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4. PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS

Quick Review
1. An arrangement that can be formed by taking some or all of a finite set of things (or objects) is
called a permutation.
2. A permutation is said to be a linear permutation if the objects are arranged in a line. A linear
permutation is simply called as a permutation.
3. A permutation is said to be a circular permutation if the objects are arranged in the form of a
circle (a closed curve).
4. The number of (linear) permutations that can be formed by taking r things at a time from a set of
⎛n⎞
n dissimilar things (r ≤ n) is denoted by n Pr or P(n, r) or P ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ .
r⎝ ⎠
5. The number of permutations of n dissimilar things taken r at a time is equal to the number of
ways of filling of r blank places arranged in a row by n dissimilar things.
6. Fundamental counting principle : If an operation can be performed in m ways and a second
operation can be performed in n ways corresponding to each performance of the first operation,
then the two operations in succession can be performed in mn ways.
7. If in k operations, the first operation can be performed in n1 ways, the second operation can be
performed in n2 ways, third operation can be performed in n3 ways and so on, then the k
operations in succession can be performed in n1 n2 n3 … nk ways.
n
8. Pr = n(n – 1)(n – 2)…(n – r + 1).
9. If n is a non-negative integer, then factorial n is denoted by n! or ∠n and defined as follows.
(i) 0! = 1; (ii) If n > 0 then n! = n × (n – 1)!
10. If n is a positive integer, then n! is the product of first n positive integers. i.e., n! = 1.2.3…n.
n n!
11. Pr =
(n − r )!

12. The number of permutations of n dissimilar things taken all at a time is n Pn = n!.
(n −1)
13. n
Pr = Pr + r (n−1)Pr −1 .

14. The number of injections (one-one functions) that can be defined from a set containing r elements
into a set containing n elements is n Pr .
15. The number of bijections (one-one onto functions) that can be defined from a set containing n
elements onto a set containing n elements is n!.
16. The number of permutations of n dissimilar things taken r at a time when repetition of things is
allowed any number of times is nr.
17. The number of permutations of n dissimilar things taken not more than r at a time, when each
n(nr − 1)
thing may occur any number of times is .
n −1
18. The number of functions that can defined from a set containing r elements into a set containing n
elements is nr.

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Permutation and combination

19. The number of permutations of n things taken all at a time when p of them are all alike and the
n!
rest all different is .
p!

20. If p1 things are alike of one kind, p2 things are alike of second kind, p3 things are alike of third
kind and so on, pk things are alike of kth kind in p1+p2+…+pk things, then the number of
(p1 + p 2 + ... + p k )!
permutations obtained by taking all the things is .
p1! p 2 !...p k !
n
Pr
21. The number of circular permutations on n different things taken r at a time is .
r
22. The number of circular permutations of n different things taken all at a time is (n – 1)!.
n
Pr
23. The number of circular permutations of n things taken r at a time in one direction is .
2r
1
24. The number of circular permutations of n things taken all at a time in one direction is (n − 1)! .
2
25. (i) n Pr + r.n Pr −1 =(n +1) Pr
n
Pr
(ii) n −1
=n
Pr −1
n
Pr
(iii) n
= n − r + 1.
Pr −1
26. If n is a positive integer and p is a prime number then the exponent of p in n! is
⎡n⎤ ⎡ n ⎤ ⎡ n ⎤
⎢ p ⎥ + ⎢ p 2 ⎥ + ⎢ p3 ⎥ + ... where [x] denotes the greatest integer ≤ x.
⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦
27. The number of ways in which m (first type of different) things and n(second type of different)
things (m + 1 ≥ n) can be arranged in a row so that no two things of second kind come together is
m! (m +1) Pn .
28. The number of ways in which m (first type of different) things and n(second type of different)
things can be arranged in a row so that all the second type of things come together is n! (m+1)!.
29. The number of ways in which n(first type of different) things and n(second type of different)
things can be arranged in a row alternatively is 2 × n! × n!.
30. Sum of the numbers formed by taking all the given n digits (excluding 0) is (Sum of all the n
digits) × (n – 1)! × (111…n times).
31. Sum of the numbers formed by taking all the given n digits (including 0) is (Sum of all the n
digits)
[(n – 1)! × (111…n times) – (n – 2)! (111…(n – 1) times)].
32. Sum of all r-digit numbers formed by taking the given n digits (without zero) is (sum of all the n
digits) × n −1Pr −1 × (111…r times).
33. Sum of all the r-digit numbers formed by taking the given n digits (including 0) is (sum of all the
n digits) [ n −1Pr −1 × (111………r times) – n − 2 Pr − 2 × {111…(r–1) times}].

