Permutation or combination

In summary, permutation and combination are two methods of arranging a set of objects, with permutation involving specific order and repetition and combination not taking order into account. To determine which to use, consider if the problem involves order and repetition. They can be applied in real-life situations, with permutation being used when order and repetition matter and combination when they do not. The formulas for calculating permutations and combinations are n! / (n-r)! and n! / (r!(n-r)!) respectively. A helpful way to remember the difference is to think of a lock and a combination lock.
  • #1
sebastianbravom
3
0

Homework Statement



in how many different ways can 7 different books be arranged in a row if
a. 3 specified books must be together,
b. two specified boks mus occupy both ends


Homework Equations



i don't udnerstand wether it is a permutation or a combination.

The Attempt at a Solution



a. 4! x 7!
b. 7 x 5! x 6
 
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  • #2
no.

Try first this: how many permutations (that means unique orderings) of the 7 books can you have if we have 7 distinct books? If we tie three books together, how is that in comparision to a single book? In other words, can we treat it like a single book or not? Then how many books or book groups do we have to recombine? If we have two specified books on either end, how many books can we move around?
 
  • #3
sebastianbravom said:

Homework Statement



in how many different ways can 7 different books be arranged in a row if
a. 3 specified books must be together,
b. two specified boks mus occupy both ends


Homework Equations



i don't udnerstand wether it is a permutation or a combination.
Then you need to learn the definition of "permutation"! A permutation always involves different orders or arrangements. Combination" involve grouping different things without regard for order. Now, does this involve putting the books in different orders?

The Attempt at a Solution



a. 4! x 7!
b. 7 x 5! x 6

a) Think of the three books that must be together as a single book. Now you have 5 books- there are 5! ways of doing that. But for each of those, there are 3! ways of interchanging those 3 books.

b) Remove the two books that are to be at the ends. That leaves 5 books. Choose an order for those 5 books. There are 5! ways to do that. Then you have to decide which book to put on the left end. There are 2 ways to do that. Once that is done, you don't have to decide which book to put on the right end- you only have 1 left.
 

1. What is the difference between permutation and combination?

Permutation and combination are both ways of arranging a set of objects, but they differ in terms of order and repetition. Permutation involves arranging objects in a specific order, while combination does not take order into account. Additionally, permutation allows for repetition of objects, while combination does not.

2. How do I know when to use permutation or combination in a problem?

In order to determine whether to use permutation or combination, you need to consider if the problem involves order and repetition. If the order of objects matters and repetition is allowed, then permutation should be used. If order does not matter and repetition is not allowed, then combination is the appropriate choice.

3. Can permutation and combination be used in real-life applications?

Yes, permutation and combination can be used in many real-life scenarios. For example, in a lottery, the order of numbers drawn is important, making it a permutation problem. In a committee of people, the order of their seating may not matter, making it a combination problem.

4. What is the formula for calculating permutations and combinations?

The formula for permutation is n! / (n-r)!, where n is the total number of objects and r is the number of objects being arranged. The formula for combination is n! / (r!(n-r)!), where n is the total number of objects and r is the number of objects being chosen.

5. Is there an easy way to remember the difference between permutation and combination?

One way to remember the difference is to think of a lock and a combination lock. In a lock, the order of numbers matters, making it a permutation problem. In a combination lock, the order of numbers does not matter, making it a combination problem.

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