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Difference Between Permutation and Combination (Wi+

Permutation refers to different arrangements of objects in a specific order, while combination refers to different group selections without considering order. The key difference is that permutation considers order as relevant, while combination considers order as irrelevant. Permutation answers how many arrangements can be made, while combination answers how many groups can be selected. For a given set of objects, there are always more permutations than combinations.

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404 views10 pages

Difference Between Permutation and Combination (Wi+

Permutation refers to different arrangements of objects in a specific order, while combination refers to different group selections without considering order. The key difference is that permutation considers order as relevant, while combination considers order as irrelevant. Permutation answers how many arrangements can be made, while combination answers how many groups can be selected. For a given set of objects, there are always more permutations than combinations.

Uploaded by

Ratan Kumawat
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Difference Between Permutation and

Combination (with Example and


Comparison Chart) - Key Differences
https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-permutation-and-
combination.html

In mathematics, you might have heard the notions of


permutation and combination end number of times, but
have you ever imagined that these two are different
concepts? The fundamental difference between
permutation and combination is the order of objects, in
permutation the order of objects is very important, i.e.
the arrangement must be in the stipulated order of the
number of objects, taken only some or all at a time.
As against this, in the case of a combination, the order
does not matter at all. Not only in mathematics but in
practical life too, we go through with these two concepts
regularly. Although, we never notice it. So, take a read
of the article carefully, to know how these two concepts
are different.

Content: Permutation Vs Combination

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Example
5. Conclusion

Comparison Chart
Basis for
Permutation Combination
Comparison
Permutation refers Combination refers to
to the different ways several ways of choosing
Meaning of arranging a set of items from a large set of
objects in a objects, such that their
sequential order. order does not matters.

Order Relevant Irrelevant

Denotes Arrangement Selection

What is it? Ordered elements Unordered sets


Basis for
Permutation Combination
Comparison
How many different
How many different groups
arrangement can be
Answers can be chosen from a larger
created from a given
group of objects?
set of objects?

Multiple
Single combination from a
Derivation permutation from a
single permutation.
single combination.

Definition of Permutation

We define permutation as different ways of arranging


some or all the members of a set in a specific order. It
implies all the possible arrangement or rearrangement
of the given set, into distinguishable order.

For example, All possible permutation created with


letters x, y, z –

By taking all three at a time are xyz, xzy, yxz, yzx, zxy,
zyx.
By taking two at a time are xy, xz, yx, yz, zx, zy.

Total number of possible permutations of n things,


taken r at a time, can be calculated as:
Definition of Combination

The combination is defined as the different ways, of


selecting a group, by taking some or all the members of
a set, without the following order.

For example, All possible combinations chosen with


letter m, n, o –

When three out of three letters are to be selected,


then the only combination is mno
When two out of three letters are to be selected, then
the possible combinations are mn, no, om.

Total number of possible combinations of n things,


taken r at a time can be calculated as:
Key Differences Between Permutation and
Combination
The differences between permutation and combination
are drawn clearly on the following grounds:

1. The term permutation refers to several ways of


arranging a set of objects in a sequential order.
Combination implies several ways of choosing items
from a large pool of objects, such that their order is
irrelevant.
2. The primary distinguishing point between these two
mathematical concepts is order, placement, and
position, i.e. in permutation characteristics
mentioned above does matter, which does not matter
in the case of the combination.
3. Permutation denotes several ways to arrange things,
people, digits, alphabets, colours, etc. On the other
hand, combination indicates different ways of
selecting menu items, food, clothes, subjects, etc.
4. The permutation is nothing but an ordered
combination while Combination implies unordered
sets or pairing of values within specific criteria.
5. Many permutations can be derived from a single
combination. Conversely, only a single combination
can be obtained from a single permutation.
6. Permutation answers How many different
arrangements can be created from a given set of
objects? As opposed to the combination which
explains How many different groups can be picked
from a larger group of objects?

Example

Suppose, there is a situation where you have to find out


the total number of possible samples of two out of three
objects A, B, C. In this question, first of all, you need to
understand, whether the question is related to
permutation or combination and the only way to find
this out is to check whether the order is important or
not.

If the order is significant, then the question is related to


permutation, and possible samples will be, AB, BA, BC,
CB, AC, CA. Where, AB is different from BA, BC is
different from CB and AC is different CA.

If the order is irrelevant, then the question is related to


the combination, and the possible samples will be AB,
BC and CA.

Conclusion

With the above discussion, it is clear that permutation


and combination are different terms, which are used in
mathematics, statistics, research and our day to day life.
A point to remember, regarding these two concepts is
that, for a given set of objects, permutation will always
be higher than its combination.

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