Choosing a committee from a class

[gabby989062]

Homework Statement

How many ways can a 5-member committee be chosen from a class with34 students?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Using the formula from the book, I did 34! / (34-5)! and I got 33,390,720.

This gives me the same answer as doing 34*33*32*31*30, but that's the Permutations method. I thought in Permutations the order mattered, and in combinations they did not. But the order doesn't matter here. But the Combinations method of 34!/(5!*(34-5)!) gives me 278256 ways. Which way is right??!

 

[chaoseverlasting]

The second way. The permutations don't matter here. The committee will be the same regardless of the order the members are chosen in. Hence, it will be 34!/(5!*(34-5)!).