Combinatorics

and Probability
Math 100: Mathematics in the Modern World with Biostatistics
Instructor: Merab A. Salio-an, LPT
Combinatorics
 Combinatorics
the field of
mathematics concerned
with problems of selection,
arrangement, and operation

Combinatorics is the study

of counting the different
outcomes/configurations of
some task.
 If a coin is flipped, the side
facing upward will either be a
head or a tail. The outcomes can
be listed as {H, T}.

If a regular six-sided die is rolled,

the possible outcomes are
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
The Counting Principle

Permutations and
Combinations

Probability and Odds

Permutations
Suppose four different colored
squares are arranged in a row. 1st square: four choices
How many different ways are
there to order the colors? 2nd square: three choices

3rd square: two choices

By the counting principle, there
are: 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24 different
4th square: one choice
arrangements of the four
squares.
PGYB YBPG
PGBY YBGP
PYGB YPGB 1st square: four choices
PYBG YPBG
PBGY YGBP 2nd square: three choices
PBYG YGPB
GYBP BPGY 3rd square: two choices
GYPB BPYG
GBPY BGYP 4th square: one choice
GBYP BGPY
GPYB BYPG
GPBY BYGP
Suppose four different colored
squares are arranged in a row.
How many different ways are 1st square: four choices
there to order the colors?
2nd square: three choices

Note from this example that the

3rd square: two choices
number of arrangements equals the
product of the natural numbers n
through 1, where n is the number of 4th square: one choice
objects. This product is called a
factorial.
 n Factorial
n factorial is the product of the natural numbers n through
1 and is symbolized by n!.
n! = n x (n-1) x (n-2) ...

Examples:
5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120
9! = 9 x 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 362 880

Zero Factorial = 𝟎! = 𝟏
 Simplifying Factorials
9!
Evaluate: a. 5! − 3! b.
6!

a. 5! − 3! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 − 3 × 2 × 1 = 120 − 6 = 𝟏𝟏𝟒

9! 9×8×7×6!
b. = = 9 × 8 × 7 = 𝟓𝟎𝟒
6! 6!
 Permutation
an arrangement of objects in a definite order

Examples:
abc and cba are two different permutations of the letters a, b, and c

122 and 212 are two different permutations of the digits 1 and 2

The counting principle is used to count the number of

different permutations of any set of objects.
PGYB YBPG
By the counting principle, there are:
PGBY YBGP
4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24 different
PYGB YPGB
arrangements of the four squares.
PYBG YPBG
PBGY YGBP
PBYG YGPB
GYBP BPGY
GYPB BPYG
GBPY BGYP
GBYP BGPY
GPYB BYPG
GPBY BYGP
 Permutation of Distinct Objects
Distinct vs. Not distinct
the objects a, b, c, d are distinct
the objects ♥♥♠♦ are not all distinct

The number of permutations of 𝒏 distinct objects

selected 𝒌 at a time is:

𝒏!
𝑷 𝒏, 𝒌 =
𝒏−𝒌 !
 Sample Problem 1
Suppose that you have a playlist that consists of six songs but you have
time to listen to only four of the songs.

You could choose any one of the six songs to play first.
Then, any one of the five remaining songs to play second.
Then, any one of the four remaining four songs to play third.
And any of the remaining three songs to play fourth.

By the counting principle, there are 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 = 360 permutations in

which the songs could be played.
 Solution:
𝒏!
𝑷 𝒏, 𝒌 =
𝒏−𝒌 !
Suppose that you have a playlist
that consists of six songs but you
have time to listen to only four of 𝟔!
𝑷 𝟔, 𝟒 =
the songs. 𝟔−𝟒 !

𝟔!
=
𝟐 !
n=6
k=4 𝟕𝟐𝟎
=
𝟐

= 360
 Sample Problem 2
If there are eight people in a race, how many possible ways can the top
three finishers be determined, assuming there are no ties?

