11.

2
Combinations
Focus on…
• explaining the differences
between a permutation and a
combination
• determining the number of
ways to select r elements from
n different elements
• solving problems using the number of
combinations of n different elements
ts
taken r at a time
• solving an equation that involves
C notation
n r

Sometimes you must consider er the order

in which the elements of a setet are arranged. In
Sorting by hand mail that has been rejected
other situations, the order is not important. For example, by the machine sort due to unrecognizable
when addressing an envelope, it is important to write the hand-written or missing postal codes
six-character postal code in the correct order. In contrast,
addressing an envelope, affixing a stamp, and inserting the
contents can be completed in any order.
In this section, you will learn about counting outcomes when
order does not matter.

D id Yo u Know?

In the six-character postal code used in Canada, the first three characters
define a geographical region and the last three characters specify a local
delivery unit.

Investigate Making Selections When Order Is Not Important

Problem solving, reasoning, and decision-making are highly prized

skills in today’s workforce. Here is your opportunity to demonstrate
those skills.
1. From a group of four students, three are to be elected to an executive
committee with a specific position. The positions are as follows:
1st position President
2nd position Vice President
3rd position Treasurer
a) Does the order in which the students are elected matter? Why?
b) In how many ways can the positions be filled from this group?

528 MHR • Chapter 11

 2. Now suppose that the three students are to be selected to serve on a
committee.
a) Is the order in which the three students are selected still
important? Why or why not?
b) How many committees from the group of four students are now
possible?
c) How does your answer in part b) relate to the answer in step 1b)?
3. You are part of a group of 6 students.
a) How many handshakes are possible if each student shakes every
other student’s hand once?
b) What strategies could you use to solve this problem? Discuss with
a partner and try to solve the problem in more than one way.

Reflect and Respond combination

4. What formula could you create to solve a handshake problem • a selection of objects
without regard to order
involving n students?
• all of the three-letter
5. In step 1, you worked with permutations, but in step 2, you combinations of P, Q,
worked with combinations. Identify all of the possible three-letter R, and S are PQR,
permutations and three-letter combinations of the letters A, B, and C. PQS, PRS, and QRS
(arrangements such as
What are the similarities between permutations and combinations? PQR and RPQ are the
What are the differences? same combination)

Link the Ideas

A combination is a selection of a group of objects, taken from a larger

group, for which the kinds of objects selected is important, but not the
order in which they are selected.
There are several ways to find the number of possible combinations.
One is to use reasoning. Use the fundamental counting principle and
divide by the number of ways that the objects can be arranged among
themselves. For example, calculate the number of combinations of three
digits made from the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 without repetitions:
Number of choices Number of choices Number of choices
for the first digit for the second digit for the third digit
5 4 3
There are 5 × 4 × 3 or 60 ways to arrange 3 items from 5. However,
3 digits can be arranged in 3! ways among themselves, and in a
combination these are considered to be the same selection.
So,
number of permutations
number of combinations = _____ What does 3! represent?
3!
=_60
3!
= 60
_
6
= 10

11.2 Combinations • MHR 529

 The notation nCr, or (n
r ), represents the number of combinations
of n items taken r at a time, where n ≥ r and r ≥ 0.
P Why must n ≥ r ≥ 0?
C =_ n r
n r
r!
__ n!
(n - r)!
= __
r!
= __ n!
(n - r)!r!

D id You Know? The number of ways of choosing three digits from five digits is
C3 = __ 5!
The number of 5
(5 - 3)!3!
combinations of n
items taken r at a =_ 5!
time is equivalent 2!3!
to the number of Explain how to simplify the expression in step 2
(5)(4)
combinations of n = __ to get the expression shown in step 3.
items taken n - r (2)(1)
How many ways are there to choose two digits
at a time. = 10
from five digits? What do you notice?
C = nCn - r
n r
There are ten ways to select three items from a set of five.

Example 1
Combinations and the Fundamental Counting Principle
There are 12 females and
18 males in a grade 12
class. The principal wishes
to meet with a group of
5 students to discuss
graduation.
a) How many selections
are possible?
b) How many selections
are possible if the group
consists of two females
and three males?
c) One of the female
students is named
Brooklyn. How many
five-member selections
consisting of Brooklyn,
one other female, and
three males are possible?

530 MHR • Chapter 11

Solution
Ask yourself if the order of selection is important in these questions.
a) The question involves choosing 5 students out of 30. In this group, the
order of selection is unimportant. So, this is a combinations problem.
Use the combinations formula.
Substitute n = 30 and r = 5 into nCr = __ n! :
(n - r)!r!
C5 = __ 30!
30
(30 - 5)!5!
=_ 30!
25!5!
1 7 1
(30)(29)(28)(27)(26)(25!)
= _____
25!(5)(4)(3)(2)(1)
1 1 1 1 1

= 142 506
There are 142 506 possible ways of selecting the group of 5 students.

b) There are 12C2 ways of selecting two female students.

There are 18C3 ways of selecting three male students.
Using the fundamental counting principle, the number of ways of
selecting two females and three males is
C2 × 18C3 = __ 12! × __ 18! Why are the elements 12C2 and 18C3
12
(12 - 2)!2! (18 - 3)!3! multiplied together?
6 1 3 1
(12)(11)(10!) (18)(17)(16)(15!)
= ___ × ____
(10!)(2)(1) (15!)(3)(2)(1)
1 1 1 1 1
= 66 × 816
= 53 856
There are 53 856 ways to select a group consisting of 2 females and
3 males.

c) There is one way to select Brooklyn.

There are 11 females remaining, so there are
C or 11 choices for the second female.
11 1
Why is 11C1 = 11?

There are 18C3 ways to select the three males.

There are 1 × 11 × 18C3 or 8976 ways to select this five-member group.

Your Turn
In how many ways can the debating club coach select a team from six
grade 11 students and seven grade 12 students if the team has
a) four members?
b) four members, only one of whom is in grade 11?

11.2 Combinations • MHR 531

 Example 2
Combinations With Cases
Rianna is writing a geography exam. The instructions say that she must
answer a specified number of questions from each section. How many
different selections of questions are possible if
a) she must answer two of the four questions in part A and three of the
five questions in part B?
b) she must answer two of the four questions in part A and at least four
of the five questions in part B?

Why should you use combinations rather

Solution
than permutations to solve this problem?
a) The number of ways of selecting two questions in part A is 4C2.

The number of ways of selecting three questions in part B is 5C3.

According to the fundamental counting principle, the number of
possible question selections is 4C2 × 5C3 = 6 × 10 or 60.
There are 60 different ways in which Rianna can choose 2 of the
4 questions in part A and 3 of the 5 questions in part B.

b) “At least four” means that Rianna can answer either four questions
or five questions in part B. Solve the problem using two cases.
Case 1: Answering Four Questions in Part B
Part A Choices Part B Choices
C
4 2
C
5 4

The number of ways of choosing these Why do you multiply the

questions is 4C2 × 5C4 = 6 × 5 or 30. possibilities for parts A and B?

Case 2: Answering Five Questions in Part B

Part A Choices Part B Choices

C
4 2
C
5 5

The number of ways of choosing these questions is

C × 5C5 = 6 × 1 or 6.
4 2

Each case represents an exclusive or separate event.

The final answer is the sum of both cases.

The number of possible ways of choosing either 4 questions or

5 questions in part B is 30 + 6 or 36. Why do you add the two cases?

Your Turn
A bag contains seven black balls and six red balls. In how
many ways can you draw groups of five balls if at least three
must be red?

532 MHR • Chapter 11

Example 3
Simplifying Expressions and Solving Equations With Combinations
C
a) Express as factorials and simplify _ .
n 5
C
n-1 3
b) Solve for n if 2(nC2) = n + 1C3.

Solution
__ n!
C (n - 5)!5!
= __
_
n 5 What is the formula for nCr?
a)
C
n-1 3 __(n - 1)! Why is (n - 4)! in the lower denominator?
(n - 4)!3!
= __ n!
(
(n - 5)!5!
(n - 4)!3!
__
(n - 1)! )( )
1 1 1
n(n - 1)! (n - 4)(n - 5)!3! Explain why n! can be
= ____ × ____
(n - 5)!(5)(4)(3!) (n - 1)! written as n(n - 1)!.
1 1 1
n(n - 4)
= __
20

b) 2(nC2) = n+1
C3

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

(n + 1)!
n! = __
3!
(n + 1)!
3! = __
n!
1
(n
__ + 1)(n!)
6=
n!
1
6=n+1
5=n

Your Turn

a) Express in factorial notation and simplify (n - 1C3)( 1 .

_
C3
n -2
)
b) Solve for n if 720(nC5) = P.
n+1 5

Key Ideas

A selection of objects in which order is not important is a combination.

When determining the number of possibilities in a situation, if order
matters, it is a permutation. If order does not matter, it is a combination.
The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time can be represented
P n!
by nCr , where n ≥ r and r ≥ 0. A formula for nCr is nCr = _
n r
or nCr = __ .
r! (n - r)!r!

11.2 Combinations • MHR 533

.
Check Your Understanding

The questions in this section involve 7. Identify the cases you could use to solve
permutations or combinations. Always each problem. Do not solve.
determine whether order is important. a) How many numbers less than 1000
can you make using any number of
Practise the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5?
1. Decide whether each of the following is
b) In how many ways can a team be
a combination or a permutation problem.
selected from six grade 11 students
Briefly describe why. You do not need to
and five grade 12 students if the
solve the problem.
five-person team has four members
a) In a traditional Aboriginal welcome from either grade and a spare from
circle, each member shakes hands with grade 11?
each other member twice. If there are
8. Show that 11C3 = 11C8.
eight people in a welcome circle, how
many handshakes occur? 9. a) Evaluate 5C5 to determine the number
b) How many numbers less than 300 can
of ways you can select five objects
you make using the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, from a group of five.
and 5? b) Evaluate 5C0 to determine the number
c) A car dealer has 15 mid-sized cars. In of ways you can select no objects
how many ways can a rental agency from a group of five. Explain why the
purchase 10 of the cars? answer makes sense.
d) A hockey team has 18 players. In how
many ways can the driver select six of Apply
the players to ride in the team van? 10. From a penny, a nickel, a dime, and a
2. Describe the differences between 5P3 and quarter, how many different sums of
5
C3, and then evaluate each one. money can be formed consisting of
3. Evaluate. a) three coins?
a) 6P4 b) 7C3 b) at most two coins?
c) C2
5
d) C7
10 11. From six females, in how many ways can
4. From ten employees, in how many ways you select
can you a) a group of four females?
a) select a group of four?
b) a group of at least four females?
b) assign four different jobs?
12. Verify the identity nCr − 1 + nCr = Cr.
n+1
5. a) List all of the combinations of
13. At the local drive-in, you can order a
A, B, C, and D taken two at a time.
burger with tomato, lettuce, pickle, hot
b) List all of the permutations of peppers, onion, or cheese. How many
A, B, C, and D taken two at a time. different burgers with any three different
c) How is the number of combinations choices for the extras can you order? Does
related to the number of permutations? this question involve permutations or
6. Solve for n. combinations? Explain.
a) nC1 = 10 b) nC2 = 21
c) Cn - 2 = 6
n
d) n+1
Cn − 1 = 15

534 MHR • Chapter 11

14. A pizzeria offers ten different toppings. 19. a) In how many ways can you select a
a) How many different four-topping pizzas set of four science books and three
are possible? geography books from six different
science books and seven different
b) Is this a permutation or a combination
geography books?
question? Explain.
b) In how many ways can you place
15. Consider five points,
the four science books and the three
no three of which
geography books in a row on a shelf
are collinear.
if the science books must remain
a) How many line together?
segments can you
20. A Manitoba gallery wishes to display
draw connecting
20 paintings to showcase the work of
any two of the points? Complete this
artist George Fagnan.
question using two different methods.
a) How many selections are possible if
b) How many triangles, with vertices selected
the artist allows the gallery to choose
from the given points, can you draw?
from 40 of his works? Leave your
c) Write an expression using factorials answer in factorial form.
for the number of triangles if there are
b) The gallery curator wants to set
ten non-collinear points. How does this
4 of the paintings from the 20
answer compare to the number of line
selected in a row near the entrance.
segments for the same ten points?
In how many ways can this be
16. Verify that nCr = nCn − r. accomplished?
17. A jury pool consists of 12 women and
8 men. D i d Yo u Kn ow ?

a) How many 12-person juries can be George Fagnan grew up in Swan River, Manitoba. He
selected? is a proud member of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation,
and he currently lives in Brandon, Manitoba. He
b) How many juries containing seven began his art career around the age of 5. He enjoys
women and five men can be selected? traditional native art and other creative activities.

c) How many juries containing at least

ten women can be selected?
18. Consider a standard deck of 52 well-
shuffled cards.
a) In how many ways can you select
five cards?
b) In how many ways can you select five
cards if three of them are hearts?
c) In how many ways can you select five
cards if only one of them is black?

Did Yo u K n ow ?

A standard deck of playing cards contains 52 cards

in four suits: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.
Each suit contains 13 cards labelled 2 to 10, jack,
queen, king, and ace. Playing cards are thought to
have originated in India. They were introduced into Blue Garden, 2009
Europe around 1275.

11.2 Combinations • MHR 535

21. The cards from a standard deck of playing Create Connections
cards are dealt to 4 people, 13 cards at
C1 Does a combination
a time. This means that the first person
lock involve
receives the first 13 cards, the second
combinations in a
person gets the next 13 cards, and so on.
mathematical sense?
a) How many such sets of four 13-card
Explain.
hands can be dealt? Leave your answer
C2 a) Explain what
as a product of factorials.
the notation aCb
b) Without using a calculator, show that
represents. Use
the answer in part a) simplifies examples to support
52! .
to __ your explanation.
(13!)4
c) Evaluate the answer to part a). b) Write an inequality that
h describes
d ib the
h
relationship between all possible values
Extend for a and b.
22. How many parallelograms are formed if c) What can you say for sure about the
four parallel lines intersect another set value of b?
of six parallel lines? The lines in the first C3 A teacher asks her students to calculate
set are not parallel to the lines in the the number of ways in which a hospital
second set. administrator could assign four patients
to six private rooms. Beth says that the
answer is 6C4. Bryan disagrees. He claims
the answer is 6P4. Who is correct? Why?
C4 MINI LAB Eight points lie on the
circumference of a circle. Explore how
many different inscribed quadrilaterals can
23. In a bowl of ice cream, the order of the be drawn using the points as vertices.
scoops does not matter.
Step 1 Suppose the eight points are on the
a) Suppose you can make 630 two-scoop unit circle at P(0°), P(45°), P(90°),
bowls of ice cream, each containing two P(135°), P(180°), P(225°), P(270°),
different flavours, at the shop where and P(315°). Draw a diagram. Show
you work. How many flavours of ice a quadrilateral that is an isosceles
cream are available in this shop? trapezoid with four of the given points
b) How many two-scoop bowls could you as vertices.
make if you can duplicate flavours? Step 2 Create a table in which you identify the
24. Consider the following conjecture. If p is a number of possible quadrilaterals that
prime number, aCb and paCpb have the same are squares, rectangles, parallelograms,
remainder when you divide by p. and isosceles trapezoids that can be
created using four of the eight points
a) Show that the statement is true for 5C2
from Step 1.
when p = 3.
Step 3 Make a conclusion. How many
b) Is this statement true for 5C2 when
different inscribed quadrilaterals can
p = 7? What is the remainder? be drawn using four of the eight points
c) How many remainders are possible that lie on the circumference of a circle
when dividing by 7? What are they? as vertices?
d) Describe what you could do to prove
the initial conjecture.

536 MHR • Chapter 11