Fundamental Counting Principle and The Factorial Notation: Lesson 1

Lesson 1
Fundamental
Counting Principle and
the Factorial Notation
Fundamental Counting Principle
1 a mathematical way used to find the number of possible outcomes of an
experiment
Example:
If we are looking for the number of two-digit numbers using the digits
3, 4, 5, and 6 when repetition of digits is not allowed, we can multiply
the total number of digits (which is the total number of choices for the
tens digit) to the total number of digits minus 1 (which is the total
number of choices for the ones digit). Therefore, there are two-digit
numbers that can be formed.
Factorial Notation
2 the notation , where and
Example:
Evaluate .
To evaluate , multiply the natural numbers in decreasing

order starting from .

Example 1: Evaluate .
Example 1: Evaluate .
Solution:
1. Evaluate by multiplying the natural numbers in

decreasing order starting from .

2. Evaluate by multiplying the natural numbers in decreasing
order starting from .

3. Multiply and .

Thus, is equal to .
Example 2: How many -digit numbers can be formed using
the digits 7, and if repetition of digits is not allowed?
Example 2: How many -digit numbers can be formed using
the digits 7, and if repetition of digits is not allowed?
Solution:
1. Identify the number of ways we can choose the digits in

each place value starting from the highest.

For the thousands place, there are choices since cannot
be used in the thousands place.
For the hundreds place, there are also choices since one digit
is already used in the thousands place but the number 0 can
now be used in the hundreds place.

For the tens and ones places, there are 4 and 3 choices,
respectively.

Thousands Hundreds Tens Units

2. Apply the fundamental counting principle by multiplying
the number of choices.

Thus, there are -digit numbers that can be formed.

Lesson 2
Permutation of
Objects Taken at a
Time
Permutation
3 ordered arrangement of a set of objects
Example:
The set of -digit numbers that can be formed using the digits ,
, and is a set of permutations.
Permutation of Objects Taken at a Time
4 ordered arrangement of objects taken at a time where
Example:
In how many ways can you arrange different books on a

shelf that can hold only books?
Example:
In the given problem, is the number of objects while is the

number of objects taken at a time.
Solving the Number of Permutations of Objects
5 Taken at a Time
The number of permutations of objects taken at a time, denoted by or , is given
by . If , then .
Example:
Evaluate .
Example 1: In how many ways can you arrange students in a
photograph?
photograph?
Solution:
We need to determine the number of permutations of the
students.
photograph?
Solution:
1. Identify and .

There are students, so . All the students are to be
arranged in the photograph at a time, so .
2. Substitute and into the formula.

Since , we reduce the formula to .

Therefore, the students can be arranged in ways.
Example 2: A company has members in its board of
directors who will elect a president, vice president, secretary,
and treasurer among themselves. In how many ways can this
be done?
Solution:
We need to determine the number of permutations of the
officers to be elected from the members of the board of
directors.
Solution:
1. Identify and .

There are members in the board of directors, so . There
are positions to be filled, so .
2. Substitute and into the formula.

Since , we use the formula .

Therefore, the positions can be filled in ways.
Lesson 3
Permutation
with Repetition
Permutation
Example:
The set of possible seating arrangements of a class is a set of

permutations.
6 Number of Permutations of Objects Taken at a
Time with Replacement
The number of permutations of objects taken at a time with repetition is given
by .
Example:
How many three-digit codes can be formed using the digits 3,
5, 7, 9 if repetition of digits is allowed?
by .
Example:
Thus, there are three-letter codes that can be formed using

the digits.
7 Number of Permutations with Identical Objects
The number of permutations of objects with objects alike, of another kind alike,
of another kind alike, and so on, is given by
Example:
In how many ways can basketballs, volleyballs, and soccer
balls be arranged in a rack with slots?
Example:
Thus, there are ways to arrange the balls in the rack.

Example 1: In how many ways can a 5-item true-false exam
be answered?
Solution:
The problem illustrates permutation with replacement.
There are two possible answers which are TRUE and FALSE,
so .
The answers will be arranged in a -item test, so .

Substitute the values of and into the formula.

Therefore, there are ways to answer a -item true-false exam.

Example 2: If there are cans of coffee, cans of pineapple
juice, and bottles of water in a refrigerator, in how many
possible orders can the drinks be consumed?
Solution:
The problem illustrates permutation with identical objects.
There are drinks to be consumed, so .
There are cans of coffee, cans of pineapple juice and

bottles of water, so let , , and .
Substitute the values into the formula.
Thus, the drinks can be consumed in possible orders.

