Section 4.

6: The Counting Principle and Permutations

We introduced the Counting Principle earlier in the chapter.

Counting Principle: If a first experiment can be performed in M distinct ways and a

second experiment can be performed in N distinct ways then the two experiments in
that specific order can be performed in M x N distinct ways.

The next three problems examples of the Counting Principle. They may be a little more
involved, but the strategy to solve them is identical to what we have already done. To
use the Counting Principle create a spot for each object that needs to be placed. Then
we write the number of choices for each spot and multiply the numbers to get an
answer.

Example: A computer password is to consist of two lower case letters followed by four
digits. Determine how many passwords are possible if…..

A) Repetition of letters and digits is permitted

First create a spot for each object that needs to be placed.

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ =

L L # # # #

Next place numbers in each spot and multiply the numbers.

Each of the spot marked “L” will get a 26 above it as there are 26 letters. . I won’t
increment down by one as repetition is allowed.

Each of the spot marked “#” will get a 10 above it as there are 10 digits
(0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) to choose from. I won’t increment down by one as repetition is
allowed.

26 * 26 *10*10*10*10 = 6,760,000
L L # # # #

Answer: 6,760,000 passwords

B) Repetition of letters and digits is NOT permitted

First create a spot for each object that needs to be placed.

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ =

L L # # # #

Next place numbers in each spot and multiply the numbers.

Each of the spot marked “L” will get a 26 above it as there are 26 letters. I need to
increment down by one as repetition is NOT allowed.

Each of the spot marked “#” will get a 10 above it as there are 10 digits
(0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) to choose from. I need to increment down by one as repetition is
NOT allowed.

26 * 25 * 10 * 9 *8* 7 = 3,276,000
L L # # # #

Answer: 3,276,000 passwords

C) The first letter must be a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) and repetition of letters is NOT
permitted. The first digit cannot be a 0, and repetition of digits is NOT permitted.

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ = different passwords

V L # # # #

The first letter has 5 choices as it needs to be a vowel.

The second letter has 25 choices. Repetition is not permitted. I can use any of the 25
letters not already used.

The first digit has 9 choices as it can be any of the 10 digits other than 0.
{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}

The second digit also has 9 choices as it can be the 0 and any of the 8 numbers not
selected for the first number.

The third and 4th digit will increment down 1 as repetition is NOT permitted.

5*25*9*9*8*7 = 567,000
V L # # # #

Answer: 567,000 passwords

Example: Bob, Sue, Larry, Sally and Fred are waiting in line to buy concert tickets.

A) In how many different ways can they stand in line?

I make 5 lines, one for each person that is going to wait in the line.

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ =

This has to be considered a repetition is not permitted problem, as each person can only
occupy one space. I will need to increment down by 1.

5* 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 120

Answer: 120 ways

B) How many ways can they line up if Larry insists on being in the middle?

I need to form 5 spaces again, one for each person. Larry’s position is pre-determined. I
will begin by putting a 1 above Larry’s spot in line, as there is only one choice for that
position.

____ ____ 1 ____ ____ =

Larry

Next I will fill in the rest of the numbers. The first person can be any of the other 4 and I
will increment down by 1 person as the same person can only hold one spot in line.

4 * 3 * 1 * 2 * 1 = 24

Answer: 24 ways
C) If Sue insists on being first and Bob has to be last, how many ways?

I set up my 5 spots (one for each person). I put a 1 above Sue and Bob’s position as
there is only one person that can stand in those spots.

1 ____ ____ ____ 1 =

Sue Bob

There are 3 people that can line up second, and I will increment down by 1 again.

1*3*2*1*1=6

Answer: 6 ways

I need to introduce a new word – (permutation) and a new formula. This formula gives
us another way to solve problems that can be solved using the Counting Principle.
Most of the problems in this section can be solved using two methods:

1) Counting Principle (creating a string of numbers and multiplying)

2) Permutation formula (putting numbers in a formula)

The permutation formula is quite a bit trickier to use when solving the types of
problems in this section. I will solve a few problems both ways. That is with both the
permutation formula and using the Counting Principle. You won’t be responsible for
solving problems with the permutation formula on the test.

Permutations: A permutation is any ordered arrangement of a given set of objects.

Permutations that involve ordering r of n distinct objects obey the formula:

n!
Pr 
n
 n  r !

We need to be familiar with the factorial symbol “!” to use the permutation formula.

