CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

PERMUTATION

 Factorial notation (!)

- 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120
- 0! = 1

 Permutation

- Arrangement of a group of objects

- The order of the objects is important
- E.g.: 𝐴𝐵𝐶 and 𝐶𝐵𝐴 is considered as different permutations.

𝑛 𝑛!
- The number of permutations of 𝑟 events from 𝑛 events = 𝑃𝑟 = (𝑛−𝑟)!

 Multiplication rule

- If an event can occur in 𝑚 ways and another event can occur in 𝑛 ways, then there are 𝑚 × 𝑛 likely ways to perform the
two events successively
- E.g.: Elizabeth has 3 shirts and 2 skirts, she has (3 × 2) = 6 ways in pairing them.

 Sum rule

- If one event can occur in 𝑚 ways or in another 𝑛 ways, then there are 𝑚 + 𝑛 possible ways for it to happen.
- E.g.: There are 3 different paths linking John’s house and his school. One day, he found two other secret paths. Hence,
there are in total (3 + 2) = 5 different roads for him to travel to his school.

A.
1. Find the number of ways to arrange the letters 𝑆, 𝑀, 𝐴, 𝑅, 𝑇 2. How many ways can the letters in the word 𝐻𝑂𝑈𝑆𝐸 be
arranged?

3. How many ways can the letters in the word 𝑃𝑈𝑇𝐸𝑅𝐼 be 4. How many ways can the letters in the word 𝑀𝐸𝑊𝐴𝐻 be
arranged? arranged?

5. How many odd numbers with 4 digits can be formed from the 6. How many five digits numbers more than 40 000 can be
digits 2, 3, 4 and 7? formed from the digits 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 without repetition?

7. In how many ways can the letters in the word 𝐽𝐴𝑆𝑉𝐸𝑁 can be 8. How many 4 digits number less than 5000 can be formed from
arranged in a row so that the arrangement does not end with the digit 2, 3, 5 and 7 without repetition?
the letter 𝐴.
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

9. How many ways can a 4 digits number be formed using the 10. There are 10 books on a shelf. How many ways can 4 of them
digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 if there is no repetition allowed? be arranged in a row?

11. How many ways can 5 letters from the word 𝐶𝑂𝑀𝑃𝑈𝑇𝐸𝑅 be 12. In how many ways can 7 boys be arranged in a row if there are
arranged? 9 boys altogether?

13. How many different 5 digits even numbers can be formed 14. In how many ways can 6 students be arranged in a row if the
using the digits 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 without repetition? How many shortest and the tallest must be
of these are greater than 60 000? (i) At the ends
(ii) Next to each other?

15. Find the numbers of ways in which the letters of the words 16. 2 boys, 2 girls and a teacher are arranged in a row for a
𝐼𝑀𝐴𝐺𝐸𝑆 can be arranged. How many of these ceremony. Find the number of all possible ways to arrange this
(i) Begin with 𝑆 if the teacher must be between the girls.
(ii) End with 𝐸
(iii) Begins with 𝑆 and end with 𝐸

17. Find the number of ways to arrange 4 Mathematics books and Answers:
3 Science books which are all different in such a way that the
Mathematics books must be arranged together. 1. 120 11. 6720
2. 120 12. 181440
3. 720 13. 48 , 36
4. 120 14. 48 , 240
5. 12 15. 720 , 120 , 120 , 24
6. 72 16. 12
7. 600 17. 576
8. 12
9. 360
10. 5040
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

COMBINATION

 Combination

- Selection of a group of objects without regard to their arrangement

- E.g.: 𝐴𝐵𝐶 and 𝐶𝐵𝐴 is considered as same combination.

𝑛 𝑛!
- The number of combinations of 𝑟 events from 𝑛 events = 𝐶𝑟 = (𝑛−𝑟)!𝑟!

B.
1. Find the number of ways of selecting 3 cards out of 10 cards 2. Find the number of ways of choosing 4 boys from 8 boys to go
for a concert.