Any of the eight runners can be first.

There are seven runners that can finish second.
And there are six runners that can finish third.

By the counting principle, there are: 8 × 7 × 6 = 336 possible ways the

top three finishers can be determined.
 Solution:
𝒏!
𝑷 𝒏, 𝒌 =
If there are eight people in a 𝒏−𝒌 !
race, how many possible ways
can the top three finishers be 𝟖!
𝑷 𝟖, 𝟑 =
determined, assuming there 𝟖−𝟑 !
are no ties?
𝟖!
=
𝟓 !

n=8 𝟒𝟎 𝟑𝟐𝟎
k=3 =
𝟏𝟐𝟎

= 336
 Sample Problem 3
Solution
𝒏!
𝑷 𝒏, 𝒌 =
There were 42 cars entered in the 𝒏−𝒌 !
2004 Daytona 500 NASCAR race. 𝟒𝟐!
How many different ways could 𝑷 𝟒𝟐, 𝟑 =
𝟒𝟐 − 𝟑 !
first, second, and third places be
awarded? 𝟒𝟐!
=
𝟑𝟗!
𝟒𝟐 × 𝟒𝟏 × 𝟒𝟎 × 𝟑𝟗!
=
𝟑𝟗!
n = 42
= 𝟒𝟐 × 𝟒𝟏 × 𝟒𝟎
k=3
= 𝟔𝟖, 𝟖𝟖𝟎
 Permutation of Identical Objects
The number of distinguishable permutations of 𝒏
objects of 𝒓 different types, where 𝒌𝟏 identical objects are
of one type, 𝒌𝟐 of another, and so on, is given by

𝒏!
𝒌𝟏 ! ∙ 𝒌𝟐 ! ∙ ⋯ ∙ 𝒌𝒓 !

where 𝒌𝟏 + 𝒌𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝒌𝒓 = 𝒏.
 Sample Problem 1
If seven identical dice are rolled, find the number of ways two 4’s, one 5, and
four 6’s can appear on the upward faces.
Solution:
We are looking for the number of permutations of the digits 4456666.
n = 7 (number of dice)
k1 = 2(number of 4’s)
k2 = 1 (number of 5’s)
k3 = 4 (number of 6’s)
𝒏!
P=
𝒌𝟏 !∙𝒌𝟐 !∙⋯∙𝒌𝒓 !

𝟕!
P= = 𝟏𝟎𝟓
𝟐!×𝟏!×𝟒!

There are 105 permutations of the dice.

 Sample Problem 2
How many times can you arrange the letters of the word BANANA?
Solution:
We are looking for the number of permutations of the letters B, A and N.
n = 6 (number of letters in the word banana)
k1 = 1(number of B in the word banana)
k2 = 3 (number of A in the word banana)
k3 = 2 (number of N in the word banana)

𝒏!
P=
𝒌𝟏 !∙𝒌𝟐 !∙⋯∙𝒌𝒓 !

𝟔!
P= = 𝟔𝟎
𝟏!×𝟑!×𝟐!

There are 60 possible arrangements.

 Circular Permutation
𝒏−𝟏 !

In how many ways can 5 boys line up in a row?

𝑷 𝟓, 𝟓 = 𝟓! = 𝟏𝟐𝟎

In how many ways can 5 boys sit in a circular table?

P 𝟓 − 𝟏 ! = 𝟒! = 𝟐𝟒
Combinations
For some arrangements of objects, the order of the arrangement is important.
These are permutations.

A telephone extension is 2537 (the digits must be dialed in exactly that

order)

If you were to receive a

one peso coin, a five peso coin, and a ten peso coin, you would have P16
regardless of the order in which you received the coins.

A combination is a collection of objects for which the order is not important.

