed group or members that can be arranged or ordered and combinations are used when a smaller group has to be chosen from a larger group.

Examples:

Permutation: How many unique combinations of the word MAHNOOR can be formed when the letters will be scrambled

2. In what order or arrangements five people can be seated in the front row?

The number of people are fixed, we have to find the order.

Combination: Choosing two cards from a deck of 52 cards. We are choosing a small group from a larger group of all cards.

2. Choosing 4 students from a class to take part in the competition.

The selection can be made in multiple ways ..

Answer 2

Permutation - requires to arrange order with quantities

Combination - order is not required

Explanation:

If a question demands you to select as well as arrange the given quantities then it means that it is a problem of permutation.

While on the other hand, a problem of combination would only ask you to select the quantities and not their order.

So with practice, you get to know how exactly it works.