Mathematics 10

Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module 10
Evaluating
Combination Notation
 EXPECTATIONS

1. Evaluate combination notation.

2. Find the value of n and r.
3. Solve word problems involving combinations.

PRETEST

Directions: Identify what is being asked in each question. Write your answer on your
paper.
1. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to C(n, r)?
𝑛! (𝑛−𝑟 )! 𝑟!
A. C.
(𝑛−𝑟 )! 𝑟! 𝑛!
𝑛! (𝑛−𝑟 )!
B. D.
(𝑛−𝑟 )! 𝑟!
2 1
2. In = , which of the following is the value of n?
𝐶(𝑛,1) 4
A. 8 B. 12 C. 16 D. 20
3. In C(r+1, r) = 12, what is the value of r?
A. 9 B. 11 C. 15 D. 19
4. On a piece of paper, 7 points are marked such that no 3 points are collinear. How
many lines can be drawn passing through any of these points?
A. 21 B. 35 C. 56 D. 84
5. Five letters are to be selected from the word LOGARITHM. How many of these
choices contain at least 4 consonants?
A. 6 C. 51
B. 45 D. 126

RECAP

Direction: Represent the following problems in combination notation.

1. Mrs. David made 10 questions for her students to answer. If the students are
asked to answer only 5 questions, in how many ways can the student choose the
questions?
2. From a population of 50 households, in how many ways can a researcher select
a sample with a size of 15?
3. A delegation of 4 people is to be selected from 5 women and 6 men. Find the
number of possible delegations if there are at least 3 women.
 LESSON

Let’s recall the problem in the previous lesson. How many three-letter
combinations can be formed from the word MATH?
Recall that this was represented in combination notation as C(4,3) and there
were 4 possible combinations. However, in permutation, there were 24 possible
arrangements. Those arrangements are shown below. Notice that the set of the
different combinations formed is the subset of the set of permutations. Each
combination of three letters determine 3! = 6 permutations of the letters in the
combination:

Combinations Permutations
MAT=MTA= ATM= AMT= TAM= TMA MAT, MTA, ATM, AMT, TAM, TMA
ATH=AHT= THA= TAH= HAT= HTA ATH, AHT, THA, TAH, HAT, HTA
MTH=MHT= THM= TMH= HMT= HTM MTH, MHT, THM, TMH, HMT, HTM
MAH=MHA= AHM= AMH= HMA= HAM MAH, MHA, AHM, AMH, HMA, HAM

Hence, the number of combinations multiplied by 3! gives the number of

permutations: C(4,3) • 3! = P(4,3) , or equivalently,

𝑃(4,3)
C(4,3) =
3!
Why do we need to divide it by 3!? This is to count the arrangements of the
same group as one since they are already counted in P(4,3).
𝑃(𝑛,𝑟)
Solving for C(n, r), gives you C(n,r) = .
𝑟!
𝑛!
Knowing that P(n,r) =
(𝑛−𝑟 )!
, substitute this in the above equation and in so doing
𝒏!
(𝒏−𝒓)!
we get C(n,r) = . Multiplying numerator n!/(n-r)! by the reciprocal of the
𝒓!
𝟏
denominator (
𝒓!
), then the equation becomes
𝒏!
C(n,r) =
(𝒏−𝒓)! 𝒓!

Using the above formula to solve the problem,

4! 4! 4𝑥3!
C(4,3) =
(4−3)! 3!
= 1!3! = = 4 ways
3!
Examples:

1. Evaluate the following combinations.

20
A. 9C6 B. C(12, 8) C. 4 • 𝐶 ( )
20
Solutions:
9! 9! 9𝑥8𝑥7𝑥6! 9𝑥8𝑥7 9𝑥8𝑥7
A. 9C6 = = = = = = 84
(9−6)!6! 3!6! 3!6! 3! 3𝑥2𝑥1
12! 12! 12𝑥11𝑥10𝑥9𝑥8! 12𝑥11𝑥10𝑥9 12𝑥11𝑥10𝑥9
B. C(12, 8) = (12−8)! 8!
= = = = = 495
4! 8! 4! 8! 4! 4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1

20 20! 20! 20!

C. 4 • 𝐶 ( ) = 4 • (20−20)! = 4• =4 • =4•1=4
20 20! 0!20! (1) 20!

2. Find the unknown variable.

A. nC2 = 21 B. C(11, r) = 330

Solutions:
𝑛!
A. (𝑛−2)! 2!
= 21

𝑛 (𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)!
(𝑛−2)! 2!
= 21

𝑛(𝑛−1)
= 21
2!

