Final answer:
To find the number of ways to form a group of 5 members from a class of 26 students, the combination formula C(n, k) = n! / (k! * (n-k)!) is used, with n being the total number of students (26) and k the number of members to select (5).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for the number of ways to pick a group with 5 members from a class of 26 students. This can be calculated using combinatorics, specifically the combination formula, which is used when the order of selection does not matter.
The combination formula is given by:
C(n, k) = n! / (k! * (n-k)!)
where:
- n is the total number of items,
- k is the number of items to choose,
- ! denotes factorial.
In this case, n is 26 and k is 5. Therefore, the calculation becomes:
C(26, 5) = 26! / (5! * (26-5)!) = 26! / (5! * 21!)
Calculating the factorials and simplifying the terms, we find the number of ways to form a group of 5 students from a class of 26.