10

Mathematics
Quarter 3 - Module 4
Differentiating Permutation from
Combination of n Objects Taken r
at a Time
Mathematics – Grade 10
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3 – Module 4: Differentiating Permutation from Combination of n objects taken
r at a Time
First Edition, 2021

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their
respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.

Published by the Department of Education- Region III

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer/Illustrator/Layout Artist/Editors
Arlene L. Sarmiento
Janine P. Caleon
Lory May A. Cultura
Roberto L. Aquino
Christian Bartolome

Content Evaluator: Gilda T. Garcia

Language Evaluator: Benjamin C. Lizarondo
Layout Evaluator: Anthony P. Mendoza
Management Team: Gregorio C. Quinto, Jr.
Rainelda M. Blanco
Agnes R. Bernardo
Francisco B. Macale
Glenda S. Constantino
Joannarie C. Garcia

Printed in the Philippines by

Department of Education--- Schools Division of Bulacan

Office Address: Curriculum Implementation Division

Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS)
Capitol compound, Guinhawa St., City of Malolos, Bulacan

Email Address: [email protected]

 10

Mathematics
Quarter 3 - Module 4
Differentiating Permutation
from Combination of n
Objects Taken r at a Time
Introductory Message

This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, dear learners, can
continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions,
exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-step
as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each SLM.
This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you need to
ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of the
lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check
your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that
you will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teachers are also provided
to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can best
help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part of
this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercise and tests. Read
the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the tasks
in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 What I Need to Know

This module provides varied activities that will help you learn about the
difference between permutation and combination of n objects taken r at a time.

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

 compare permutation and combination according to their
meaning, order, answer, derivation, and formulas; and
 compute the values of permutation and combination of n
objects taken r at a time.

What I Know

Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following situations does NOT illustrate combination?

A. Selecting 2 songs from 10 choices for an audition piece.
B. Fixing the schedule of a group of students who must take exactly 8 subjects.
C. Enumerate the subsets of a set.
D. Identifying the lines formed by connecting some given points on a plane.

2. What is P (10, 3)?

A. 720 B. 210 C. 120 D. 30

3. If P (9, r) = 72, what is r?

A. 6 B5 C. 4 D. 2

4. If P (n, 4) = 1680, then n = _______.

A. 12 B. 10 C. 9 D. 8

5. Given x = P (n, n) and y = P (n, n-1), what can be concluded about x and y?
A. x > y B. x < y C. x = y D. x = -y

6. If w = C (5, 2), x = C (5, 3), y = C (5, 4), and z = C (5, 5), and we are given 5 points on a
plane of which no three points are collinear, which expression gives the total number of
polygons that can be drawn?
A. x + y B. w + x + y C. x + y + z D. w + x + y + z

7. C (n, n) = _______.
A. 1 B. n C. r D. cannot be determined

1
8. If C (n, r) = 35, which of the following are possible values of n and r?
A. n = 6, r = 4 B. n = 7, r = 3 C. n = 8, r = 3 D. n = 9, r = 2

9. If C (n, 5) = 126, what is n?

A. 11 B. 10 C. 9 D. 7

10. If C (12, r) = 792, which of the following is a possible value of r?

A. 8 B. 7 C. 6 D. 4

6! 6!
11. If C (x, 4) = , what is ,x?what is x?
4!2! 4!2!

A. 6 B. 4 C. 3 D. 2

𝑥!
12. Solve for x: C(x, 5) =
5! 3!

A. 10 B. 9 C. 8 D. 7

7!
13.. IfIf PP (7,
(7, x)
x) == , what is, what
x? is x?
3! 3!
A. 8 B. 6 C. 4 D. 2

14. Which of the following has the most number of arrangements?

A. P ( 12, 3) B. P( 11, 4) C. P( 10, 5) D. P( 9, 6)

15. Which of the following has the most number of selections?

A. C (11,8) B. C (11,7) C. C (10,6) D. C (10,5)

What’s In

Directions: Determine whether each situation involves a permutation or a combination. Write

the answers in a separate paper.

1. Choosing five volleyball players from a group of nine.

2. Six toppings for pizza.
3. Selecting 7 students to form classroom officers.
4. 3 different pupils sit on 2 chairs.
5. Opening a combination lock.
6. Assembling a jigsaw puzzle.
7. Forming a committee of 5 members from 20 people.
8. Two girls and three boys sit in a row of five seats

2
 What’s New

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics

which is about counting – and we will discover
many exciting examples of “things” you can
count.

