Permutations and Combinations

In this exercise, you are going to look at a few more examples of counting of objects. Remember that the key
difference between permutations and combinations is that order matters in perrmutations and it doesn't it
combinations.

The exercise is found on Sheet 2. You can get there by clicking on the tab labeled "sheet 2" at the bottom left of the Excel
screen. You will be given the setting of the problem and then, in the yellow box, enter a formula that will correctly
answer the question. On Sheet 3 you will find the correct answers and an explanation. Note that, in Excel, nCr is
entered as combin(n, r) and nPr is denoted permut(n, r). Keep in mind, with a permutation problem, if ALL objects
are chosen you can use factorial and n! is denoted fact(n).

Important functions for this exercise - PERMUT, COMBIN, FACT

ations

s. Remember that the key

tations and it doesn't it

2" at the bottom left of the Excel

er a formula that will correctly
ion. Note that, in Excel, nCr is
utation problem, if ALL objects

You are going to make a 5 letter word out of the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G. (For the purposes of this
exercise, "word" simply means a sequence of letters.) How many different words are possible if
1 letters may not be repeated?
You are going to make a 7 letter word out of the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G. (For the purposes of this
exercise, "word" simply means a sequence of letters.) How many different words are possible if
2 letters may not be repeated?
Out of a group of 20 students, the teacher needs 5 of them to carry some boxes from a room down
3 the hall. How many different groups of students can she choose?
Out of a group of 30 club members, a committee is going to be chosen. The committee will have a
president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and one other member. How many different
4 committees can be chosen?
A class of 24 students will be walking in single file from their classroom to the auditorium. How many
5 different lines of students are possible?
A group of 25 men and 22 women is choosing a group of 5 to run an errand. If three men and two
6 women are to be chosen, how many different groups can be chosen?
7 How many different hands of 5 cards are there in which a player has four jacks?
A full house in cards is three of one rank of cards and a pair of another rank. How many different full
8 houses are possible?
9 How many different hands are possible if a player gets three aces and a pair of some other rank?

ANSWERS

r the purposes of this

ds are possible if

r the purposes of this

ds are possible if

s from a room down

ommittee will have a

any different

uditorium. How many

three men and two

How many different full

some other rank?

1 Order matters, choosing 5 out of a possible 7

2 Order matters, choosing 7 out of a possible 7.
3 Order doesn't matter, choosing 5 out of a possible 20.
Order matters (Dave as president and Mary as vice-president is different from Mary as president and
4 Dave as vice-president), choosing 5 out of a possible 30
5 Order matters, choosing 24 out of 24.

6 Order doesn't matter, 3 men chosen out of 25, 2 women out of 22.
7 All four jacks are chosen, any of the other 48 cards is chosen.
One rank out of 13 is chosen, choosing 3 out of 4 of that rank. A second rank out of the 12
8 remaining is chosen, choosing 2 out of 4 there.
Aces are chosen, choosing 3 out of 4 of that rank. A second rank out of the 12 remaining is chosen,
9 choosing 2 out of 4 there.

ANSWERS
2520
5040
15504

17100720
6.20448401733E+023

531300
48

3744

288

recall that his means

6.204 x 10^23