10

Mathematics
Quarter 3 – Module 22:
Solving problem Involving Permutations
Mathematics – Grade 10
Quarter 3 – Module 22: Solving Problem Involving Permutations

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 Mathematics 10

Solving Problems Involving Permutations

To the Learner
It is said that in the study of statistics, there are two kinds of
problems. Then first problem possibilities can be done through listing
everything that can happen in a given situation and the other one is
determining how many different things can happen without actually
making a complete list. The second problem is essentially important
because there are many situations in which we do not need a complete
list. In this module, you will experience how to dealt with problems by
simply not to list possibilities.
.

In this module you are expected to demonstrate understanding on

the concepts about Permutations and Combinations. Specifically you
should be able to :

Solves problems involving permutation.

Vocabulary List

Circular Permutation - the different possible arrangements of objects in

a circle. The number of permutations, P , of n objects around a circle is
given by P = ( n – r) !

Distinguishable Permutation – refers to the permutations of a set of

objects where some of them are alike. The number of distinguishable
permutations of n objects when p are alike, q are alike, and so on is given
𝑛!
by P =
𝑝!𝑞!𝑟!…
Permutations – refers to the different possible arrangements of a set of
𝑛!
objects. The permutation of n objects take r at a time is P =
( 𝑛−𝑟)!

Let’s Try This

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. In a town fiesta singing competition with 12 contestants, in how many
ways can the organizer arrange the first three singers?
A. 132 B. 990 C. 1320 D. 1716

2. In how many ways can 8 people be seated around a circular table if

two of them insist on sitting beside each other?
A. 360 B. 720 C. 1440 D. 5040

3. . Find the number of distinguishable permutations of the letters of the

word PASS.
A. 4 B. 12 C. 36 D. 144

4. Ms. Santos asked Renz to draw all the diagonals of a certain

polygon on the blackboard. Renz was able to draw 27 diagonals
which his teacher declared correct. What was the given polygon?
A. pentagon B. nonagon C. hexagon D. decagon

5. In how many ways can 4 men and 3 women arrange themselves in

a row for picture taking if the men and women must stand in alternate
positions?
A. 5040 B. 720 C. 144 D. 30
 Study and Learn!
ʘ
Learning Activities

On the previous module you are given the ways to determine the
arrangement of n objects taken r at a time, the permutations of objects
alike and circular permutations. By the way, P ( n, r) can also reads as
‘n permute r’ .
Let’s proceed now in solving problems involving permutations.

Example 1
Annaliza has downloaded 12 Filipino songs in her cellphone. How
many different ways can she play 6 songs?

Solution:
12! 12! 12●11● 10● 9● 8 ●7● 6!
P(12, 6) =
( 12−6)!
= = = 665,280 ways
6! 6!

Example 2
There are six couples who want to have their picture taken. In how
many ways can they arrange themselves in a row if:
a. Couples must stay together?
b. They may stand anywhere?

Solution:
a. If each couple must stay together, they will be treated as one and
so there are 6 pairs. However each couple can also be permuted.

P(6, 6) ● P(2, 2) = 6! ● 2! – 1440 ways

Therefore, there are 1440 possible ways to arrange the 6 couples if
each couple will stay together.
 b. If the couples can stand anywhere, we have,
P(12, 12) = 12! = 479 001 600

Remember 12! Can be expanded as,

12 ! = 12 ●11 ●10● 9 ●8 ●7 ●6 ●5● 4● 3● 2● 1 = 479 001 600

Therefore, there are 479 001 600 ways to arrange the 6 couples if
they my stand anywhere.

Example 3
How many permutations can be made from letters in the word “
SUNDAY” if a) 4 letters are used a time, b) all letters are used, c) all letters
are used but the first is a vowel?

Solution:
a.) This finding the number of permutation of 6 taken 4 at a time, we
have
6! 6! 6●5● 4● 3● 2!
P ( 6, 4) =
( 6− 4)!
= = = 360 permutations
2! 2!

b.) Since all letters are used, n = 6 and r = 6, the P (6,6) = 6! – 720
permutations

c.) The first letter in each permutation is either “U” and “A” so we have
two choices for the first letter. After selecting the first letter , we can
still select the remaining 5 without restriction. The total number of
ways of selecting the first letter as vowel, and then the other 5 letters
without restriction is,

P(2,2) ● P ( 5, 5) = 2! ● 5! = 2 ●5● 4● 3● 2●1 = 240 permutations

The next examples are for distinguishable and circular

permutations.
Example 4
How many ways can the letters in the word IMPOSSIBLE be
arranged?

Solution:
The word IMPOSSIBLE has 10 letters wherein there are 2 I’s, and
2 S’s, thus to find the number of ways the be arranged is,
2
10! 10 ●9● 8● 7●6●5●4 ●3● 2 ●1
P= , = = 907 200 ways
2!2! 2● 2 ●1

Example 5
In how many ways 3 English books, 4 MAPEH books and 2 Filipino
books be arranged in a shelf?

Solution:
There are 9 book I all, wherein there are 3 the same English
books, 4 the same MAPEH books and 2 same Filipino books.

4 2
9! 9● 8● 7●6●5●4!
P= , = = 1260 ways
3! 4!2! 4!3 ●2● 2 ●1

Example 6
In how many ways can 7 people be seated in a round table?
Solution:
P ( n – 1) = (7 -1) !
= 6! = 6●5●4 ●3● 2 ●1 = 720 ways
Therefore, there are 720 possible ways can 7 people be seated in a round
table.

Example 7
 Mrs Cruz invites 10 people in a dinner gathering. a.) In how
many ways can they be seated if they can sit on any of the chairs? b.)3
people insist on sitting beside each other.

