Combinatorics - Combinatorial Analysis
     Permutations
      Permutations
      Permutations of n objects some of which are the same
     Combinations
      Combinations
Permutations
Given a set of n different elements or objects. Any distinct ordered arrangement of the n elements is called permutation.
The total number of permutations for n elements is
  P(n) = n!.  
Example:   Given is the sequence of four digits 1, 2, 3, 4. Write all possible ordered arrangements or permutations of the 4 digits.
Solution:  The number of permutations of the given 4 digits,  P(4) = 4! = 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 = 24.
The permutations are,
                                1, 2, 3, 4         2, 1, 3, 4         3, 1, 2, 4         4, 1, 2, 3
                                1, 2, 4, 3         2, 1, 4, 3         3, 1, 4, 2         4, 1, 3, 2
                                1, 3, 2, 4         2, 3, 1, 4         3, 2, 1, 4         4, 2, 1, 3
                                1, 3, 4, 2         2, 3, 4, 1         3, 2, 4, 1         4, 2, 3, 1
                                1, 4, 2, 3         2, 4, 1, 3         3, 4, 1, 2         4, 3, 1, 2
                                1, 4, 3, 2         2, 4, 3, 1         3, 4, 2, 1         4, 3, 2, 1.
Permutations of n objects some of which are the same
The number of permutations of n elements some groups of which are the same
   
where, k1, k2, ... , km denotes each group with identical elements.
Example:   How many different 7-letter words can be formed from the word GREETER?
Solution: 
since the letter R repeats twice and E repeats 3 times.
Example:   How many four-digit numbers can be written with all of the digits 2, 3, 3, 4 and write them in increasing order.
Solution:  In the given sequence of four digits, the digit 3 repeats twice, so
the 12 four-digit numbers written in increasing order are,
                                2 3 3 4         3 2 3 4         4 2 3 3
                                2 3 4 3         3 2 4 3         4 3 2 3
                                2 4 3 3         3 3 2 4         4 3 3 2.
                                                   3 3 4 2
                                                   3 4 2 3
                                                   3 4 3 2
Combinations
Given a set of n different elements or objects. Select a subset of r elements out of n. Such selection is called the combination.
A combination is an unordered arrangement of r objects selected from n different objects taken r at a time.
The number of distinct combinations selecting r elements out of n is
   
Therefore, combinations must differ from each other at least in one element.
Example:  Find the number of combinations of size 3 that can be made from digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and write them out.
Solution:  Since, n = 5 and r = 3 then
The combinations are,    1 2 3         2 3 4         3 4 5.
                                    1 2 4         2 3 5
                                    1 2 5         2 4 5
                                    1 3 4
                                    1 3 5
                                    1 4 5
Example:  Find the number of combinations of size 4 that can be made from letters A, B, C, D, E, F and write them out.
Solution:  Since, n = 6 and r = 4 then
The combinations are,    A B C D         B C D E         C D E F.
                                    A B C E         B C D F
                                    A B C F         B C E F
                                    A B D E         B D E F
                                    A B D F
                                    A B E F
                                    A C D E
                                    A C D F
                                    A C E F
                                    A D E F
College algebra contents G
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