1.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki Lecrure 5 1.6 Permutations and combinations 1.6.1 Permutations A permutation is the number of possible ways of arranging a given number of objects in order. Now, if independent choices are to be made where there are r; possibilities for the first choice, r2 pos for the second choice, and so on, the the total mumber of choices is ry x rp x --- Th Example(s): 1, In how many ways can the letters A, B and C be arranged in three consecutive positions. Solution Ist position The Ist position can be filled in 3 different ways (we can have either A or B or C). Once the Ist position is filled, 2 letters remain and any of them can be used to fill the 2nd position, So, for cach of the 3 ways of filling the Ist position we have 2 ways of filling the 2nd position. After filling the 1st and 2nd positions, the 3rd position ean be filled in any 1 way as we are left. with only 1 letter. Thus, the total number of distinet arrangements of the three letters is 3x21 = 6 different ways. Each of these 6 arrangements is called a permutation of the letters A,B and C. ‘The six permutations are ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, and CBA. Definition 1.6.1 (The factorial notation). The number of ways of arranging n distinct objects is mx (n= 1) x (m= 2) X +++ K BX 2X1 which is denoted by n! and read as “n factorial”, For example, Sl=5x4x3x2x1=120, d=dx8x2x1= 4, a=3x2x1=6, W=2x By convention: 11=1. is the mmber of ways of arranging one object. O!=1 is the number of ways of arranging zero object. ‘Thus, nt a(n — 1)(n—2)-++3-2-1-0! —+ Note: most caleulators have a key for permntations. Example(s): 1, Evaluate 261.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki ©) om 6 ° a o12! Solution 9 _9x8x7_9x (6) aa Bx BT axe 2x1 (py BL = SxS XA xa 6x5 x4 ay Bixal «3x 2x1 6) pix 2x1 @ 8x7xa 8x7 2. Write 40 = 36 20 x 38 x 37 in factorial notation, Solution 40 x 39 x 38 x 37 x 36x 35x--x 3x21 _ 40! 0X39 x BS XBT BOx 35x xSXDKL 36! 3. How many arrangements are there for 2 objects chosen from 4 distinct objects? Solution There are 4 ways of filling the Ist position. Once the Ist position is filled, three objects remain. Thus, there are 3 ways of filling the 2nd position. Therefore, the number of arrangements of two objects chosen from four di FE Go aT ~ 20 the mmber of arrangements of two objects from five Similarly, 5 4 distinct objects. Also, ; = 60 is the number of arrangements of three objects from five distinct objects. Dofinition 1.6.2. The number of permutations/arrangements of r objects chosen from n distinct objects is given by j @-7 ”P. and és read as “n permutation Example(s): 1, (a) Suppose that 7 people enter a swim meet. Assuming that there are no ties, in how many ways could the gold, silver, and bronze medals be awarded? Solution Gold | Silver | Bronze 7 6 5 THO x5 KM 75 = 210 ways 71.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki (b) In a lottery, a total of 1000 tickets were sold. Determine the number of ways of obtaining winners of the Ist, 2nd and 3rd prizes if three tickets are drawn one after the other. Solution Ist_| 2nd | 3rd To00 [999 | 998 1000! 1000 x 999 x 998 x 997 1000, Ps G00 = ay > = 1000 x 999 x 998 = 997002000 ways. 2, Five letter words are formed from the letters of the word INCOMPUTABLE. How many of these words have no repeated letters? Solution 12) _ 12x xx 9x8x7 (2-5)! 7 =p, 12. 11 10 x 9 x 8 = 95040 ways 3. (a) Find how many different arrangements of 12 letters can be obtained from the letters of the word SPEEDOMETERS Solution If the 12 letters are all different, there could be 12! different arrangements. In any of these arrangements, the two S's can be arranged in 2! = 2 ways without altering the appearance of the letters in the given arrangement. Similarly, the four E's can be arranged in 4! = 24 ways without altering the appearance of the letters in an arrangement. ‘This in turn implies ment, there can be 2! x 4! = 48 arrangements without altering the appearance of the letters of the given arrangement. Since the two S's and four E’s are alike, these are gigi = 2979200 arrangements In general, if we have n objects of which ry of the first kind are alike, r2 of the second kind are alike,---, ry of the kth kind are alike, then the total number of distinct permutations is, ! Py x ral x x Ty (b) Determine the number of permutations of the letters of the words (i) ASSIGNMENT (ii) ASSASSINATION (ii) MISSISSIPPI (iv) FUNDAMENTALISM (v) INTERCOMMUNICATION (©) In how many ways can 5 blue beads, 4 green beads, 2 red beads and 1 white bead be arranged in a row if beads of the same color are indistinguishable, ans: 83,160 ways] 4, How many different 7-digit telephone numbers are possible if the first digit cannot be zero and no digit may repeat? Solution Our number system consists of 10 digits, which are {0,1,2,3.4,5,6,7,8, and 9}. Since the first digit cannot be a zero, then there are 9 choices for the first digit, 9 choices for the second since a zero can be used and no digits may repeat, 8 choices for the third digit, 7 choices for the fourth digit, and soon. Thus, there are[ 9 [9 | 8 [7 [6 [5 | 4 9x9x8x7x6x5x4=544,320 possible telephone numbers. 28,1.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki 5. How many even numbers, greater that 50000, can be formed using the digits 0.3,4,5,6,7 (a) without replacement: (b) if repetitions are allowed Solution The number can have either 5 or 6 digits and cannot begin with zero. (a) If there is no repetition, the problem is split up into four eases: i) Numbers with 5 digits, the ten thousand’s (T Th) digit being even > 5 TTh|Th]A[TIO 1 [4/3/.2[2 ii) Numbers with 5 digits, the T'Th digit being odd > 5 TTh] Th[H| TIO 2 [4 ]3]2]3 Numbers with 6 digits, the H'Th digit being even. HTh[TTh[ Th] H|T]O p z FP a Pa Pra] = 2X4 x 8x2 x 1 x2 = 96 possibilities iv) Numbers with 6 digits, the H Th digit being odd. Hh [Th [mh] A|T]O =3x4x3x2x1x3= ssibiliti oe tata a8 tx 1x 3 = 216 possibilities Therefore, there are 48+ 141 + 96 +216 = 504 possible numbers. =1x4x3x 2% 2=48 possibilities x 4x 3x 2% 3 = 14 possibilities (b) If repetition is allowed, we have two cases to consider: i) Numbers with 5 digits, T Th digit > 5 TTh|Th/A| TO 3 [6 [6 6l3 Numbers with 6 digits HTh|TTH|TH|H[TIO]_, _ ni Bye pe 6 eT a = 2X OX 6X Gx 6 x 3= 19440 possibilities Therefore, there are 1944 + 19440 = 21384 possible numbers. 6. A man dines at the same hotel for three consecutive days and the menu each day is one of any 4 types of goat dish, or 2 types of chicken dish or 1 type of vegetarian dish. In how many ways can he arrange his lmehes over the three days if he doesn’t have a goat dish two days running nor repeat any dish. =3x6x 6x6 x3= 1944 possibilities Solution We have four cases to consider i) Goat dish on the first day: Day T Day 2 Day 3 (Goat dish) | (Other dish) | (Any remaining dish) |= 4 x 3 x 5 = 60 ways 4 3 5 Goat dish on the second day: Day! | Day 2 Day 3 (Other dish) | (Goat) | (Any of the two remaining other) |= 3 x 4 3 4 2 iii) Goat dish on the third day: Day T Day 2 Day 3 (Other dish) | (Any of the two remaining other) | (Goat) |=3 x 2x4 = 24 ways 3 2 4 iv) No goat di 291.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 (Other dish) | (Any of the two remaining other dishes) | (Single remaining other di 3 2 T XIXTSO ways Therefore, there are 60 + 24+ 24+6 = 114 ways. Exercise: 1, How many odd numbers greater than 500,000 can be made from the digits 2,3,4,5,6,7. (a) without repetition. [ans: 168 ways] (b) if repetition is allowed, ans: 11,664 ways] 2. How many odd numbers greater than 70,000 can be formed using the digits 0,1,4,7,8,9. (a) without repetition. fans: 456 ways] (b) if repetitions are allowed. fans: 21,384 ways] 3, In how many ways can 8 people be scattered at a round table? [ans: 7! = 5040] 4, How many arrangements of the letters of the word BEGIN are there which start with a vowel, without repetition? fans: 48 ways] In how many ways can 5 boys and 4 girls be arranged on a bench if boys and girls alternate? [ans: 5! x 4! = 2880 ways] 6. How many arrangements of the letters of the word REMAND are possible if (a) they begin with RE? [ans: 1! x 4! = 24 ways] (b) they don’t begin with RE? fans: 6! — 24 = 696 ways] 7. How many numbers between 10 and 300 can be made from the digits 1,2,3 if (a) each digit may be used only once. [ans: 10 numbers) (b) digit may be used more than once. fans: 27 numbers) 8, Five letters from the word DRILLING are to be arranged in a row. Find the number of ways in which this can be done when the first letter is I and the last letter is L. (a) if no letter may be repeated. [ans: 24 ways] (b) if each letter may occur as many times as it does in DRILLING. [ans: 120 ways] 9. In how many ways can two mathematics books and 4 physics books be arranged in a shelf if (a) the mathematics books must be placed next to each other. [ams: 21 x 5! = 240 ways] (b) the mathematies books must NOT be placed next to each other. [ans: 6! — 240 = 480 ways] 1.6.2 Combinations In permutations, the order in which objects are chosen in important. However, in some cases, the order of selection is irrelevant. When the selection of objects is made randomly with no regard being paid to the order, it is referred to as a combination. Thus, ABC, ACB, BAC are different permutations but they are the same combination of letters, Example(s): 301.