Permutation

and
Combination
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Fundamental Principle of Counting
2.1 Product Rule
2.2 Addition Rule
3. Permutations Introduced
4. Special Cases of Permutations
5. Combinations
6. Geometrical arrangements
7. Grouping & Distribution
8. Example Questions
9. Practice Questions
1. Introduction
Permutations and Combinations is one of the
most logical phenomenon of mathematics wherein there
are no formulae to mug up. Rather, it tests your ability
to understand the problem and interpret the situation
logically. It is more of application of common sense.
That is why you will see that most questions can be
solved without actually knowing the techniques of
permutations and combinations.
Before proceeding further, let us quickly define
Factorial!!!
Factorial of a number or n! is the product
of n consecutive natural numbers starting from 1
to n. Factorial word is represented by ‘!’ or ‘L’.
Hence, 4! is 1x2x3x4 = 24.

Note: Factorial of zero or 0!=1

2. Fundamental Principle of Counting

2.1 Product Rule

If one operation can be done in x ways and corresponding to each way of
performing the first operation, a second operation can be performed in y ways, then the
two operations together can be performed in xy ways.
A, B, C and D are four places and a traveller has to go from A to D via B and C.

He can go from A to B in 4 ways and corresponding to each way he can take any one
of the 2 ways to reach C. Hence A to C can be reached in 4×2=8 ways.
Corresponding to each of these 8 ways of reaching C from A, there are 3
ways to reach D and the traveller can choose any one of them.
Hence, A to D can be reached in 4x2x3=24 ways!
Example: A tricolor flag is to be formed having three horizontal
strips of three different colors. 5 colors are available. How many
differently designed flags can be prepared?

Solution:
First strip can be coloured in 5 ways, second strip can be
coloured in any of the remaining 4 colors, and the third strip can
be coloured in any of the remaining 3 colors.
Hence, we can get 5x4x3 = 60 differently designed flags.
2.2 Addition Rule
If there are two operations such that they can be performed independently
in x and y ways respectively, then either of the two jobs can be done in (x + y) ways.
Let us take the example of four places A, B, C and D taken above.

There are 4 different roads from B to A and 2 different roads from B to C. In how many
ways can a person go to A or C from B? The answer is 4+2=6 ways.

Here, the different operations are mutually exclusive. It implies either of the operations is
chosen. in this case we use the word ‘or’ between various operations and the meaning of
‘or’ is addition.
The product rule and the addition rule signify the cases of ‘and’ & ‘or’.
3. Permutation
The arrangements of a given number of things taking some or
all of them at a time are called permutations.

For example, the permutations of three alphabets x, y, z taken two at

a time are xy, xz, yx, yz, zx, zy.

A point to be noted is that arrangement or order is very

important in permutations. Hence xy is distinctly different from yx.
If r things are taken at a time out of a total of n things,
then the total number of permutations is denoted by nPr.

n Pr =n!/(n-r)!
Example 1:
There are 4 boxes. Find the total number of arrangements if we
can arrange only 2 boxes at a time.
Solution:
Out of 4 boxes, we are arranging 2 at a time.
So total number of arrangements possible is 
4P  = 4! / (4-2)! = 4! / 2! = 4x3x2x1 / 2×1  = 12
2
Let us verify. Let us name the boxes A, B, C, D.
Total number of arrangements possible are AB, BC, CD, BA,
BC, BD, CA, CB, CD, DA, DB, DC.

Permutations of n different things taken r at a time

= nPr = n! / (n-r)!
Example 2:
In the above example, what if all the 4 boxes are selected at a
time? How many arrangements are possible then?
Solution:
Total no. of arrangements possible
= 4P4 = 4! / (4-4)! = 4! / 0! = 4! = 4x3x2x1 = 24.

Permutations of n different things taken all at a time = nPn = n!

Example 3:
If out of the 4 boxes, one particular box should always be
selected; then how many arrangements are possible if 3 boxes are
selected at a time?
Solution:
Since one box should always be selected we have to select 3-1
boxes out of 4-1 boxes.
This can be done in 3P2 = 3! / (3-2)! = 3! / 1! = 3x2x1 / 1 = 6
arrangements.
With each of these 6 arrangements our preselected box can be
arranged in 3×6 = 18 ways.