3. A committee of parent-teacher association is made up of 6
people chosen from 7 parents, 4 teachers and a principal. In
how many ways can a committee be formed if it
(a) Contains the principal
(b) Contains exactly 3 parents
(c) Most not have more than 3 parents
4. The school prefects consist of 10 students. These students are
chosen from 12 monitors and 10 assistant monitors. Calculate
the number of ways to choose the prefects if
(a) There is no restriction
(b) The school prefects contain at least 8 monitors

5. A committee is made up of 5 people to be chosen from 3 men 6.

and 6 women. Find the number of ways to form the committee
if
(a) It consists of 2 men only
(b) It consists of more men than women
The diagram shows two lines containing 4 points and 5 points
respectively. Find the number of different triangles that can be
formed using the points given.

7. A canteen serves 8 types of food for lunch. A customer can Answers:

choose from 1 to 3 types of food for a certain price. Find the
number of different choices he can make with that process. 1. 120
2. 70
3. 462 , 350 , 462
4. 646 646 , 24 541
5. 60 , 15
6. 70
7. 92
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION
1. Five letters from the word 𝐹𝐴𝑀𝐼𝐿𝑌 are to be arranged in a
row. Find the number of ways of arranging them if each
arrangement cannot contain the letter 𝑀.
3. Find the number of ways of arranging all the letters in the
word 𝑆𝐼𝑋𝑇𝑌 if the letter 𝑌 is to be in the middle.
5. Find the number of three-digit odd numbers that can be
formed by using the digits 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 without repetition.
7. 0, 1, 2, 3
The diagram above shows a programmable safety number
which is made up of four digits. Each digit used is from 0 to 9.
Suppose a man wants to programme a number such that none
of the digits are the same, how many of such numbers can be
programmed?
2. The letters of the word 𝑀𝐴𝑇𝑅𝐼𝐶𝐸𝑆 are to be arranged in a
row. If the consonants must be arranged together, find the
number of possible arrangements.
4. Three perfects, two presidents of a clubs and a teacher are
required to stand in a row for a photo session. How many
ways can they be arranged if the teacher must stand between
the two presidents.
6. Five girls are to be arranged in a row. Find the number of ways
of arranging them if the tallest and the shortest girl
(a) Must be at the either end of the row
(b) Must not be at either end of the row
8. Four letters are chosen from the word 𝑄𝑈𝐸𝑆𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁. Calculate
the number of different ways in which the 4 letters can be
chosen if
(a) There is no restriction
(b) Each selection must contains the letter 𝐸
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

9. A school’s elocution contest team consists of 4 students. These
4 students are chosen from 5 Form five students and 6 Form
four students. Find the number of different teams that can be
formed if
(a) There is no restriction
(b) Only 1 Form five student is chosen
10. There are 7 points in a plane where no 3 points are collinear.
Find the number of
(a) Triangles that can be drawn by joining any 3 points
(b) Lines that can be drawn by joining any 2 points.

11. A school musical band consists of 5 players. They are selected
from 3 drummers, 5 guitarists and 4 singers. Find the number
of different selections that can be made if the band consists of
(a) 1 drummer, 3 guitarists and 1 singer.
(b) 1 drummer and at least 2 guitarists.
12. In Rose wardrobe, there are 5 blouses and 6 skirts,
(a) In how many ways can Rose match a blouse to a skirt if
there is no restriction?
(b) If there are 2 black skirts and 1 black blouse that cannot
be worn together, calculate the number of ways she can
match a blouse to a skirt for her dressing.

13. A committee of 5 people is to be chosen from 6 men and 7
women. Find the number of ways of choosing them if
(a) There is no restriction
(b) It must consist of at most 2 women
14. There are two shelves to put 7 items for display. The first shelf
can accommodate 4 items while the second can accommodate
3. Find the number of ways of selecting the items to be
displayed if
(a) If there is no restriction
(b) Two of the items must be displayed on the same shelf.

