Quarter 4 Lesson 6

Combination of n Objects
Taken r at a Time
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to

do the following:

● Correctly differentiate permutation from the

combination.

● Correctly identify the proper use of permutation or

combination in a given situation.
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to

do the following:

● Correctly define and illustrate a combination.

● Accurately solve word problems involving the number

of combinations of 𝑛 objects taken 𝑟 at a time.
 Learn about It!

Combination

This refers to the number of ways in which 𝑛 objects can be

taken 𝑟 at a time. The order in a combination is not important.

Example:
A fruit salad has three fruits: apple, peach, and banana. The
three fruits illustrate a combination since their order of how
they are placed on the salad does not matter.
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

The number of combinations of 𝑛 objects taken 𝑟 at a time,

denoted by 𝑛 𝐶𝑟 , is given by the formula

𝑛!
𝑛 𝐶𝑟 =
𝑛 − 𝑟 ! 𝑟!
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

𝑛!
𝑛 𝐶𝑟 =
𝑛 − 𝑟 ! 𝑟!

where 𝑛 represents the total number of objects, and 𝑟

represents the number of objects being taken or considered.
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

Example:
Evaluate 8 𝐶5 .
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

Example:
1. Identify 𝑛 and 𝑟.

𝑛 = 8, 𝑟 = 5
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

Example:
2. Substitute 𝑛 and 𝑟 into the formula and then solve.

𝑛!
𝑛𝐶𝑟 =
𝑛 − 𝑟 ! 𝑟!
8!
8𝐶5 =
8 − 5 ! 5!
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

Example:
8!
=
3! 5!
8 7 6 (5!)
=
3 2 (1) ∙ 5!
336
=
6
= 56
 Learn about It!

Combination of 𝒏 Objects Taken 𝒓 at a Time

Example:
Thus, 𝟖 𝑪𝟓 = 𝟓𝟔.
 Try it!Practice
Let’s

Example 1: Determine whether the following situations

illustrate combination or permutation:
a. A team of 8 basketball players needs to choose a captain
and a co-captain.
b. Determine the number of ways to choose 2 household
chores to do before dinner from 4 different chores.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Determine whether the following situations illustrate combination or

permutation:
a. A team of 8 basketball players needs to choose a captain and a co-captain.
b. Determine the number of ways to choose 2 household chores to do before dinner from
4 different chores.

Solution:
a. A captain and a co-captain need to be chosen from a team
of 8. Since the positions are distinct, their order of
selection is important. Thus, the problem illustrates
permutation.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Determine whether the following situations illustrate combination or

permutation:
a. A team of 8 basketball players needs to choose a captain and a co-captain.
b. Determine the number of ways to choose 2 household chores to do before dinner from
4 different chores.

Solution:
b. The concern in the problem is the number of ways to
choose the chores and not the order of doing the chores.
Thus, the problem deals with a combination.
 Try it!Practice
Let’s

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5

finishers will advance to the finals. In how many possible
ways can the finalists be chosen?
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5 finishers will advance to the
finals. In how many possible ways can the finalists be chosen?

Solution:
1. Analyze the problem.

We need to determine the number of combinations of 5

finalists from 20 people in the race.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5 finishers will advance to the
finals. In how many possible ways can the finalists be chosen?

Solution:
2. Identify 𝑛 and 𝑟.

There are 20 people in the race, so 𝑛 = 20. The top 5 will

advance to the finals, so 𝑟 = 5.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5 finishers will advance to the
finals. In how many possible ways can the finalists be chosen?

Solution:
3. Substitute 𝑛 and 𝑟 into the formula.

𝑛!
𝑛 𝐶𝑟 =
𝑛 − 𝑟 ! 𝑟!
20!
20 𝐶5 =
20 − 5 ! 5!
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5 finishers will advance to the
finals. In how many possible ways can the finalists be chosen?

Solution:
3. Substitute 𝑛 and 𝑟 into the formula.

20!
=
15! 5!
20 19 18 17 16 15!
=
15! ⋅ 5 4 3 2 1
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5 finishers will advance to the
finals. In how many possible ways can the finalists be chosen?

Solution:
3. Substitute 𝑛 and 𝑟 into the formula.

1 860 480
=
120
= 15 504
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: A group of 20 people joins a race, and the top 5 finishers will advance to the
finals. In how many possible ways can the finalists be chosen?

Solution:
Therefore, the finalists can be chosen in 15 504 ways.
 Try It!

Individual Practice:
1. We need to use permutation to determine the number of
ways 6 students can be seated in a row of 6 seats if 2 of
the students insist on sitting beside each other. Is this
correct? Why or why not?

2. A student has 9 friends, consisting of 4 boys and 5 girls.

In how many ways can he invite them to his birthday
party if he can only invite 3 boys and 3 girls?
 Try It!

Group Practice: To be done in two to five groups

How many words with 4 consonants and 3 vowels can be

made from 12 consonants and 4 vowels such that all the
letters are different?

Note that “word” in this case shall mean any string of

English letters that may or may not have a valid definition
or meaning.
 Key Points

● A combination of objects refers to the number of ways in

which 𝑛 objects can be taken 𝑟 at a time. The order is not
important for combination.
 Key Points

● The combination of 𝒏 objects taken 𝒓 at a time,

denoted by 𝑛 𝐶𝑟 is given by the formula

𝑛!
𝑛 𝐶𝑟 =
𝑛 − 𝑟 ! 𝑟!

where 𝑛 represents the total number of objects, and 𝑟

represents the number of objects being taken or
considered.