Permutations of n different things taken r at a time, when one

particular thing always occurs = r.(n-1)P(r-1)
Example 4:
How many arrangements are possible if out of the 4 boxes – A, B, C
and D one particular box D is never selected, taken 2 at a time?
Solution:
Since D is never to be selected, we have to take into account A, B and
C.
We can arrange A, B and C taken 2 at a time in 3P2 = 3! / (3-2)! = 3! /
1! = 3x2x1 / 1 = 6 ways. i.e. AB, AC, BA, BC, CA, CB.
So when one particular item is never chosen, we just ignore it and
treat the problem as if that particular item is not present in the total
number of items.

Permutations of n different things taken r at a time when a

particular thing never occurs = (n-1)Pr.
4. Special Cases of Permutations
Reap to Remember:

•With respect to fundamental principle of counting, ‘and’ stands

for multiplication & ‘or’ stands for addition
•nPr= n!/ (n-r)!
•Permutations of n different things taken r at a time
•= nPr = n! / (n-r)
•Permutations of n different things taken all at a time
•= nPn = n!
•Permutations of n different things taken r at a time, when one
particular thing always occurs = r.(n-1)P(r-1)
•Permutations of n different things taken r at a time when a
particular thing never occurs = (n-1)Pr
Example: 5
In in how many ways can the letters of the word WATER be arranged so that
we have a new pattern every time?’
Solution:
This is permutation of n different things taken all at a time which is equal to n!
Hence, total number of different arrangements possible is 5! =120.
or
Another way to look at it is we have 5 places to be occupied by 5 different
letters.
The 1st place can be filled by any of the 5 letters, hence 5 ways. The 2nd place
can be filled by any one of the remaining 4 letters as one letter has already been
fixed at the first place, hence 4 ways. Similarly, the 3rd place can be filled in 3
ways and the 2nd in 2 ways. The 5th place can be filled in only one way as
there is no choice but to fill it by the remaining 1 letter.
So going by the product rule, this can be done in 5x4x3x2x1 = 120 ways.
If out of n things, p are exactly alike of one kind, q exactly alike of second kind
and r exactly alike of third kind and the rest are all different, then the number
of permutations of n things taken all at a time = n! / (p!q!r!)

Example 6:
In how many ways can the letters of the word COMMITTEE can be arranged
i. using all the letters
ii. if all the vowels are together
Solution:
i. Total letters = 9 and identical letters are 2M 2T and 2E.
So total no. of arrangements = 9! / 2!2!2!
ii. Since all vowels must appear together we consider them as one unit. There are
4 vowels- O I E E.
In the group of 4 vowels, the 4 vowels can arrange themselves in 4!/2! ways.
So total no. of words formed = 6!/2! 2! X 4!/2!
Permutations where repetitions are allowed
The number of permutations of n different things taken r at a
time, when each may be repeated any number of times in each
arrangement is nr.

Example 7: 
How many numbers of 5 digits can be formed with the digits 0,1,2,3,4
i. if the digits cannot repeat themselves
ii. if the digits can repeat themselves
Solution:
i.Total no. of numbers formed = 4x4x3x2x1 = 96
ii.total no. of numbers formed = 4x5x5x5x5 = 4×54 =2500
Example 8:
How many different four letter words can be formed (the words need not be meaningful)
using the letters of the word MEDITERRANEAN such that the first letter is E and the last
letter is R?
Solution:
MEDITERRANEAN is 13-letter word.
We have to make 4 letter words that start with an 'E' and end with 'R'.
Therefore, we have to find two more letters from the remaining 11 letters.
•Of the 11 letters, there are 2 Ns, 2Es and 2As and one each of the remaining 5 letters.
•The second and third positions can either have two different letters or can have both as
same letters.
Case 1: When the two letters are different
One has to choose two different letters from the 8 available different choices.
This can be done in 8 * 7 = 56 ways.
Case 2: When the two letters are same
There are 3 options - the two letters can be Ns or Es or As. Therefore, 3 ways.

Total number of possibilities = 56 + 3 = 59

Finding Rank of a Given Word:
RANK OF A WORD IN DICTIONARY!!!

Example: INDIA (With repeating Alphabets)

Alphabetical order - ADIIN
Start with A,
A = 4! / 2! = 12 (Coz there are 2 I’s)
D = 4! / 2! = 12 (Coz there are 2 I’s)
[I]A = 3! = 6
[I]D = 3! = 6
[I]I = 3! = 6
[IN]A = 2! =2
[IND]AI = 1
[IND]IA = 1.
Summing it up gives you the rank
12 + 12 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 46.
Circular permutation:
•The number of circular permutations of n
different things taken all at a time = (n-1)!

•If the clockwise and anticlockwise orders are

not distinguishable, then the number of
permutations = (n-1)! / 2
 5. Combinations
Difference between Permutations and Combinations:

•The very basic difference in permutation and combination is the order

of the objects considered. In combination, the order is not considered
at all while for permutation it is must. So the permutation is the
ordered arrangement while the combination is the unordered
selection.
From the three alphabets A, B and C, the permutation of these
3 letters will be ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CBA and CAB. While the
combination of 3 letters will be just (A, B, C).
•Permutation gives the answer to the number of arrangements while
the combination explains the possible number of selections.
•Permutation of a single combination can be multiple but the
combination of a single permutation is unique (considering all at a
time).
Definition of Combinations:
Combinations is the selection of some or all of a total of n number of things.
Combinations does not deal with the arrangements of the selected things.
If out of n things we have to select r things (1≤r≤n), then the
number of combinations is denoted by  nCr =  n!/r!(n-r)!

Example 9: 
In a class there are 6 boys and 5 girls. In how many ways
can a committee of 2 boys and 2 girls be formed?
Solution: 
2 boys can be selected out of 6 in 6C2 ways.
2 girls can be selected out of 5 in 5C2 ways.
So the selection can be made in 6C2 x 5C2 ways. (Product Rule:
‘and’ stands for multiplication)
Example 10: 
In a class there are 6 boys and 5 girls. A committee of 4 is to be
selected such that it contains at least 1 boy and 1 girl.

Solution: 
There are 3 different possibilities now-
i. 1 boy and 3 girls
ii. 2 boys and 2 girls
iii. 3 boys and 1 girl
In the 1st possibility, total number of combinations =  6C1 x 5C3
In the 2nd possibility, total number of combinations =  6C2 x 5C2
In the 3rd possibility, total number of combinations =  6C3 x 5C1
But only one of the above possibilities will occur; 1st OR 2nd
OR 3rd.
So the total number of required combinations is  6C1 x 5C3 +
 6C2 x 5C2 + 6C3 x 5C1
Some Important Results on Combinations:
nCr = nCn-r                                           (0≤r ≤n)
nC0 = nCn = 1
nCr + nCr-1 = n+1Cr                  
If nCp = nCq , then p = q or p + q = n (p,q € W)
r! x  nCr  = nPr

Restricted Combination:
Number of ways of selecting one or more things from a group
of n distinct things = nC1 + nC2 + nC3 + …… +  nCn  = 2n – 1 .
Number of ways of selecting zero or more things from a group
of n distinct things = nC0 + nC1 + nC2 + nC3 + …… +  nCn  = 2n
 6. Geometrical Combinations
• Number of diagonals of n sided polygon = nc2 – n = n(n−3) / 2
• Number of straight lines formed by n points of which r are
collinear = nc2 – rc2 +1
• Number of triangles formed by n points of which r are
collinear = nc3 – rc3
• With m parallel lines intersected by n parallel lines number of
parallelograms can be formed =
mc * nc = m n(m−1)(n−1) / 4
2 2
7. Grouping and Distribution

The number of ways in which mn different things can be

DIVIDED equally into m groups, each group containing n
things = (mn)!/(n!)m x 1/m!

The number of ways in which mn different things can be

DISTRIBUTED equally into m groups, each group containing
n things = (mn)! / (n!)m

Note: In the distribution, order is important hence the divisible

things can be arranged in m! ways since things are divided into
m groups.
Division of IDENTICAL / SIMILAR items into
Groups

Number of ways in which n identical things can be divided into r

groups, if blank groups are allowed i.e. each can receive zero or
more things (here groups are numbered, i.e., distinct), where
0≤r≤n = (n+r-1)C(r-1)

Number of ways in which n identical things can be divided into r

groups, if blank groups are not allowed i.e. each receives at least
one item (here groups are numbered, i.e., distinct), where 1≤r≤n
= (n-1)C(r-1)
Example 11:
Find the number of even natural numbers which have 3
digits.
(a)450 (b) 900 (c) 500 (d) 499

Solution:
100th place can be filled only by 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 i.e 9
ways as 0 cannot come in that place.
10th place can be occupied by any of the digits from 0 to 9
i.e 10 ways.( as there is no bar on repeating the digits)
Units place can be filled up by one of 0,2,4,6,8 as the
numbers formed have to be even. i.e 5 ways.
Thus there are 9*10*5= 450 even 3 digit numbers
Example 12:
Find the number of ways in which the letters of the
word EPIDEMIC can be arranged?
(a)10080 (b) 0 (c) 1080 (d)958

Solution:
The word EPIDEMIC has 8 letters with 2 E's, and 2 I's.
So the possible number of words = 8!/2!.2!= 8!/4=
10080
Example 13:
7 students are to be accommodated in 5 chairs in a row
so that each chair has only one student and the shortest
student is definitely accommodated in one chair. How
many arrangements are possible?
(a)1600 (b) 2400 (c) 1800 (d) 2000

Solution:
Here n= 7, r= 5, So, the number of possible
arrangements = 5∗ 7−1 ! /7−5 ! = 5∗ 6 !/ 2 ! =
5∗6∗5∗4∗3∗2∗1/2∗1 = 1800
Example 14:
In how many ways can a committee of 3 men and 2 ladies
be appointed from 6 men and 4 ladies?
(a) 60 (b) 120 (c) 240 (d) 180

Solution:
Number of ways of selecting 3 men out of 6 men = 6C3
Number of ways of selecting 2 ladies out of 4 ladies = 4C2
So the number of ways of forming the committee =
6C . 4C = 20*6 = 120
3 2
Example 15:
There are 6 boys and 4 girls in a class. In how many ways can they be
seated in a row so that no 2 girls are together?
(a)720 (b) 604800 (c) 52000 (d) 820

Solution:
Let the 6 boys be 1st seated in a row with space between them as
shown.
( S- space, B- boys)
S1 B1 S2 B2 S3 B3 S4 B4 S5 B5 S6 B6 S7
The boys can be seated in 6! Ways.
As no 2 girls are to be together, they have to be seated in 7 spaces
between the boys.
There are thus 7 spaces to seat the 4 girls.
This can be done in 7P4 ways.
So the required number of ways to seat the 4 girls and 6 boys
= 6! * 7P4 ways = 604800 ways
Practice Questions
1. In how many different ways can the letters of
the word VIKADAKAVI be arranged such
that vowels are not together?
A. 73800
B. 63800
C. 52406
D. 54000

Ans: A
2. What is the value of 32!/29!?
A.29760
B.14689
C.25470
D.29860

Ans: A
3. In how many ways can the letters of the word
INDEPENDENCE can be arranged so that the
consonants come together?
A.6500
B.12600
C.18500
D.9822

Ans: B
4. How many 3 digit numbers can be formed by
using the digits 3,6,9 and how many of these are
even?
A.18,6
B.27,9
C.15,12
D.20,4

Ans: B
5. A department had 8 male and female
employees each. A project team involving 3
male and 3 female members needs to be chosen
from the department employees. How many
different project teams can be chosen?
A.112896
B.3136
C.720
D.112

Ans: B
6. In how many ways can 6 identical rings be
worn on the four fingers of the hand?
A.6C4
B.6C4
C.46
D.64