Solution:
a) P( 10-1) ! = 9●8●7●6●5●4 ●3● 2 ●1 = 3, 628, 800 ways

Therefore there are 3 628 800possible ways for 10 people to sit is a

round table.

b) If there are 5 people insist on sitting each other, these 3 people

will be counted as one, so only will be arranged in a circular permutation,
however these 3 people can be arranged also, thus ,

P(8-1)●P (3,3) = 7! ● 3! = 7●6●5●4 ●3● 2 ●1● 3● 2 ●1

= 30,240 ways

Therefore , there are 30 240 possible ways to arranged 10 people

in a circle if 3 of them insist on sitting beside each other.

Are the examples provided increase your understanding about

permutations. How did you relate it to real life situations? Have you
realized that determining possibilities can actually done without listing
possible answer but it can give you possible ways in doing it? Now let’s
proceed in answering the problems in the next page.
 Let’s Do This

Practice Task 1
Match Column A with the correct expression in Column B.

A B
1. In how many ways may a radiologist A. P ( 6,6) ●P ( 2,2)
assign 5 patients to undergo a
screening test for pulmonary
tuberculosis x – ray? B. P (10, 5)
2. In how many different ways may 7
victim of the cholera epidemic be
assigned to a ward with 7 beds if two 7!
of the victims who are sisters insists in C. P =
2!2!
being together.
3. How many ways can the number 235
03 51 be arranged?
4. In how many different ways can 5 D. P ( 11 – 1) !
motorcycles be parked if there are10
available spaces?
5. There are five male and six female
who will be seated in a circle? How E. P ( 5,5)
many possible ways can they be
arranged?

Let’s Do More

Practice Task 2
Answer each permutation problem completely.
1. A teacher wants to assign 4 different tasks to her 4 students. In how
many possible ways can she do it?
 2. In a certain general assembly, three major prizes are at stake. In
how many ways can the first, second and third prizes be drawn from
a box containing 120 names?

3. How many distinguishable permutations are possible with all the

letters of the word ELLIPSES.

4. Find the number of different ways that a family of 6 can be seated

around a circular table.

5. How many 4 – digit numbers can be formed from the digits

1,3,5,6,8,and 9 if no repetition is allowed?

Let’s Try Harder

Answer each permutation problem completely.

1. In how many different ways can you arrange 8 figurines on a shelf?

2. There are 4 different mathematics books, and 5 different Science

books. In how many ways can the books be arranged on a shelf if,
a. There are no restrictions?
b. Books of the same subject must be placed together.
c. If they must be placed alternately?

3. Five couples want to have tier picture taken. In how many ways can
they arrange themselves in a row if,
a. Couples must say together?
b. They may stand anywhere?

4. There are 12 people in a dinner gathering. In how many ways can

the host ( on of the 12) arrange his guests around a dining table if,
a. They can sit on any of the chairs?
b. 3 people insist on sitting beside each other?
 c. 2 people refuse to sit beside each other?

5. A teacher draw a number line on the board and named some points
on it. The teacher then asked the class to list all the rays in the figure.
A student answered 30 rays in all and the teacher said it was correct.
How many point were named in the figure?

Let’s Test Ourselves

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. In how many different ways can 7 potted plants be arranged in a row?

A. 5040 B. 2520 C. 720 D. 210

2. In how many different ways can 10 different-colored horses be

positioned in a carousel?
A. 504 B. 4032 C. 362 880 D. 3 628 800

3. In how many possible ways can Juan answer a 10-item matching type quiz
if there are also 10 choices and he answers by mere guessing?
A. 3 628 800 B. 40 320 C. 720 D. 10

4. Khristelle was able to calculate the total number of 3-digit numbers that
can be formed from a given set of non zero digits, without repetition. If
there were 60 numbers in all, how many digits were actually given?
A. 8 B. 7 C. 6 D. 5

5. How many different code words can be made using the letters A, A, A, B
, B, C, D, D, D D if the word must contain 10 letters.
A. 12600 B. 151 200 C. 362 880 D. 3 628 800
 Let’s Enrich Ourselves

Do this tasks by group or individually.

Situation:
You are assigned as the overall chairman in the seating
arrangement of an international convention. There are 12 countries that
will be participating for the forum namely; China, Canada, France,
Germany, Philippines, India, Japan, Malaysia, USA, South Korea, and
United Kingdom and Indonesia.
a. If the seating arrangment is to be circular, how many seating
arrangements are possible?
b. Create your own seat plan for these 12 countries based on your
knowledge of their bakgrounds. Discuss why you arranged them
that way?

Rubrics for Problem Solved

Score Descriptor
4 Used an appropriate strategy to come up with the correct
solution, communicates ideas accurately and provides
appropriate explanations.
3 Used an appropriate strategy to come up with a solution,
communicates ideas accurately although there are some
misintepreted ideas.
2 Used an appropriate strategy, but shows gap in applying
mathematical concepts.
1 Attempted to solve the problem but used an inappropriate
strategy that led to a wrong solution.
 ANSWER KEY

Let’s Try This

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. C

Let’s Do This

1. E
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. D

Let’s Do More
1. 24
2. 1 685 880
3. 5 040
4. 120
5. 360

Let’s Try Harder

1. 40 320
2. a. 362 880
b. 5 760
c. 2 880
 3. a. 240
b.3 628 800
4. a. 39 916 800
b. 2 177 280
c. 32 659 200
5. 6

Let’s Test Ourselves

1. A\
2. D
3. A
4. D
5. A

Let’s Enrich Ourselves

The practical task allow students to work in a small group and if
not possible on their own. The situation given will test their understanding
on the topic about permutation and how it helps in making conclusions
and wise decisions.