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki 1. How many different committees of 3 people can be chosen to work on a special project from a group of 5 people? A,B,C,D and E? Solution ‘There are 10 possible combinations of the committees of 3 people chosen from a group of 5 people: ABC, ABD, ABE, ACD, AEC, ADE, BCD, BCE, BDE, and CDE. Thus, there are 10 ways of selecting the project group. — Note: On the other hand, there are 5P; = 60 permutations of 3 objects from 5 distinct objects. In general, the number of combinations/selections of r objects from n available objects can be found as follows: nt # there are TF permutations of r objects chosen from n distinct objects, ‘* but each combination of r objects can be arranged in r! ways, therefore, the number of permutations r! x (the number of combinations) nt hey Ty = 1x (the number of combinations) ji nl ¢ 80 the total amber of combinations/selections is "7 written as » n nl eve (\)= ps —+ Note: most calculators have a key for combinations, Example(s): 1. Five policemen are to be selected for duty from a force of 20. In how many ways can this be done if (a) there is no restriction? (b) it has already been decided that a certain person must be on duty? Solution (a) @o— sy ~ Tost = (b) The problem has been reduced to se ecting 4 more policemen from the remaining 19 gat ay 388. The ae 86 policemen. Thus, we have Cy of selecting the policemen for duty. A mixed hokey team containing 5 men and 6 women is to be chosen from 7 men and 9 women. In how many ways can this be done? Solution Five men can be chosen from 7 men in "C, ways and 6 women can be chosen from 9 women in "Cg ways. For each of the 7C ways of selecting men, there are °C ways of selecting women. Therefore, the total number of selecting the team is 7 a (7-5)! * @=6)lel — 25t 70s x9 Cg = Bigt = 21 * 84 = 1764 ways 311.6 Permutations and combinations @Bric Nyariki 3. A person wants to invite 8 friends but there is only room for 4 of them. In how many ways can the four to be invited be chosen if two of the eight are twins and must not be separated? Solution There are two cases to consider i) The twins are invited: thns, we have to choose 2 out of the remaining 6 in °C = 15 ways fi) The twins are left out: thus, we have to choose 4 out of the remaining 6 in °C, = 15 ways Therefore, the total number of ways is 15 + 15 = 30. 4, Nine people are going to travel in two taxi. The larger has 5 seats and the smaller has 4 seats, In how many ways can the party be split? Solution Once the group of 5 has been selected, then the remaining 4 people will automatically comprise the other group. Thus, we have to select 5 from 9 in °C; = 126 ways. 5. Five books are to be selected from 20 books of which 8 are paperback and 12 are hardback. How many selections are possible if at least one paperback book has to be included? Solution # If there is no restriction, we have °C = 15,504 ways of selecting the 5 books # If only hardback books are selected, we have '*C; = 792 ways of selecting the 5 books Therefore, the number of ways of selecting at least one paperback book is 15, 504—792 = 14,712. Exercise: 1. A committee of six is to be formed from nine women and three men, In how many ways can the members be chosen so as to inelude at east one man? fans: 840 ways} 2. A committee of ten is to be formed from nine men and six women. In how many ways can it be formed if at least four women are to be in the committee? fans: 2142 ways] 3. In how many ways can a class of 20 children be split into two groups of 8 members and 12 members, respectively if there are two twins in the class who must not be separated fans: 18C +18 Cy = 62,322 ways] 4, Nine players are available to play for a table tennis team of 4 players. In how many ways can the team be selected if 2 of the players are brothers and must either both be included or both be exelnded and if 2 other players have recently quarreled and should not both play in a team? fans: 45 ways] 32