Lesson 4
Distinguishing Circular
Permutation from
Permutation with
Repetition
3 Permutation
ordered arrangement of a set of objects
Example:
The possible -digit PINs that can be formed using the digits 1,
2, 3, and 4 is a set of permutations.
4 Permutation of Objects Taken at a Time
ordered arrangement of objects taken at a time where
Example:
The set of possible arrangements of different books on a
shelf that can only hold books is a set of permutations of
objects taken at a time.
8 Circular Permutation
permutation of objects arranged in a circular pattern
Note that a circular permutation differs from the usual linear

permutation because it has no exact first and last objects;
that is, it can be rotated. For instance, a set of objects has
permutations when arranged in a linear pattern but has only
permutations when arranged in a circular pattern.
permutation of objects arranged in a circular pattern
Example:
The possible seating arrangements of a family of four around
a circular dining table is a set of circular permutations.
Example 1: Illustrate three circular permutations of 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5.
and 5.
Solution:
1. Construct a circular permutation
by arranging the numbers in
ascending clockwise manner.
and 5.
Solution:
To name this permutation, we select
an arbitrary starting object and then
read the objects clockwise. Let us
select 1. Thus, this permutation is
12345.
and 5.
Solution:
2. Construct another circular
permutation by swapping two
objects.
Let us swap 2 and 3.
This permutation is 13245.

and 5.
Solution:
3. Construct another circular
permutation by swapping another two
objects. Make sure that the new
permutation is not similar to the two
previous permutations.
and 5.
Solution:
Let us swap 4 and 5 from the previous
permutation to form a new permutation.

Example 2: Write all circular permutations of 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Solution:
To find all circular permutations of a set, we start by setting an
imaginary first object so we can name the permutations using
it as a starting point. Then, we swap two objects at a time.
Make sure that we do not move the first object around while
swapping the other objects.
Solution:
1. Construct an initial arrangement.
Let us arrange the objects in

ascending clockwise manner.
This permutations is 1234.

Solution:
2. Swap the last two objects.
We have obtained all permutations

that start with 1 and 2.
Solution:
3. Find all permutations that start
with 1 and 3.

Solution:
The other permutation is 1342.
4. Find all permutations that start with 1 and 4.
Without illustrating, we can use the same pattern to

determine the last two permutations: 1423 and 1432.
Since 4 is the last object, we are done. Thus, there are six
circular permutations of 1, 2, 3, and 4. These are 1234, 1243,
1342, 1324, 1423, and 1432.
Individual Practice:
1. Evaluate .
2. How many -digit even numbers can be formed using the

digits and if repetition of digits is allowed?
3. In how many ways can contestants in a beauty contest

be ranked without ties?
4. A DJ has songs in his playlist. If he is going to play only

songs, in how many ways can these be arranged?
5. In how many ways can a -item multiple-choice test with

choices be answered?
6. How many distinct permutations can be formed from the

letters of the word MISSISSIPPI?
7. Construct four possible arrangements of five friends –

Faye, Gale, Hannah, Iza, and Jenny – around a circular
table.
8. Anna was asked to arrange ornaments in a circular

position. Write all circular permutations of the ornaments
using the labels A, B, C, and D.
Fundamental Counting Principle
1 a mathematical way used to find the number of possible outcomes of an
experiment
Factorial Notation
2 the notation , where and
Permutation

Solving the Number of Permutations of Objects
5 Taken at a Time
The number of permutations of objects taken at a time, denoted by or , is given
by . If , then .

by .

permutation of objects arranged in a circular pattern.

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Lesson 1

To evaluate , multiply the natural numbers in decreasing

1. Evaluate by multiplying the natural numbers in

1. Identify the number of ways we can choose the digits in

Thousands Hundreds Tens Units

Thus, there are -digit numbers that can be formed.

In how many ways can you arrange different books on a

In the given problem, is the number of objects while is the

The set of possible seating arrangements of a class is a set of

Thus, there are three-letter codes that can be formed using

Thus, there are ways to arrange the balls in the rack.

The problem illustrates permutation with replacement.

The answers will be arranged in a -item test, so .

Therefore, there are ways to answer a -item true-false exam.

The problem illustrates permutation with identical objects.

There are drinks to be consumed, so .

There are cans of coffee, cans of pineapple juice and

Thus, the drinks can be consumed in possible orders.

Note that a circular permutation differs from the usual linear

Let us swap 2 and 3.

This permutation is 13245.

This permutation is 13254.

Let us arrange the objects in

This permutations is 1234.

This permutation is 1243.

We have obtained all permutations

This permutation is 1324.

Without illustrating, we can use the same pattern to

2. How many -digit even numbers can be formed using the

3. In how many ways can contestants in a beauty contest

4. A DJ has songs in his playlist. If he is going to play only

5. In how many ways can a -item multiple-choice test with

6. How many distinct permutations can be formed from the

7. Construct four possible arrangements of five friends –

8. Anna was asked to arrange ornaments in a circular

Permutation of Objects Taken at a Time

6 Number of Permutations of Objects Taken at a

7 Number of Permutations with Identical Objects

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