First combinatorial problems have been

studied by ancient Indian, Arabian and Greek
mathematicians. Interest in the subject increased
during the 19th and 20th century, together with
the development of graph theory and problems
like the four colour theorem. Some of the leading
mathematicians include Blaise Pascal (1623 –
1662), Jacob Bernoulli (1654 – 1705) and
Leonhard Euler (1707 – 1783).

Combinatorics has many applications

in other areas of mathematics, including
graph theory, coding and cryptography, and Leonhard Euler (1707 – 1783)
probability.

https://mathigon.org/world/Combinatorics

Understanding of key concepts of combinatorics, particularly permutations and

combination will be discussed in this module.

The long story of ‘’A combination lock should be called a permutation lock.’’

While studying Machine Learning, on edx.org, the instructor uses Gaussian

Distribution to explain the Supervised and Unsupervised learning. The Gaussian Distribution
approximates the Binomial distribution when the occurrence of events is very large and this is
where I actually wanted to understand the difference as the formula for Binomial distribution
contains multiples of a combination of occurrence of an event.

3
 What is It

PERMUTATION VS. COMBINATION

The topic, “Permutation and Combination” is full of enigma. The most spectacular one
is understanding the difference between the two. The difference between permutation and
combination is: a combination lock should be called a permutation lock. Thus, it adds
confusion to the learners.

Permutation and combination were discussed separately in the previous modules. Let
this comparison chart be a tool to recall what transpired in the discussion in the previous
modules.

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR
PERMUTATION COMBINATION
COMPARISON
Permutation refers to the different Combination refers to several ways of
Meaning ways of arranging a set of objects in choosing items from a large set of
a sequential order. objects, such that their order does not
matters.
Order, placement and position are Order, placement and position are
Order relevant. irrelevant.
Arrangement; Permutation denotes Selection; Combination indicates
Denotes several ways to arrange things, different ways of selecting menu
people, digits, alphabets, colors, etc. items, food, clothes, subjects, etc.
Ordered elements; The permutation Unordered sets; Combination implies
What is it? is nothing but an ordered unordered sets or pairing of values
combination. within specific criteria.
Permutation answers How many Combination explains How many
Answers different arrangement can be created different groups can be chosen from a
from a given set of objects? larger group of objects?

4
 Multiple permutation from a single Single combination from a single
Deviation combination. Many permutations can permutation. Only a single
be derived from a single combination. combination can be obtained from a
single permutation.
Choosing a first, second and third Picking Top 10 finalist in no order in a
Example place winners from a Beauty Beauty Pageant.
Pageant.
Number of permutations (order Number of combinations (order does
Formula matters) of n things taken r at a time. not matter) of n things taken r at a
time.
𝑛! 𝑛!
P (n, r) = C (n, r) =
(𝑛−𝑟 )! (𝑛−𝑟 )!𝑟!

The next discussion will focus on carrying out the formulas for permutation and combination.

1. Given: P (10, 3) = _______.

Solution:
n!
P (n, r) =
(n−r)!

= 10!_
(10 – 7)!

= (10)(9)(8)(7)!
(7)!

= (10)(9)(8)

P(10,3) = 720

2. Given: P (n, 3) = 504, find n.

Solution:
n!
P (n, r) =
(n−r)!

n!
504 =
(n−3)!

(n)(n−1)(n−2)(n−3)!
=
(n−3)!

5
 504 = (n)(n-1)(n-2) Think of 3 consecutive factors where the sum is 504.

504 = (9)(8)(7)

Therefore, n= 9.

3. Given: P (7, r) = 840, find r.

Solution:
n!
P (n, r) =
(n−r)!

7!
840 =
(7−r)!

7!
(7 – r)! =
840

= (7)(6)(5)(4)(3)(2)(1)
(7)(6)(5)(4)

= (3)(2)(1)

(7-r)! = 3!

Thus, 7-r = 3

Therefore, r = 4.

4. Given: C (10, 3) = _______.

Solution:
n!
C (n, r) =
(n−r)!r!

10!
C (10, 3) =
(10−3)!3!

10!
=
(7)!3!