1. 120 3. 24 5. 24 7. 5040 9. 330 , 100 11. 120 , 315 13. 1287 , 531
2. 2880 4. 48 6. 12 , 36 8. 70 , 35 10. 35 , 21 12. 30 , 28 14. 35 , 15
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶 3 4 5 6
1. The diagram shows 3 letters and 4 digits. A code consisting of
2 letters and 3 digits is to be formed using these letters and
digits. Find the number of codes that can be formed if
(a) The two letters must be in front followed by the 3 digits
(b) The code must begin with letter 𝐵 and end with the digit 6
3. How many four-digit numbers that exceed 4000 can be formed
by using the digit 1 to 9 without repetition?
5. How many four-digit odd numbers that exceed 3000 can be
formed by using the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 without repetition?
2. The letter of the word 𝐶𝐻𝑂𝐼𝐶𝐸 are to be arranged. How many
ways can they be arranged if the vowels must be together?
4. There are 7 books to be arranged in a row on a bookshelf.
Among the 7 books, there are one Geography book and one
History book. In how many ways can the book be arranged
with the History book and the Geography book separated from
each other?
𝐹 𝑂 𝑅 𝑀 𝑈 𝐿 𝐴
6. The diagram shows 7 cards of different letters. Find the
number of possible arrangements, in a row, of all the cards if
each arrangement
(a) Must begin with a vowel and end with a consonant
(b) Must begin with either the letter 𝐹 or 𝑀
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

7. There are two rows of sitting places. The first row has 4 8. A committee consisting of 6 people are to be selected from 4
places and the second row has 2 places. In how many ways can men and 5 women. Find the number of ways of choosing the
6 people be seated if a couple from the group must sit on the committee if a couple must be in the same committee.
same row?

9. A delegation consisting of 4 people is to be chosen from 5 10. A committee of 4 people is to be chosen from 4 women and 3
couples. Find the numbers of ways of choosing the delegation men. Find the number of different committee that can be
if it consists of formed if
(a) 2 couples (a) There is no restriction
(b) Only men (b) There are fewer men than women in the committee

11. A shop keeper wants to display 2 set of TV and 3 fans in a row.
Find the number of possible arrangements if
(a) The TV must be placed at the end of the row
(b) The TV must be placed between of the fans
12. An examination paper consists of two sections, 𝐴 and 𝐵.
Section 𝐴 consists of 6 questions and section 𝐵 consists of 4
questions. A student needs to answer 6 questions. Find the
number of ways of choosing the questions if
(a) There is no restriction
(b) He has to answer at least two questions from section 𝐵

1. 288 , 18 7. 336
2. 144 8. 35
3. 2016 9. 10 , 5
4. 3600 10. 35 , 13
5. 84 11. 12 , 12
6. 1440 , 1440 12. 210 , 18
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION
1. Faizal is a patrol leader in his school scout movement. He has
5 members under him. For each meeting, there is a drill and he
has to arrange them in a row with the shortest in the front and
the tallest at the back. How many way can he arranged them?
3.
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶 𝐷 2 3 4 5 6 7
The diagram shows 4 letters and 6 numbers. A code is to be
formed using 2 letters and 4 numbers. How many codes can be
formed if no letters and numbers can be repeated?
5. Given 4 letters are chosen from the word 𝑃𝐴𝑌𝑀𝐸𝑁𝑇. Find the
number of arrangements that start with a vowel.
2. There are 8 friends who went shopping together. After the
shopping, they called two taxis to take them back their
campus. Each taxi can only take 4 passengers. However, there
are two friends who must take the same taxi. How many ways
can they choose to go back to the campus?
4. Find the number of ways the letters from the word
𝑃𝑂𝐼𝑁𝑇𝑆 can be arranged if the consonants must be together?
6. A team of squash players consists of 6 players is to be chosen
from 8 boys and 6 girls. Find the number of ways to form the
group if
(a) It contains 4 boys
(b) It contains more boys than girls
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

7. 8. The school prefects consist of 10 students. These students are

𝐼 𝑁 𝑆 𝐸 𝐶 𝑇
The diagram shows 6 cards with letters.
(a) Find the number of ways of arranging the cards
(b) Find the number of ways to arrange the cards if the
vowels must be separated
chosen from 12 monitors and 10 assistant monitors. Calculate
the number of ways to choose the prefects if
(a) There is no restrictions
(b) The school prefects contain at least 8 monitors.

9. A committee is made up of 5 people to be chosen from 3 men
and 6 women. Find the number of ways to form the committee
if
(a) It consists of 2 men only
(b) It consists of more men than women
10. An excursion group made up of 5 people is to be chosen from 5
teachers and 4 guardians. Find the number of ways to form the
group is
(a) It consists of not more than 3 teachers
(b) It consists of at most 2 guardians

11. A 4 digits number is to be made from the digits 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9. 12. The letters form the word 𝑃𝑂𝐿𝐼𝐶𝐸 is to be arranged. In how
Find the number of ways of getting an even number greater many ways can it be arranged if
than 3000. (a) The consonants and vowels must be alternate
(b) The consonants must be together.

