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III. Combinations

Combination is a set of things without reference to the order in


which they are arranged. Thus, rix, rxi, xri are all combinations,
although they are different permutations.

The number of possible combinations of r objects from a collection


of n objects is given by the formula

n!
n Cr 
𝑛
. or 𝑛 𝐶𝑟 = ( ).
(n  r )! r! 𝑟

Example 8: Evaluate the following.


a) 8C3 = 56 b) 12C0 = 1 c) 15C8= 6435

Example 8.1: How possible combinations are there in 6/55 Mega Lotto?
a) 55C6 = 28, 989, 675
b) How many possible combinations are there in the system 10 of the
6/55 lotto? How much will you pay if a ticket costs P20?
System 10 = a player can choose any 10 of the total 55 numbers.
10C6= 210 (possible tickets/combinations)
Total payout = P4,200

EXAMPLE 8.2 Two officers are to be chosen from a student club consisting of 50
people. How many different choices of officers are possible if
a) there are no restrictions ANS
b) A and B will serve together or not at all; ANS.
c) C and D will not serve together. ANS.

Example 9: A poker hand consists of five cards dealt from an ordinary deck of 52
cards.
a) How many possible poker hands are there?
Solution: 52C5 = 2,598,960 ans.
b) How many different hands are there consisting of three aces and two
kings?
Solution: Total possible combinations = (3A’s)+(2 K’s)
( by FPCM) = (4C3) x (4C2) = 24 ans

c) How many different hands are there consisting of all red cards?
Solution: 26C5 = 65,780 ans

d) How many different hands are there consisting of 2 hearts, 2


diamonds, and 1 spade?
Solution:
2

Total possible combinations = (2 Hearts)+(2 Diamonds)+ 1 spade


( by FPCM) = (13C2) x (13C2) x (13C1) =
=79,092 ans

EXAMPLE: How many po ssible full houses are there?


Full house: 3 of a kind (trio) + a pair (two of a kind) ANS. 3744

Seatwork:
#1: Nine chemical engineering students are going on a field trip using 3 cars that
hold 2, 4 and 5 passengers respectively. In how many ways is it possible to
transport the 9 people to the ski lodge, using all the cars. ANS 4410

#2: A witness to a hit-and-run accident told the police that the license plate
contained the letters R,L & H (not in order) followed by 3 digits, the first of which
is a 5. If the witness cannot recall the last two digits, but is certain that all 3 digits
are different, find the maximum number of automobile registrations that the police
may have to check. ANS. 432
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SEATWORK:

#1: How many different hands are there consisting of 3 kings and the other two
cards do not form a pair? ANS 8448

#2: How many different hands are there consisting of 3 of a kind and the other
two are face cards which do not form a pair. ANS. 4224
Hint: we have two cases here; non face trio and face trio.

#3 a) In how many ways can 3 boys and 2 girls sit in a row? b) In how many ways can
they sit in a row if the boys and girls are each to sit together? ANSWERS: 120 ways,
24 ways

#4: How many different signals, each consisting of 6 flags hung in a vertical line, can be
formed from 4 identical red flags and 2 identical blue flags. ANSWER: 15 signals

#5: A delegation of 4 students is selected each year from a college to attend an annual
meeting. A) In how many ways can the delegation be chosen if there are 12 eligible
students? B) In how many ways if two of the eligible students will not attend the meeting
together? NSWERS: 495 ways, 450 ways

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