(10)(9)³(8)⁴(7)!
=
(7)!(3)(2)(1)

6
 = (10)(3)(4)

C (10, 3) = 120

5. Given: C (n, 4) = 15, find n.

Solution:

n!
C (n, r) =
(n−r)!r!

n!
15 =
(n−4)!4!
Hint:
n! Left side: It is better to retain
(15) (4!) = them as factors and arrange them
(n−4)!
as consecutive numbers.
(n)(n−1)(n−2)(n-3)(n-4)! Right Side: Think of 4
(5)(3)(4)(3)(2)(1) = consecutive factors equal to the
(n-4)!
factors of the left side. Then,
(6)(5)(4)(3) = (n) (n-1) (n-2) (n-3) observe both sides to find the
value of n.
Therefore, n= 6.

6. Given: C (8, r) = 28, find r. How to find the value of r?

Solution: 1. Get the prime factors of 28.
n!
C (n, r) = ( 7, 2, 2 )
(n−r)!r!
2. The smallest prime factor will be
one of the possible value for r. ( r =
8! 2)
C (8, r) =
(8−r)!r! 3. There is another possible value for
8! r, which is n minus smallest prime
28 = factor, thus 8-2=6.
(8−r)!r!
Therefore, r = 2 and r = 6.

Therefore, r = 2 and r = 6.

7
 Check It Out!
If r= 2 If r = 6
28 = 8! _ _ 28 = 8!
(8 – 2)! 2! (8 – 6)! 6!
28 = (8)⁴(7) (6)! 28 = (8)⁴(7)(6)!
(6)! 2! (2)! 6!
28 = (4) (7) 28 = (4) (7)
28 = 28 28 = 28

7. Given: C (11, r) = 165, find r.

Solution: How to find the value of r?
𝑛! 1. Get the prime factors of 165.
C (n, r) =
(n−r)!r! (33, 11, 3)
2. The smallest prime factor will be
11! one of the possible value for r. ( r =
C (11, r) = 3)
(11−r)!r!
3. There is another possible value for
r, which is n minus smallest prime
11! factor, thus
165 =
(11−r)!r! 11-3=8.
Therefore, r = 3 and r = 8.
Therefore, r = 3 and r = 8.

What’s More

Independent Activity 1

Directions: Compare the given expressions. Write <, > or = in each blank. Using a
calculator is a big help. Write the answers in a separate paper.

1. P (7, 2) C (6, 3)
2. P (9,2) C (8, 4)
3. P ( 6, 2) P (7, 3)
4. P (5,3) C (4, 2)
5. P (10,2) C (10, 8)
6. C ( 11, 8) C ( 9, 5)

8
Independent Assessment 1

Directions: There are times that the number of ways of arrangement and selections of
objects is somewhat equal in values. Can you find it? Match each
expression in Column A to its corresponding expression in Column B with
equal values. Write only the letter of your correct answer. Write the
answers in a separate paper.

Column A Column B

_ 1. P (6, 1) a. C (10, 9)
_ 2. P (7, 3) b. C (8, 5)
_ 3. P (7, 1) c. C (4, 2)
_ 4. P 10, 1) d. C (10, 6)
_ 5. P (8, 2) e C (7, 6)

Independent Activity 2

Directions: Evaluate each Permutation. Write the answers in a separate paper.

1. P (9, 3) = x

2. P (n, 2) = 42

3. P (n, 4) =840

4. P (11, r) = 110

5. P (9, r) = 72

Independent Assessment 2

Directions: Evaluate each Combination. Write the answers in a separate paper.

1. C (10, 4) = x 2. C (n, 6) = 28 3. C (n, 8) =165

4. C (7, r) = 21 5. C (15, r) = 455

9
Independent Activity 3

Directions: Solve for x. Write the answers in a separate paper.

7!
1. P (x, 4) =
3!

2. P (x, x-9) = 110

𝑥!
3. C (x, 4) =
3! 4!
𝑥!
4. C (x, 5) =
5! 3!
8!
5. C (8, x) =
6! 2!

Independent Assessment 3

Directions: Where does 9 fit? Which of the equations below have a = 9? Put a check
(/) before the number if 9 fits the value of a and cross (X) if it does not fit.
Write the answers in a separate paper.

1. P (a, 2) = 72

2. P (10, a) = 90

3. C ( a, 5) = 126

4. C (15, a) = 210

5. C ( 10, a) = 10

10
 What I Have Learned

Directions: Describe the differences between permutation and combination. Write

something about permutation and combination by filling out the table below.
Write the answers in a separate paper.

PERMUTATION COMBINATION
Definition Definition

Formula Formula

Example Example

Computations Computations

What I Can Do

Directions: Find the possible value of x. Write the answers in s separate paper.