Where n! = n(n-1)(n-2)….(1)

For example 6! = 6*5*4*3*2*1 = 720

And 3! = 3*2*1 = 6
Note: 0!
By definition equals 1. 0! = 1
Example: The letters S, T, A, R, P are placed in a hat. A letter is removed one at a time
from the hat and is not replaced. This process is repeated until all of the letters have
been removed. How many different ways can this be done?

This problem can be solved using the permutation formula above as this is an ordered
arrangement of 5 of 5 letters. We also can use the counting principle and make 5 lines,
put numbers above the lines and multiply. I prefer the counting principle, but both
methods will work.

Solving using the permutation formula:

n = 5 and r = 5 (“n” represents the number of letters in the hat, and “r” represents the
total number of letters I am removing.)

5! 5∗4∗3∗2∗1 120
nPr = 5P5 = (5−5)! = =
0! 1

Answer: 120 ways

This problem can also be solved using the Counting Principle. To do this I make 5 lines,
one for each letter. There are 5 letters to choose for the first letter. I am assuming that
a letter can’t be used more than once. I will increment down by 1 each time.

______ _______ _______ ______ _______

L L L L L

5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 120

Answer: 120 ways

Example: The letters S, T, A, R, P are placed in a hat. A letter is removed one at a time
from the hat and is not replaced. This process is repeated 3 times. That is 3 letters are
removed and 2 are left in the hat. How many ways can this be done?

This problem can be solved using the permutation formula above as this is an ordered
arrangement of 3 of 5 letters. We also can use the counting principle. I prefer the
counting principle, but both methods will work.

Solving using the permutation formula:

n = 5 and r = 3 (“n” represents the number of letters in the hat, and “r” represents the
number of letters I am removing.)

5! 5∗4∗3∗2∗1 120
nPr = 5P5 = (5−3)! = =
2! 2

Answer: 60 ways

This problem can also be solved using the Counting Principle. To do this I make 5 lines,
one for each letter. There are 5 letters to choose for the first letter. I am assuming that
a letter can’t be used more than once. I will increment down by 1 each time.

______ _______ _______

1st letter 2nd 3rd

5 * 4 * 3 = 60

Answer: 60 ways

(Notice the permutation formula takes me to the same answer.)

Example: A club consisting of eight members wishes to randomly select a president,
vice-president and secretary, how many different arrangements are possible?

Solved using the permutation formula as it is an ordered arrangement of 3 out of 8

objects:

8! 8! 8∗7∗6∗5∗4∗3∗2∗1
P 
(8−3)!
= 5! = = 8 ∗ 7 ∗ 6 = 336
8 3
5∗4∗3∗2∗1

Solved using the Counting Principle (I solve this as a without repetition problem as I
assume one person can’t hold two jobs.)

______ _______ _______

President VP Secretary

8 * 7 * 6 = 336

Answer: 336 ways

Permutations of Duplicate Objects.

The Counting Principle only works when each object is distinct. It doesn’t work when
there are duplicate objects. It over counts when there are duplicate objects.

Let me try to explain this by using an example.

Example: How many ways are there to order the letters a,a,b?

If you use the Counting Principle you would make three slots.

________ * ____ * _____

1st letter 2nd 3rd

You would do this next.

3 * 2 * 1 = 6 ways.

Answer: 6 ways (Answer should be 3.) The Counting Principle over counts if there are
duplicate objects. In our problem there are 2 “a’s” and the Counting Principle will not
work.

The answer should be 3. It is easy to list the three ways.

aab, aba, baa

There is no other way to arrange these letters that looks different.

I am stuck using a formula when each object is not unique.

Here is the formula:

The number of distinct permutations of n objects where n1 of the objects are identical,
n2 of the objects are identical… nr of the objects are identical is found by the formula…

n!
n1 ! n2 ! n3 ! nr !

This is an impressive formula. Basically the numerator is the total number of objects
factorial and the denominator contains a factorial for each duplicated object. This
formula will be easy to use once we do a few examples.
Here is how the a,a,b example will be solved using the formula:

The numerator needs a 3! as we are arranging 3 letters.

The denominator needs a 2! as there are 2 a’s.

3! 3∗2∗1
= =3
2! 2∗1

Answer: 3 ways

Example: In how many ways can the letters in the word “TALLAHASSEE” be arranged?
(There really isn’t a nice way to solve this using the counting principle because of the
duplicate letters and we are stuck with the formula approach)

Work: Of the 11 letters, 3 are A’s, 2 are L’s, 2 are S’s and 2 are E’s.

The numerator will get 11! as there are 11 letters.