Ans:C
7. A Joint Politician and Police committee of 5
members is to be formed 4 Politician, 3 male
Police and 5 female Police. How many different
committees can be formed if the committee must
consist of 2 Politician, 1 male Police and 2
female Police?
A.170
B.152
C.180
D.104
Ans: C
8. A college has 10 basketball players. A 5-
member team and a captain will be selected out
of these 10 players. How many different
selections can be made?
A.1260
B.210
C.10C6 × 6!
D.10C5 × 6

Ans: A
9. An eight letter word is formed by using all the letters
of the word EQUATION. How many of these words
begin with a consonant and end with a vowel?
A.3600
B.10800
C.2160
D.720

Ans: C
10. Srinivasan and Praveen are in a horse race
with 6 contestants in total. How many different
arrangements of finishes are there if Praveen
always finishes before Srinivasan and if all the
horses finish the race?
A.700
B.360
C.120
D.24

Ans:B
11. A Professional courier company has three
packages to deliver to three different houses. If
the packages are delivered at random to the three
houses, how many ways are there for at least one
house to get the wrong package?
A.3
B.5
C.3!
D.5!

Ans: B
12. In how many ways can 6 black shoes and 6
brown shoes be arranged such that 2 particular
brown shoes are never to be together?
A.11! × 2!
B.9! × 90
C.110 × 10!
D.18 × 10!

Ans: C
13. In a cricket match, if Afridi scores 0, 1, 2, 3,
4 or 6 runs of a ball, then find the numbers of
different sequences in which he can score exactly
30 runs of an over. Assume that an over consists
of only 6 balls and there were no extra and no
run out.
A.86
B.71
C.56
D.65
Ans: B
14. A IIM-A student is required to answer 6 out
of 10 questions divided into two groups each
containing 5 questions. He is not permitted to
attempt more than 4 from each group. In how
many ways can he make the choice?
A.210
B.150
C.100
D.200

Ans: D
15. While packing for a business trip Mr.Jayasurya has
packed 3 pairs of shoes, 4 pants, 3 half-pants, 6 shirts, 3
sweaters and 2 jackets. The outfit is defined as consisting
of a pair of shoes, a choice of "lower wear" (either a pant
or a half-pant), a choice of "upper wear" (it could be a shirt
or a sweater or both) and finally he may or may not choose
to wear a jacket. How many different outfits are possible?

A.567
B.1821
C.743
D.1701

Ans: D
16. A number lock on a suitcase has 3 wheels
each labeled with 10 digits from 0 to 9. If
opening of the lock is a particular sequence of
three digits with no repeats, how many such
sequences will be possible?
A.720
B.760
C.680
D.780

Ans: A
17. How many lines can be drawn through 21
points on a circle?
A.310
B.210
C.410
D.570

Ans: B
18. A question paper has two parts, part A and
part B, each containing 10 questions. If the
student has to choose 8 from part A and 5 from
part B, in how many ways can he choose the
question?
A.11240
B.12240
C.13240
D.11340

Ans: D
19. How many parallelograms will be formed if
7 parallel horizontal lines intersect 6 parallel
vertical lines?
A.42
B.294
C.315
D.240

Ans: C
20. A polygon has 44 diagonals, then the number
of its sides are:
A.11
B.9
C.7
D.5

Ans: A
21. One red flag, three white flags and two blue
flags are arranged in a line such that: I. No two
adjacent flags are of the same colour and II. The
flags at the two ends of the line are of different
colours. In how many different ways can the
flags be arranged?
A.6
B.4
C.10
D.2

Ans:A
22. How many numbers are there between 100
and 1000 in which all the digits are distinct?
A.548
B.648
C.748
D.848

Ans: B
23. If there are 12 persons in a party, and if each
two of them shake hands with each other, how
many handshakes happen in the party?
A.44
B.66
C.77
D.55

Ans: B
24. If the letters of the word SACHIN are
arranged in all possible ways and these words
are written out as in dictionary, then the word
‘SACHIN’ appears at serial number:
A.601
B.600
C.603
D.602

Ans:A
25. If the letters of the word EARN are arranged
in all possible ways and these words are written
out as in dictionary, then the word ‘NEAR’
appears at serial number:
A.7
B.15
C.20
D.22

Ans: B
Thank you