The three-letter sequences acb and bca are different permutations but
the same combination.
 Combination
The number of combinations of 𝒏 objects chosen 𝒌 at a time is:

𝑷(𝒏, 𝒌) 𝒏!
𝑪 𝒏, 𝒌 = =
𝒌! 𝒌! 𝒏 − 𝒌 !
 Counting Using the Combination Formula
Sample Problem 1 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
𝒏!
A basketball team consists of 𝑪 𝒏, 𝒌 =
𝒌! 𝒏 − 𝒌 !
11 players. In how many
ways can a coach choose the
five starting players,
𝟏𝟏!
𝑪 𝟏𝟏, 𝟓 =
assuming the position of a 𝟓! 𝟏𝟏 − 𝟓 !
player is not considered?
𝟏𝟏!
=
𝟓! 𝟔!
n = 11
k=5 = 𝟒𝟔𝟐
 Sample Problem 2
A committee of five is chosen from five 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
engineers and six nurses. How many 𝑪 𝟓, 𝟐 𝒙 𝑪 𝟔, 𝟑
different committees are possible if the
committee must include two engineers 𝟓! 𝟔!
and three nurses? = x
𝟐! 𝟓−𝟐 ! 𝟑! 𝟔−𝟑 !

𝟓! 𝟔!
There are five engineers from whom two = x
𝟐! 𝟑! 𝟑! 𝟑!
are chosen, which is equivalent to C(5, 2)
combinations. There are six nurses from
whom three are chosen, which is = 10 x 20
equivalent to C (6, 3) combinations.
= 200
 Sample Problem 3
𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
A softball team consists of 16 𝒏!
𝑪 𝒏, 𝒌 =
players. In how many ways can 𝒌! 𝒏 − 𝒌 !
a coach choose the 9 starting
players? (Assume the position 𝟏𝟔!
of a player is not considered.) 𝑪 𝟏𝟔, 𝟗 =
𝟗! 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟗 !

n = 16 𝟏𝟔!
=
k=9 𝟗! 𝟕!

= 𝟏𝟏 𝟒𝟒𝟎
Sample Problem 4: Problem with cards

From a standard deck of playing cars, five

cards are chosen. How many five-card
combinations contain:

a. two kings and three queens?

b. five hearts?
 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
From a standard deck of playing 𝑪 𝟒, 𝟐 𝒙 𝑪 𝟒, 𝟑
cards, five cards are chosen. How
𝟒! 𝟒!
many five-card combinations contain = x
𝟐! 𝟒−𝟐 ! 𝟑! 𝟒−𝟑 !
a. two kings and three queens?
𝟒! 𝟒!
= x
𝟐! 𝟐! 𝟑! 𝟏!

There are C (4, 2) ways of choosing two =6x4

kings from four kings and C (4, 3) ways
of choosing three queens from four
queens. = 24
 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
From a standard deck of 𝒏!
playing cars, five cards are chosen. 𝑪 𝒏, 𝒌 =
How many five-card combinations 𝒌! 𝒏 − 𝒌 !
contain
𝟏𝟑!
b. five hearts? 𝑪 𝟏𝟑, 𝟓 =
𝟓! 𝟏𝟑 − 𝟓 !

n = 13 𝟏𝟑!
=
k=5 𝟓! 𝟖!

= 1,287
Probability
and Odds
 In the Philippines, the likelihood
of selecting the winning lottery
numbers in Lotto is approximately
1 in 5,245,786.

In contrast, the likelihood of

being struck by lightning is about
1 chance in 1,000,000.

You are more likely to be struck

by lightning than to pick the
winning Philippine lottery
numbers.
 Probability of an Event
The likelihood of the occurrence of a particular event is
called the probability of the event.

An event that is not very likely has a probability close to 0; an

event that is very likely has a probability close to 1 (100%). Because
any event has from a 0% to 100% chance of occurring,
probabilities are always between 0 and 1, inclusive. If an event
must occur, its probability is 1. If an event cannot occur, its
probability is 0.
Definition of Terms
Experiment - an activity with an
observable outcome

Sample Space - the set of all possible

outcomes of an experiment

Event - one or more of the possible

outcomes of an experiment
 If a coin is flipped, the side
facing upward will either be a
head or a tail. The outcomes can
be listed as {H, T}.