Each repeated letter gets a factorial in the denominator. The denominator will
have 3! for the 3 A’s, 2! for the 2 L’s, 2! for the 2 S’s, 2! for the 2 E’s,

11! 11∗10∗9∗8∗7∗6∗5∗4∗3∗2∗1
 = 831,600
3!2!2!2! 3∗2∗1∗2∗1∗2∗1∗2∗1

Answer: 831,600 ways

Example: In how many ways can the letters in the word “starburst” be arranged?

Work: Of the 9 letters, 2 are R’s, 2 are S’s and 2 are T’s.

The numerator will get 9! as there are 9 letters.

Each repeated letter gets a factorial in the denominator. The denominator will
have 2! for the 2 R’s, 2! for the 2 S’s, 2! for the 2 T’s,

9! 9∗8∗7∗6∗5∗4∗3∗2∗1
= 45360
2!∗2!∗2! 2∗1∗2∗1∗2∗1∗2∗1

Answer: 45,360 ways

Homework:

1) The daily double at most racetracks consists of selecting the winning horse in both
the first and the second race. If the first race has 7 entries and the second has 8 entries,
how many daily double tickets mush you purchase to guarantee a win?

2) If a club consists of 10 members, how many different arrangements of president,

vice-president and secretary are possible?

3) A lock combination consists of three numbers between 0 and 24 inclusive. How

many combinations are possible, assume repetition is allowed?

4) A lock combination consists of three numbers between 0 and 24 inclusive. How

many combinations are possible, assume repetition is NOT allowed?

5) A social security number consists of nine digits. How many different social security
numbers are possible if repetition of digits is NOT permitted?

6) A social security number consists of nine digits. How many different social security
numbers are possible if repetition of digits is permitted?

7) A class ring has three stone options (emerald, ruby or sapphire), two metal options
(gold and silver). How many different class rings are possible?

8) Anthony has 6 dress shirts and 4 ties. How many shirt and tie outfits can he make?

9) How many different sandwiches can be made with 2 choices of bread, 3 choices of
toppings and 2 choices of meat?

10) A batting order must be created from the 9 starters on a baseball team. How many
batting orders are possible?

11) A batting order must be created from the 9 starters on a baseball team. How many
batting orders are possible if the pitcher must bat last?

12) A batting order must be created from the 9 starters on a baseball team. How many
batting orders are possible is a specific person must hit 4th?

13) A batting order must be created from the 9 starters on a baseball team. How many
batting orders are possible if the first 4 batters are already assigned?

14) A multiple choice test has 5 questions and each question has 4 choices. How many
ways are there to answer the questions?
15) A multiple choice test has 5 questions and each question has 4 choices. How many
ways are there to answer the questions if you know the answer to the first question?

16) A multiple choice test has 5 questions and each question has 4 choices. How many
ways are there to answer the questions if you know the answer to the first two
questions?

Homework 17 – 20: an identification code is to consist of two letters followed by 4

digits. How many different codes are possible if

17) Repetition is permitted

18) The first letter must be A, B, C or D and repetition is not permitted?

19) Repetition of numbers is permitted, but repetition of letters is not permitted?

20) Repetition is not permitted?

Homework #21-24: a license plate is to consist of three digits followed by two uppercase
letters. Determine the number of different license plates possible if

21) Repetition of numbers and letters is not permitted

22) Repetition of numbers and letters is permitted

23) The first digit cannot be a zero, and repetition is not permitted

24) The last digit must be even and repetition is permitted

n!
Homework #25-30: Use the permutation of distinct objects formula to
n1 ! n2 ! n3 ! nr !
solve the following

25) How many ways can the letters of Mississippi be arranged?

26) How many ways can the letters of Pennsylvania be arranged?

27) How many ways can the letters x,x,x,y,y,z,z,z,z be arranged?

28) How many ways can the letters a,b,b,b,c,c,c,d,d,e be arranged?

29) How many ways can the letters of abracadabra be arranged?

30) How many ways can the letters of Diamondbacks be arranged?

Answers:

1) 7*8 = 56 3) 25*25*25= 15,625 5) 10*9*8*7*6*5*4*3*2 = 3,628,800 ways

7) 3*2 = 6 9) 2*3*2 = 12 11) 8*7*6*5*4*3*2*1*1 =40,320
13) 1*1*1*1*5*4*3*2*1 = 120
15) 1*4*4*4*4 = 256 17) 26*26*10*10*10*10 =6,760,000
19) 26*25*10*10*10*10 = 6,500,000 21) 10*9*8*26*25 = 468,000
11!
23) 9*9*8*26*25 = 421,200 25) 4!∗4!∗2! = 34,650
9! 11!
27) = 1260 29) = 83,160
3!∗2!∗4! 5!∗2!∗2!