L E T ’ S TA L K A B O U T

COMBINATION
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

• illustrates the combination of objects

• differentiates permutation from combination

of n objects taken r at a time

• solves problems involving permutations

and combinations
WHAT IS COMBINATION?
Combination is a mathematical technique
that determines the number of possible
arrangements in a collection of items where
the order of the selection does not matter.
EXAMPLE
The BSANHS Math Club is entitled to send 2 contestants to a
local Math Contest. In how many ways could the choice be
made from among the best competitors, Anna, Ella, and Ross?

ANNA ELLA ROSS

EXAMPLE The BSANHS Math Club is entitled to send 2 contestants to a local Math
Contest. In how many ways could the choice be made from among the
best competitors, Anna, Ella, and Ross?

ANNA, ELLA ROSS, ELLA ANNA, ROSS

ELLA, ANNA ELLA, ROSS ROSS, ANNA

Therefore, the BSANHS Math Club could create 3 choices.

 COMBINATION
the order doesn’t matter.

PERMUTATION
the order does matter.
State whether the given example is a
combination or a permutation.

Facebook Password

PERMUTATION
State whether the given example is a
combination or a permutation.

Choosing three of your classmates to attend

your party

COMBINATION
State whether the given example is a
combination or a permutation.

Fruit Salad

COMBINATION
State whether the given example is a
combination or a permutation.

Assembling a jigsaw puzzle

PERMUTATION
State whether the given example is a
combination or a permutation.

Picking 6 balls from a basket of 12 balls

COMBINATION
COMBINATION FORMULA
The number of combinations of n things taken r at a time is
written as 𝐶 𝑛, 𝑟 , 𝑛𝐶𝑟 or 𝐶𝑟𝑛 .
The formula is given by:
𝑛!
𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) =
𝑛 − 𝑟 ! 𝑟!

𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) = number of combinations

𝑛 = total number of objects in the set
𝑟 = number of choosing objects from the set
EXAMPLE
Evaluate 𝐶 7,2 .
Given: n = 7 Solution:
7!
r=2 𝐶(7,2) =
7−2 !2!
𝑛! 7!
Formula: 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝐶 7,2 =
𝑛−𝑟 !𝑟! 5!2!
7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝐶(7,2) =
(5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)(2𝑥1)
42
𝐶(7,2) =
2
𝐶(7,2) = 21

Therefore, 𝐶 7,2 is equal to 21.

EXAMPLE
In how many ways can a coach choose three swimmers from among five swimmers?
Given: n = 5 Solution:
5!
r=3 𝐶(5,3) =
5−3 !3!
𝑛! 5!
Formula: 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝐶 5,3 =
𝑛−𝑟 !𝑟! 2!3!
5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝐶(5,3) =
(2𝑥1)(3𝑥2𝑥1)
20
𝐶(5,3) =
2
𝐶(5,3) = 10

Therefore, the coach can choose three from five swimmers in 10 ways.
EXAMPLE
How many chess games can be made in a group of 6 players?
Given: n = 6 Solution:
6!
r=2 𝐶(6,2) =
6−2 !2!
𝑛! 6!
Formula: 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝐶 6,2 =
𝑛−𝑟 !𝑟! 4!2!
6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝐶(6,2) =
(4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)(2𝑥1)
30
𝐶(6,2) =
2
𝐶(6,2) = 15

Therefore, 15 chess games can be made in a group of 6 players.

PERMUTATION OR
COMBINATION
 KEYWORDS TO
TERM
REMEMBER
arrangement, ordered,
PERMUTATION
unique, rank,
select, choose, pick,
COMBINATION
combination
If there is no keyword clearly shown in a problem,

VISUALIZE IT!
EXAMPLE
A local school board with 8 people needs to form a committee with three
people. How many ways can this committee be formed?
Given: n = 8 Solution:
8!
r=3 𝐶(8,3) =
8−3 !3!
𝑛! 8!
Formula: 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝐶 8,3 =
𝑛−𝑟 !𝑟! 5!3!
8𝑥7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝐶(8,3) =
(5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)(3𝑥2𝑥1)
336
𝐶(8,3) =
6
𝐶(8,3) = 56
Therefore, there are 56 ways to form the committee with 3 people.
EXAMPLE
A local school board with 8 people needs to form a committee with three
different responsibilities. How many ways can this committee be formed?
Given: n = 8 Solution:
8!
r=3 𝑃(8,3) =
8−3 !
𝑛! 8!
Formula: 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝑃 8,3 =
𝑛−𝑟 ! 5!
8𝑥7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝑃(8,3) =
(5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)
𝑃(8,3) = 336

Therefore, there are 336 ways to form the committee with 3 people.
EXAMPLE
In a group of 10 people, a P1000, P500, P200 and P100 prize will be given. How
many ways can prizes be distributed?
Given: n = 10 Solution:
10!
r=4 𝑃(10,4) =
10−4 !
𝑛! 10!
Formula: 𝑃(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝑃 10,4 =
𝑛−𝑟 ! 6!
10𝑥9𝑥8𝑥7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝑃(10,4) =
(6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)
𝑃(10,4) = 5040

Therefore, the prizes can be distributed in 5040 ways.