Experiment: Flipping of the coin

Sample Space: {H, T} If a regular six-sided die is rolled,
Event: H or T the possible outcomes are
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Experiment: Rolling a die

Sample Space: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Event:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
 Probability of an Event
For an experiment with sample space Ω of equally likely
outcomes, the probability 𝑷(𝑬) of an event 𝑬 is given by:

𝒏 𝑬 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝑬
𝑷 𝑬 = =
𝒏(𝛀) 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 Ω
 Sample Problem 1
If a regular six-sided die is rolled, what is the probability
that an even number will result?

Sample space: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Event 1: {2, 4, 6}

P (E1) = 3/6 = 0.5 = 50%

 Sample Problem 2
A fair coin—one for which it is equally likely that heads or
tails will result from a single toss—is tossed twice. What is the
probability that one head and one tail will result?

Sample space: {HH, HT, TH, TT}

Event 2: {HT, TH}

P (E2) = 2/4 = 0.5 = 50%

 Sample Problem 3
A fair coin—one for which it is equally likely that heads or
tails will result from a single toss—is tossed three times. What is
the probability that two heads and one tail will result?

Sample space: {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT}

Event 2: {HHT, HTH, THH}

P (E2) = 3/8 = 0.375 = 37.5%

 Sample Problem 4
Two fair dice are tossed, one after the other. What is the probability
that the sum of the pips on the upward faces of the two dice equals 8?

P (E2) = 5/36 = 0.139 = 13.9%

 Empirical Probability
a probability based on data gathered from an experiment

𝒏 𝑬 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝑬 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝

𝑷 𝑬 = =
𝒏(𝛀) 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝
 Sample Problem 1
A survey of the COMELEC in City Ta Hi Meek showed the following
information on the ages and party affiliations of registered voters.

AGES OPPOSITION LIBERAL NEUTRAL TOTAL

18-28 150 180 90 420
29-38 300 220 80 600
If one voter is chosen from the
39-49 280 100 120 500 survey, what is the probability
50+ 200 250 150 600 that the voter is on the neutral
TOTAL 930 750 440 2 020 side?
P = 440/2 120 = 0.208
= 20.8%
 Sample Problem 2
A survey of the COMELEC in City Ta Hi Meek showed the following
information on the ages and party affiliations of registered voters.

AGES OPPOSITION LIBERAL NEUTRAL TOTAL

18-28 150 180 90 420
29-38 300 220 80 600
If one voter is chosen from
39-49 280 100 120 500 the survey, what is the
50+ 200 250 150 600 probability that the voter is
TOTAL 930 750 440 2 120 between the ages 29-38?
P = 600/2 120 = 0.283
= 28.3%
 Odds of an Event
Involves favorable and unfavorable outcomes

Let E be an event in a sample space of equally likely outcomes. Then:

number of favorable outcomes

Odds 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫 of E =
number of unfavorable outcomes

number of unfavorable outcomes

Odds 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 E =
number of favorable outcomes
 Sample Problem 1
If a regular six-sided die is rolled, what are the odds that a
number greater than 4 will result?

Sample space: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Favorable: {5, 6}

Unfavorable: {1, 2, 3, 4}

Odds in favor of E = 2/4 = 0.5 = 50%

 Sample Problem 2
A fair coin—one for which it is equally likely that heads or
tails will result from a single toss—is tossed three times. What
are the odds that two heads and one tail will result?

Sample space: {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, TTH, TTT}
Favorable: {HHT, HTH, THH}
Unfavorable: {HHH, HTT, THT, TTH, TTT}

Odds in favor of E = 3/5 = 0.6 = 60%