(𝑥+2)!
1. = 30
𝑥!
2. C (x, x-2) = 45

3. C (9, x) = C (6, x)

4. P (x, x-8) = 90

5. P (x, x-3) = 840

11
 Assessment

Directions: Read and answer each item carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer in a
separate paper.

1. Which of the following situations illustrates permutation?

A. Selecting 3 songs from 8 choices for an audition piece
B. Identifying the lines formed by connecting some given points on a plane
C. Enumerate the subsets of a set
D. Fixing the schedule of a group of students who must take exactly 8 subjects

2. What is C (10, 4)?

A. 3 0 B. 120 C. 210 D. 720

3. If P (7, r) = 840, what is r?

A. 6 B5 C. 4 D. 2

4. If P (n, 3) = 504, then n = _______.

A. 1 2 B. 10 C. 9 D. 8

5. Given a = P (n, n) and b = P (n, n-1), what can be concluded about a and b?
A. a > b B. a < b C. a = b D. a = -b

6. If a = C (5, 2), b = C (5, 3), c = C (5, 4), and d = C (5, 5), and we are given 5 points on a
plane of which no three points are collinear, which expression gives the total number of
polygons that can be drawn?
A. b + c B. a + b + c C. b + c+ d D. a + b + c + d

7. C (x, x) = _______.
A. x B. r C. 1 D. cannot be determined

8. If C (n, r) = 35, which of the following are possible values of n and r?

A. n = 6, r = 4 B. n = 7, r = 3 C. n = 8, r = 3 D. n = 9, r = 2

9. If C (n, 6) = 7, what is n?
A. 1 1 B. 10 C. 9 D. 7

10. If C (12, r) = 792, which of the following is a possible value of r?

A. 8 B. 7 C. 6 D. 5

6!
11. If C (x, 4) = , what is x?
4!2!

12
 A. 6 B. 4 C. 3 D. 2
𝑥!
12. Solve for x: C(x, 5) =
5! 3!

A. 1 0 B. 9 C. 8 D. 7

7!
13. If P (7, x) = , what is x?
3!

A. 8 B. 6 C. 4 D. 2

14. Which of the following has the most number of arrangements?

A. P (7, 3) B. P (11, 3) C. P (10, 2) D. P (8, 4)

15. Which of the following has the most number of selections?

A. C (10, 4) B. C (15, 12) C. C (11, 8) D. C (9, 4)

Additional Activity

Directions: Find the possible value of x. Write the answers in a separate paper.

1. C (9, x) = 84

2. C (x, x-1) = 20

3. C (9, x) = C (6, x)

4. P (x, x-7) = 72

5. P (x, x-4) = 210

13
 14
What I Know Independent Activity 3
1. B 6. D 11. A 1. 7
2. A 7. A 12. C 2. 11
3. D 8. C 13. C 3. 6
4. D 9. B 14. D 4. 8
5. C 10. D 15. B 5. 2
What's In Independent Assessment 3
1. Combination 5. Permutation 1. /
2. Combination 6. Permutation 2. X
3. Combination 7. Combination 3. /
4. Combination 8. Permutation 4. X
5. /
What to Do
Independent Activity 1 What I Have Learned
1. >
2. > Individual answers may vary.
3. <
4. = What I can Do
5. > 1. 4
6. > 2. 10
3. 0
Independent Assessment 1 4. 10
1. c 5. 7
2. d
3. e Assessment
4. a 1. D 6. D 11. A
5. b 2. C 7. C 12. C
3. C 8. B 13. C
Independent Activity 2 4. C 9. D 14. D
1. 504 5. C 10. D 15. B
2. 7
3. 7 Additional Activity
4. 2 1. 6
5. 2 2. 20
3. 0
Independent Assessment 2 4. 9
1. 210 5. 7
2. 8
3. 11
4. 5
5. 12
Answer Key
 References

Callanta, Melvin M. et.al. Mathematics 10 Learner’s Module. Pasig City: Department of

Education. 2015.

Divyanshu, Jimmy May 31, 2017. https://towardsdatascience.com/difference-between-

permutation-and-combination-9e12b6763ee1.

https://mathigon.org/world/Combinatorics

15
 For inquiries or feedback, please write:

Department of Education, Schools Division of Bulacan

Curriculum Implementation Division
Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS)
Capitol Compound, Guinhawa St., City of Malolos, Bulacan
Email Address: [email protected]