Answers:

1. 6 7. 720 , 480
2. 30 8. 646 646 , 24 541
3. 4320 9. 60 , 15
4. 144 10. 105 , 81
5. 240 11. 42
6. 1050 , 1414 12. 72 , 144
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

1. Diagram shows 5 letters and 3 digits. 2. A badminton team consists of 7 students. The team will be chosen
from a group of 8 boys can 5 girls. Find the number of teams that can
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶 𝐷 𝐸 6 7 8 be formed such that each team consists of
(a) 4 boys
A code is to be formed using those letters and digits. The code must (b) Not more than 2 girls
consists of 3 letters followed by 2 digits. How many codes can be
formed if no letter or digit is repeated in each code?

3. Diagram shows 5 cards of different letters 4. A debating team consists of 5 students. These 5 students are chosen
from 5 monitors, 2 assistant monitors and 6 prefects. Calculate the
𝐻 𝐸 𝐵 𝐴 𝑇 number of different ways the team can be formed if
(a) There is no restriction
(a) Find the number of possible arrangements, in a row, of all the (b) The team contains only 1 monitor and exactly 3 prefects
cards
(b) Find the number of these arrangements in which the letters 𝐸
and 𝐴 are side by side

5. Diagram shows seven letter cards 6. Find the number of permutations of the word 𝑇𝐴𝑋𝐼

𝑈 𝑁 𝐼 𝐹 𝑂 𝑅 𝑀

A four letters code is to be formed using four of these cards. Find

(a) The number of different four-letter codes that can be formed
(b) The number of different four-letter condes which ends with a
consonant

7. State the number of ways to arrange 3 letters from the word 𝑀𝑂𝑇𝐻𝐸𝑅 8. How many 3 digits numbers can be formed from the integers 5, 6, 7
without repetition. and 8 without repetition?

9. Four letters from the word 𝑀𝐴𝐺𝐼𝐶 are to be arranged. Calculate the 10. 3 boys and 2 girls are to be seated in a row. Calculate the number of
number of possible arrangements if the letter 𝐺 must be included possible arrangements if
without repetition. (a) The two girls have to be seated together
(b) A boy has to be seated at the centre
 CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

11. A club has 15 members. In how many ways can a committee consisting 12. The diagram below show six cards of different letters
a president, vice-president and 3 committee members be formed?
𝐽 𝑂 𝐶 𝐾 𝐸 𝑌

(a) Find the number of possible arrangements, in a row, of all the

cards without repetition.
(b) Find the number of these arrangements in which the letters 𝑂
and 𝐸 are side by side.

13. A committee which consists of 7 members is to be selected from 6
lecturers, 4 headmasters and 3 teachers. Calculate
(A) The number of different committee that can be formed
(B) The number of different committee than cab be formed of the
number of lecturers must be 3 or 4.
14. How many four digit numbers can be formed from the digits 3, 4, 5, 6
and 7 without repetition? How many of these numbers are even
numbers?

15. How many number bigger than 6000 can be formed from the integers 16. A team of 5 members is to be picked from 4 men and 4 women.
3, 4, 5 and 6 without repetition? Calculate the number of ways in which the team can be formed if the
number of men must be more than the number of women.

17. Four out of six letters from the word 𝐻𝑈𝑀𝐵𝐿𝐸 are selected. Find the
number of arrangements that begin with the letter ′𝐵 ′ without
repetition.
18. A boat that ferries people across a river can take only 4 passengers at
any one time. There are 3 men and 5 women who want to cross the
river. Find the number of ways of ferrying them if
(a) There is no restriction
(b) All the men must take the second trip.

Answers:
9. 96 14. 120 , 48
1. 360 5. 840 , 480 10. 48 , 72 15. 6
2. 700 , 708 6. 24 11. 3003 16. 28
3. 120 , 48 7. 120 12. 720 , 240 17. 60
4. 1287 , 200 8. 24 13. 1716 , 1225 18. 70 , 5
CHAPTER 6: PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION