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Pure Math 30 - Combinatorics Lesson 4

This document explains permutations and combinations through examples of expanding and simplifying expressions. It covers the basic permutation and combination formulas and shows how to solve equations involving factors. Examples demonstrate solving word problems by setting up equations using permutations and combinations formulas. The document is a lesson on permutations and combinations for a Pure Math 30 course.

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Babu Aravind
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77 views

Pure Math 30 - Combinatorics Lesson 4

This document explains permutations and combinations through examples of expanding and simplifying expressions. It covers the basic permutation and combination formulas and shows how to solve equations involving factors. Examples demonstrate solving word problems by setting up equations using permutations and combinations formulas. The document is a lesson on permutations and combinations for a Pure Math 30 course.

Uploaded by

Babu Aravind
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4

Pure Math 30: Explained!


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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part One: Expansions
Permutations & Combinations Formulas: The following examples show how
to expand and simplify expressions involving permutations & combinations:

n!
n Pr = (n - r )!

&

n!
nCr = r!(n - r )!

Example 1: Expand & simplify 6P2 without using a calculator:


6!
6! 6 5 4 3 2 1
P =
= =
= 6 5 = 30
6 2 (6 2)! 4!
4 3 2 1

Example 2: Expand & simplify 7C5 without using a calculator:


7!
7!
76 5 4 3 2 1
7 6 42
C
=
=
=
=
=
= 21
7 5 5!(7 5)! 5!2! ( 5 4 3 2 1) (2 1)
2
2

Questions:
Expand & simplify each of the following without using a calculator:
1) 5P3
2) 6P3
3) 8C6

Answers:
1)

4) Express 7! as a permutation
3!

5!

5 43 2 1
21

2!

2)

6!

654 3 2 1
3 21

3!

5) Express 8! as a combination
2!6!

3)
4)

8!

= 6 5 4 = 120

87 6 5 4 3 2 1

6!2!

6 5 4 3 2 1 2 1

7!

7!

3!

5)

= 5 4 3 = 60

8!
2!6!

(7 4) !
=

87

= 7 P4

8!
2 !(8 2) !

= 8 C2

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= 28

Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part One: Expansions
Canceling With Factorials: The following examples will introduce
variables that must be manipulated to simplify expressions.
To expand factorials,
you will multiply all the numbers going
down to one. eg. 5! = 54321
If you ever want to stop before reaching 1, you can
do so by simply placing the factorial after the number
you want to stop at. eg. 5! = 543!

Example 1: Expand 7P3 by canceling factorials:


7 P3 =

7!
7! 7 6 5 4 !
= =
= 7 6 5 = 210
(7 3)! 4!
4!
If you want to
expand algebraic expressions,
you must do so by subtracting one from each term.
n! = n(n-1)(n-2)(n-3)1
(n-2)! = (n-2)(n-3)(n-4)1
(n+4)! = (n+4)(n+3)(n+2)1
(n+1)! = (n+1)n(n-1)(n-2)1

Dont forget you can stop expanding at any term by writing


your factorial symbol to indicate the end!

Example 2: Simplify the expression (n + 2)!


(n -1)!

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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part One: Expansions
Example 3: Simplify the expression (2n +1)!
(2n + 3)!

Example 4: Simplify the expression (n -3)!


(n - 4)!
Remember the
following:

0! = 1

Example 5: Simplify the expression (n + 2)!


n +2

Questions:
Expand & simplify each of the following without using a calculator:

1) (n + 2)!
n!
2) (3n + 2)!
(3n + 3)!
3) (n -1)!
(n -3)!
4) (n -1)!
n -1

Answers:
1)

( n + 2) !

n!

2)

(3n + 2) !

3)

( n - 1) !

(3n + 3) !

( n - 3) !

4)

( n + 2)( n +1) n!
= ( n + 2)( n + 1)
n!

(3n + 2)!
(3n +3)(3n + 2)!

1
3n +3

( n-1)( n-2)( n-3)!


= ( n - 1)( n - 2)
( n-3)!

( n-1)! ( n 1)( n 2)!


=
= ( n 2) !
n-1
n 1

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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part Two: Equations
Equations with Permutations & Combinations: The following examples
will require simplification in order to obtain a value for the unknown.

Example 1: Solve for n in the


following equation: (n + 2)! = 8
(n +1)!

Example 4: Solve for n in the


following equation: n P2 = 56

(n + 2)!
=8
(n + 1)!
(n + 2) (n + 1)!
(n + 1)!

P2 = 56

n!
= 56
(n 2)!
n(n 1) (n 2)!

=8

(n 2)!

= 56

n+2=8
n=6

n(n 1) = 56

Example 2: Solve for n in the


following equation: (n +1)! = 10n
(n -1)!

n 2 n 56 = 0
(n 8)(n + 7) = 0
n=8

n 2 n = 56

(n + 1)!
= 10n
(n 1)!
(n + 1) n (n 1)!
(n 1)!