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Permutation and combination

34. The number of ways in which m (first type of different) things and n (second type of different)
things, (m ≥ n) can be arranged in a circle so that no two things of second kind come together is
(m – 1)! m Pn .
35. The number of ways in which m (first type of different) things and n(second type of different)
things can be arranged in a circle so that all the second type of things come together is m! n!.
36. The number of ways in which m (first type of different) things and n(second type of different)
things can be arranged in the form of garland so that all the second type of things come together is
m! n!/2.
37. A selection that can be formed by taking some or all of a finite set of things (or objects) is called a
combination.
38. Formation of a combination by taking r elements from a finite set A means picking up an r
element subset of A.
39. The number of combinations of n dissimilar things taken r at a time is equal to the number of r
element subsets of a set containing n elements.
40. The number of combinations of n dissimilar things taken r at a time is denoted by n Cr or C(n, r)
⎛n⎞ ⎛n⎞
or C ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ or ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ .
⎝r ⎠ ⎝r ⎠
n n!
41. Cr =
r! (n − r )!
n
Pr n(n − 1)(n − 2)...(n − r + 1)
42. n
Cr = = .
r! 1.2.3....r
n
43. Cr = n Cn − r .
44. n
Cr + n Cr −1 = (n + 1) Cr .

45. If n Cr = n C s , then r = s or r + s = n.
n(n − 3)
46. The number of diagonals in a regular polygon of n sides is n C 2 − n = .
2
47. The number of ways in which (m + n) things can be divided into two different groups of m and n
(m + n)!
things respectively is .
m! n!
48. The number of ways in which 2n things can be divided into two equal groups of n things each is
(2n)!
.
2! (n! ) 2

49. The number of ways in which (n1 + n2 +…nk) things can be divided into k different groups of n1
(n1 + n 2 + ... + nk )!
things, n2 things, n3 things, ………… nk things respectively is .
n1! n 2 !...nk !

50. The number of ways in which kn things can be divided into k equal groups of n things each is
(kn)!
.
k! (n! )k
51. The total number of combinations of (p + q) things taken any number at a time when p things are
alike of one kind and q things are alike of a second kind is (p + 1) (q + 1).

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Permutation and combination

52. The total number of combinations of p + q things taken any number at a time, includes the case in
which nothing will be selected.
53. The total number of combinations of (p + q) things taken one or more at a time when p things are
alike of one kind and q things are alike of a second kind is (p + 1)(q + 1) – 1.
54. The total number of combinations of (p1+p2+…+pk) things taken any number at a time when p1
things are alike of one kind, p2 things are alike of a second kind, … pk things are alike of kth kind,
is (p1 + 1) (p2 + 1) … (pk + 1).
55. The total number of combinations of (p1+p2+…+pk) things taken one or more at a time when p1
things are alike of one kind, p2 things are alike of a second kind, … pk things are alike of kth kind,
is (p1 + 1) (p2 + 1) … (pk + 1) – 1.
56. The total number of combinations of n different things taken any number at a time is 2n .
57. The total number of combinations of n different things taken one or more at a time is 2n –1.
58. n
C 0 + n C1 + n C 2 + ...n Cn = 2n .

59. If n is a positive integer, then n can be uniquely expressed as n = p1α1p 2α2 ...pkαk where p1, p2,…pk are
primes in increasing order and α1, α2, …αk are non-negative integers. This representation of n is
called prime factorisation of n in canonical form or prime power factorisation of n.
60. The number of positive divisors of a positive integer n = p1α1p 2α2 ...pkαk (the prime factorisation) is
(α1 + 1)(α2 + 1)(α3 + 1)…(αk + 1).
61. (i) n Cr = n Cn − r (ii) n Cr + n Cr −1 = (n +1) Cr (iii) n Cr = n C s ⇒ r = s or r + s = n
n
Cr n −r +1 n
Cr n n
Cr n
62. (i) = (ii) (n −1)
= (iii) (n − 1)
=
n
Cr −1 r Cr n−r Cr −1 r

63. The number of parallelograms formed when a set of m parallel lines are intersecting another set
of n parallel lines is m C 2 × n C 2 .
64. If there are n points in a plane no three of which are on the same straight line excepting p points
which are collinear, then
(i) the number of straight lines formed by joining them is n C 2 − p C 2 + 1.
(ii) the number of triangles formed by joining them is n C 3 − p C3 .
65. The number of ways that n sovereigns can be given away when there are k applicants and any
applicant may have either 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …… or n sovereigns is (n + k −1) Ck −1 .
66. (i) The number of ways in which exactly r letters can be placed in wrongly addressed
⎡ 1 1 1 1⎤
envelopes when n letters are putting in n addressed envelopes is n Pr ⎢1 − + − + ... + ( −1) r ⎥ .
⎣ 1! 2 ! 3 ! r !⎦

(ii) The number of ways in which n different letters can be put in their n addressed envelopes so that
⎡ 1 1 1 1⎤
all the letters are in the wrong envelopes = n! ⎢1 − + − + ... + ( −1) n ⎥ .
⎣ 1! 2 ! 3 ! n! ⎦

67. (i) The number of ways of answering one or more of n questions is 2n − 1 .

(ii) The number of ways of answering one or more of n questions when each question have
an alternative is 3 n − 1 .

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Permutation and combination

(iii) The number of ways of answering all of n questions when each question have an
alternative is 2n .
68. The number of distinct positive integral divisors of p1k1pk22 ...pkrr where p1, p2, …,pr are primes in
ascending order, is (k1 + 1)(k2 + 1) …(kr + 1).
69. The sum of distinct positive integral divisors of p1k1pk22 ...pkrr where p1, p2, …,pr are primes in
p1k1 + 1 − 1 p k22 + 1 − 1 pkr r +1 − 1
ascending order, is ⋅ .... .
p1 − 1 p2 − 1 pr − 1

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