Answer:
A combination, in the context of mathematics and statistics, can be described using a word equation as follows:
"A combination is a selection of items or elements from a larger set, where the order of selection does not matter."
In this equation:
- "Selection" refers to the process of choosing certain items or elements from a larger group or set.
- "Items" or "elements" are the individual objects or members being chosen.
- "Larger set" represents the total collection or pool from which the selections are made.
- "Order" indicates that the arrangement or sequence in which the items are chosen is irrelevant.
Combinations are often used in combinatorics and probability to calculate the number of ways to choose a certain number of items from a larger set without regard to the order in which they were chosen. This is in contrast to permutations, where the order of selection does matter.