EXAMPLE
In a group of 11 people, five P500 prize will be given. How many ways can prizes
be distributed?
Given: n = 11 Solution:
11!
r=5 𝐶(11,5) =
11−5 !5!
𝑛! 11!
Formula: 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟) = 𝐶 11,5 =
𝑛−𝑟 !𝑟! 6!5!
11𝑥10𝑥9𝑥8𝑥7𝑥6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1
𝐶(11,5) =
(6𝑥5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)(5𝑥4𝑥3𝑥2𝑥1)
55440
𝐶 11,5 =
120
𝐶 11,5 = 462
Therefore, the prizes can be distributed in 462 ways.
 MORE
EXAMPLES
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
1. Larry, Jun, Rod, Lyn and Espie are members of
a group from which a committee of three will
be chosen. How many committees can be
formed if:
a. there is no restriction?

10
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
1. Larry, Jun, Rod, Lyn and Espie are members of
a group from which a committee of three will
be chosen. How many committees can be
formed if:
b. Larry must be included?

6
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
1. Larry, Jun, Rod, Lyn and Espie are members of
a group from which a committee of three will
be chosen. How many committees can be
formed if:
c. Jun is excluded?

4
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
1. Larry, Jun, Rod, Lyn and Espie are members of
a group from which a committee of three will
be chosen. How many committees can be
formed if:
d. Larry is included and Jun is excluded?

3
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
1. Larry, Jun, Rod, Lyn and Espie are members of
a group from which a committee of three will
be chosen. How many committees can be
formed if:
e. Larry and Jun are included?

3
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
1. Larry, Jun, Rod, Lyn and Espie are members of
a group from which a committee of three will
be chosen. How many committees can be
formed if:
f. Larry and Jun are excluded?

1
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
2. A committee of 5 persons is to be formed
from 6 men and 4 women. In how many ways
can this be done when:
a. there is no restriction?

252
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
2. A committee of 5 persons is to be formed
from 6 men and 4 women. In how many ways
can this be done when:
b. at least 2 women are included?

186
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
2. A committee of 5 persons is to be formed
from 6 men and 4 women. In how many ways
can this be done when:
c. at most 2 men are included?

66
MORE EXAMPLES
Solve for the following.
2. A committee of 5 persons is to be formed
from 6 men and 4 women. In how many ways
can this be done when:
d. all women must be included?

6
 LET’S
PRACTICE!
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
1. In how many ways can you arrange 5
Mathematics books, 4 Science books, and 3
English books on a shelf such that books of the
same subject are kept together.

103 680
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
2. In how many ways can 6 students be seated
in a row of 6 seats if 2 of the students insist on
sitting beside each other?

240
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
3. In a gathering , the host makes sure that
each guest shakes hands with everyone else. If
there are 25 guests, how many handshakes will
be done?

300
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
4. Suppose you are the owner of a sari-sari store and you
w a n t t o p u t 1 2 p i e c e s o f c a n n e d g o o d s i n a r o w o n t h e s h e l f.
I f t h e r e a r e 3 i d e n t i c a l c a n s o f m e a t l o a f, 4 i d e n t i c a l c a n s o f
tomato sauce, 2 identical cans of sardines, and 3 identical
c a n s o f c o r n e d b e e f, i n h o w m a n y d i f fe r e n t w a y s c a n y o u
display these goods?

277 200
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
5. A soloist is auditioning for a musical play. If
she is required to sing any three of the 7
prepared songs, in how many ways can she
make her choice?

35
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
6. I n a d a n c e co n te st , e a c h p a r t i c i p at i n g g ro u p
m u st p e r fo r m t h re e k i n d s o f d a n c e . I f t h e re a re 4
c h o i c e s fo r b a l l ro o m d a n c e , 8 c h o i c e s fo r fo re i g n
d a n c e , a n d 5 c h o i c e s fo r h i p - h o p , i n h o w m a ny
p o s s i b l e ways ca n a d a n c e g ro u p s e l e c t t h e i r p i e c e ?

160
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
7. If three marbles are picked randomly from
a jar containing 6 red marbles and 8 green
marbles, in how many possible ways can it
happen that at least 2 of the marbles picked are
green?

224
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
8. There are 10 identified points on a number
line. How many possible rays can be drawn
using the given points?

90
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
9. Yo u a re t ra n sfe r r i n g to a n e w h o u s e . Yo u h ave a
co l l e c t i o n o f b o o ks , b u t yo u c a n n o t ta ke t h e m a l l
w i t h yo u . I n h o w m a ny ways ca n yo u s e l e c t 7 b o o ks
o u t o f 1 0 , a n d t h e n a r ra n ge t h e s e b o o k s o n a s h e l f i f
t h e re i s s p a c e e n o u g h fo r o n l y 5 b o o ks ?

302 400
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Solve for the following.
10. At Enzo’s Pizza Parlor, there are seven
different toppings, where a customer can order
any number of these toppings. If you dine at the
said pizza parlor, with how many possible
toppings can you actually order your pizza?

127
REFERENCES
• Compendium of Notes with Illustrative Examples – Mathematics 10 (Quarter 3
Lessons), pp. 13-22.
• Mathematics 10 Learning Module, pp. 301-315.
• https://www.mathsisfun.com /combinatorics /combinations-permutations.html
• https://www.onlinemathlearning .com /combinations .html
• https://e-gmat.com /blogs /difference -between-permutation-and-combination /
• http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=PSS3mCS_Ef8
• https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=3S8hs6aEts0
• https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=X 9-Yjxt6nf4