Reject -7 since you cant have negative


objects to select from.
= 10 n

n + 1 = 10
n=9

Example 5: Simplify:

Example 3: Solve for n in the


following equation: (n + 3)! = 20(n +1)!
( n + 3)! = 20( n + 1)!
( n + 3)(n + 2) ( n + 1)! = 20 (n + 1)!

C300
400 C100

400

( n + 3)(n + 2) = 20
n 2 + 5n + 6 = 20

C300
400 C100

400

400!
( 400 300 )!300!
=
400!

400
100 ) !100!
(

( 400 100 )!100!


400!

400!
( 400 300 )!300!

400!
300! 100!

100! 300!
400!
=1
=

n 2 + 5n 14 = 0
( n + 7)( n 2) = 0
n=2
Reject -7 since n must be a whole number.

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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part Two: Equations
Questions:
1)

(n 1)!
=2
(n 3)!

2)

n!
= 5n
(n - 2)!

5) 36
P
= 9 P
(2n 1) (n 1)
2n n

1
6) 2n+ 2 P1 = 2n P2
2
3) (n + 2)! = 12n !

4)

n!
= n 1 Pn 3
10

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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part Two: Equations
Answers:
1)

2)

(n 1)!
=2
(n 3)!
(n 1)(n 2) ( n 3)!
(n 3)!
(n 1)( n 2) = 2

3)

n(n 1) (n 2)!
(n - 2)!

n 3n + 2 = 2

n(n 1) = 5n

n 3n = 0

n 2 n = 5n

n(n 3) = 0

n 2 6n = 0
n(n 6) = 0

2
2

n=3

(n + 2)! = 12n !

n!
= 5n
(n - 2)!
=2

4)

(n + 2)(n + 1) n ! = 12 n !
(n + 2)(n + 1) = 12

= 5n

n 2 + 3n + 2 = 12
n 2 + 3n 10 = 0
(n + 5)(n 2) = 0
n=2

n=6

5)

6)

= 9 P
P
36
(2n 1) (n 1)
2n n
(2n 1)!
(2n)!
= 9
36
(2n n)!
[(2n 1) (n 1)]!
(2n 1)!
(2n)!
= 9
36
n!
n!
(2n 1)!
(2n) (2n 1)!
36
= 9
n!
n!
36 = 9(2n)
36 = 18n
n=2

n!
= n 1 Pn 3
10
n!
(n 1)!
=
10 [ (n 1) ( n 3) ]!
n ! (n 1)!
=
10
2!
n (n 1)! (n 1)!
=
10
2
n 1
=
10 2
2n = 10
n=5

2n+ 2 P1 = 2 2n P2

(2n + 2)!

[(2n + 2) 1]!

1 ( 2n ) !

2 [ 2n 2]!

( 2n ) !
(2n + 2)! 1
=
[ 2n + 1]! 2 [ 2n 2]!
(2n + 2) (2n + 1)!

[ 2n + 1]!

1 2 n(2n 1) (2n 2)!

(2n 2)!
2

2n + 2 = n(2n 1)
2n + 2 = 2n 2 n
0 = 2n 2 3n 2
0 = (2n + 1)(n 2)
n=2

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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part Three: Word Problems
Word Problems with Permutations & Combinations: The following
examples will require the use of algebra in order to solve the
question.

Example 1: If there are 78 handshakes in a room, and each person shook every other
persons hand one time, how many people are in the room?
n

C2 = 78

n!
= 78
2!(n 2)!
n(n 1) (n 2)!
2 (n 2)!

= 78

n(n 1)
= 78
2
n 2 n = 156
n 2 n 156 = 0
(n 13)(n + 12) = 0
n = 13

Example 2: If there are 56 games in a series, and each team played every other team
twice, once at home and once away, how many teams are there?
n

P2 = 56

n!
= 56
(n 2)!
n(n 1) (n 2)!

= 56

(n 2)!
n(n 1) = 56
n 2 n = 56

n 2 n 56 = 0
( n 8)( n + 7) = 0
n=8

Example 3: If a polygon has 54 diagonals, how many sides are there?


n

C2 n = 54

n!
n = 54
2!(n 2)!
n(n 1) (n 2)!
2 ( n 2)!

n = 54

n(n 1)
n = 54
2
n(n 1) 2n = 108
n 2 n 2n = 108
n 2 3n 108 = 0
(n 12)(n + 9) = 0
n = 12

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Permutations & Combinations


Lesson Four, Part Three: Word Problems
Questions:
1) If there are 190 handshakes in a room, and each person shook every other persons
hand one time, how many people are in the room?

2) If there are 72 games in a series, and each team played every other team twice,
once at home and once away, how many teams are there?

3) If a polygon has 119 diagonals, how many sides are there?

It is usually
pretty easy to find
the value of n by
trial and error
through your
calculator.

Answers:
1) 20
2) 9(Hint: Use a
permutation)

3) 17

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