𝑛(𝑛−1)
= 21
2𝑥1
n(n-1) = 42

n2 – n = 42

n2 – n – 42 = 0

(n – 7) (n + 6) = 0

n=7;n=–6

There are 2 values of n and we will only consider n=7 since n= -6 is an

extraneous root because factorial is a product of positive integers.
 11!
B. = 330
(11−𝑟 )! 𝑟!
11!
= (11 – r)! r!
330
11𝑥10𝑥9𝑥8𝑥7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
= (11 – r)! r!
11𝑥10𝑥3
3•8•7! = (11-r)! r!
3•4•2•7! = (11-r)! r!
4•3•2•1•7! = (11-r)! r!
4! • 7! = (11-r)! r!
7!= (11-r)! , 4! = r! or 4! = (11 – r)! , 7! = r!
7=11-r 4=r 4 = 11 – r 7=r
r=4 r=7
We consider the 2 values of r, 4 and 7, because both satisfy the equation.

3. Solve the following problems.

A. Mr. Lucas planned to conduct an intervention program for the 20 students at

risk of failing in Mathematics. In how many ways can the teacher select 5
students at a time?

B. Five different letters are chosen from the word EDUCATION. How many of
these choices contain at least 3 vowels?

C. A concert pianist agrees to take part in a charity concert for COVID-19

patients. She offers a choice of 9 works, of which 4 were composed by Chopin,
2 by Liszt, and 3 by Schumann. Calculate the number of ways these 4 works
can be selected if there are 2 works by Chopin, 1 by Liszt, and 1 by Schumann.

Solutions:
20! 20! 20𝑥19𝑥18𝑥17𝑥16𝑥15! 20𝑥19𝑥18𝑥17𝑥16
A. C(20,5) =
(20−5)! 5!
= = =
15! 5! 15! 5! 5!
20𝑥19𝑥18𝑥17𝑥16
= = 15,504
5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
5! 4! 5! 4! 5!
B. 5C3 • 4C2 + 5C4 • 4C1 + 5C5 = •
(5−3)!3! (4−2)!2!
+ (5−4)!4!
• (4−1)!1!
+ (5−5)!5!

= 10 • 6 + 5 • 4 + 1
= 81
4! 2! 3!
C. 4C2 • 2C1 • 3C1 = • •
(4−2)!2! (2−1)!1! (3−1)! 1!
= 6 • 2 •3
= 36
 ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1: LET’S PRACTICE!

Directions: Evaluate the following combinations.
1. 7C4
2. 12C5
3. – 6 + 19C15
4. 2C(4, 2) – 10
C(20,5)
5.
8

ACTIVITY 2: KEEP PRACTICING!

Directions: Find the unknown variable.
1. nC5 = 126
2. 10Cr = 252
3. C(n, 5) + 8 = 9
4. C(n+1, 7) = 0!
5. C(6r, 6r -1) = 12 + C(4, 2)

ACTIVITY 3: TEST YOURSELF!

Directions: Solve the following problems.
1. A medical researcher needs 6 people to test the effectiveness of an experimental
drug to cure COVID-19 patients. Thirteen people have volunteered for the test.
In how many ways will the 6 people be selected?
2. In the Philippine 6/42 lotto, a bet consists of choosing any 6 numbers in no
particular order from 1 to 42. In how many possible bets can be made?
3. How many polygons can be possibly formed from 5 distinct points on a plane, no
three of which are collinear?
4. A club contains the President, the Secretary, and 10 other members. The club is
asked to send a group of 4 representatives to a conference. Calculate the number
of different ways in which the group can be formed if it must contain either the
President or the Secretary, but not both.
5. A committee of 6 members is to be chosen from 7 women and 5 men. Calculate
the number of ways this can be done if a minimum of 4 men must be chosen.
 WRAP-UP

Remember that …
Combination of n objects taken r objects
𝒏!
nCr = , where n and r are positive integers and 1 ≤ r ≤ n.
(𝒏−𝒓)! 𝒓!
Other notations are;
𝑛
C(n,r), and 𝐶 ( )
𝑟

VALUING
When the number of items is large, it may be tedious to find the required
number of combinations by using the counting principle. Mathematicians have
derived a formula that is easier to find the number of combinations in such cases.
But knowing how these formulas work is only half the battle. Create a formula that
you can use to cope up with the new normal we are facing in education because of
the COVID-19 pandemic. How can this formula help you to achieve your goal this
school year?

POSTTEST
DIRECTIONS: Identify what is being asked in each question. Write your answer
on your paper.
1. Which of the following illustrates 25C8 ?
25! 25! 25! 25!
A. B. C. D.
8! 17! 25!8! 17!8!
1 102
2. In = 𝐶(18,4) , which of the following is the value of n?
𝐶(15𝑛,1)
A. 2 B. 7 C. 12 D. 19
11!
3. In −6 = 𝐶(18, 17), which of the following is the value of r?
𝑟! (11, 𝑟)!
A. 3 B. 5 C. 7 D. 9
4. Six points lie on a circle. How many triangles can be drawn using these points
as vertices?
A. 5 B. 10 C. 15 D. 20
5. Five letters are to be selected from the word ALGORITHM. How many of these
choices contain at least 2 vowels?
A. 3 B. 20 C. 36 D. 75