MATHEMATICS 10 EXAM • Examples:

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics which is 1. A, B, C is different from B, C, A and also different from
about counting. C, A, B.
2. Selecting a President, Vice President and a Secretary
Counting can be defined as the act of determining the from the Math Club members because the positions are
quantity or the total number of objects in a set or a group. different from each other and requires rank and order
3. Forming different rays from 6 given points with no
Combinatorics has many applications in other areas of three of which are collinear (e.g. AB is different from BA)
mathematics, including probability. 4. Giving Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to the
contestants
n-Factorial (or n!) is the product of the 5. Listing your 3 favorite desserts, in order, from a menu
positive integer n and all the positive of 10
integers less than n.
n! = n(n-1) (n-2) ... (3)(2)(1) Combination - The number of possible combinations of r
objects from a set of n objects. Combination is for groups
Fundamental Counting Principle states that if activity A (order doesn't matter)
can be done in n1 ways, activity B can be done in n2
ways, activity C in n3 ways, and so on, then activities A, • Scientific Calculator Formula: nCr
B, and C can be done simultaneously in n1 ∙ n2 ∙ n3 …
ways. • Formula given n taken n - C (n, n) = 1

Permutations are referred to the different possible • Formula given n taken r at a time - C(n,r)= n1/r!(n-r)!
arrangements of a set of objects. It is the number of ways
we can arrange things where the order is important. • Examples:
1. A, B, C is the same as B, C, A and also the same as
The number of permutations of n objects taken n at a C, A, B.
time is P (n,n) =n! 2. Selecting 3 officers from the Math Club members
because there is no mention of rank or order of the
The number of permutations of n objects taken r at a officers for selection
time is P(n,r) = n!/(n-r)! , n ≥ r 3. Forming line segments from 6 given points with no
three of which are collinear (AB is the same as BA)
Distinguishable permutations are permutations of a set 4. Giving consolation prizes to contestants
of objects where some of them are alike. The number of 5. Choosing 3 desserts from a menu of 10
distinguishable permutations of n objects when p are
alike, q are alike, r are alike, and so on, is given by P = n! 1. Choosing 2 household chores to do before dinner -
/ p!q!r!... Combination
2. Selecting 5 basketball players out of 10 team
Circular permutations are the different possible members for the different positions - Permutation
arrangements of objects in a circle. The number of 3. Choosing three of your classmates to attend your party
permutations, P, of n objects around a circle is given by - Combination
P = (n-1)! 4. Picking 6 balls from a basket of 12 balls -
Combination
Combination is the number of ways of selecting from a 5. Forming a committee of 5 members from 20 people -
set when the order is not important. Combination

The number of combinations of n objects taken n is Permutations refer to the different possible
given by C(n,n) = 1 arrangements of a set of objects where order is
important.
The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a
time is given by C(n,r) = n!/r!(n - r)!) Types of Permutation:
1. Linear Permutation
Permutation - A selection of objects in which the order • The permutation of n objects taken r at a time is P(n,r)
of the objects matters. Permutation is used for lists (order = n!/(n-r)! , n ≥ r
matters) • The permutation on n objects taken all at a time is:
• Scientific Calculator Formula: nPr P(n,n) = n!

• Formula given n taken n - P (n, n) = n! 2. Distinct or Distinguishable Permutation or

Permutation with Repeats
• Formula given n taken r at a time - P(n,r)= n1/(n-r)!, n • The number of distinguishable permutations, P, of n
≥r objects where p objects are alike, q objects are alike, r
objects are alike, and so on, is P = n! /p!q!r!...
3. Circular Permutation • The probability of an event that is certain to occur is 1.
• The permutation of n objects arranged in a circle is P = • The probability of an event that cannot occur is 0.
(n-1)! • Thus, the probability of an event E, P(E) is a number
that 0 ≤ P(E) ≤ 1.
Probability - the field of mathematics that deals with

P (A ∪ B) = number of outcomes in events A or B/total

chance. Probability of union of events A and B is expressed as

Experiment - an activity in which the results cannot be number of outcomes in the sample space

where the union of two events A and B, written as A ∪ B

predicted with certainty; it is also an activity which could = n(A∪B)/n(S)
be repeated over and over again which have well-defined
results. is the collection of all outcomes that are elements of one
or the other of the sets A and B, or of both of them.
Random experiments are experiments in which the
outcome is not necessarily the same when you repeat Probability of intersection of events A and B is
the experiment. expressed as
P (A ∩ B) = number of outcomes in both events A and
Examples: tossing a coin, rolling a die, randomly B/total number of outcomes in the sample space
choosing a ball from a box. = n (A ∩ B)/n(S)
where the intersection of two events A and B, written as
Trial - refers to each repetition of an experiment. A ∩ B, is the collection of all outcomes that are elements
of both sets A and B.
Outcomes - results of an experiment or a result of a trial.
If each of the outcomes in a sample space is equally
Sample space (S) - refers to the set of all possible likely to occur, then the probability of an event E,
outcomes of a random experiment. denoted as P(E), is given by

Event - any subset of the sample space; it is also a P(E) = number of outcomes in the event/number of
collection of outcomes which are equally likely to occur. outcomes in the sample space
Event also means one or more outcomes.
P(E) = n(E)/n(S)
Simple event - an event with only one outcome.
The union of two events A and B, denoted by the
Compound event - an event with more than one symbol, A U B, is the event containing all the elements
outcome. that belong to A or B, or both A and B.

The union of events A and B, denoted A ∪ B, is the If two events, A and B, are mutually exclusive, then the
collection of all outcomes that are elements of one or the probability that either A or B occurs is the sum of their
other of the sets A and B, or both of them. It corresponds probabilities. In symbols,
to combining descriptions of the two events using the
word “or”. P (A or B) = P(A) + P(B)

The intersection of events A and B denoted by A ∩ U, is If two events, A and B, are not mutually exclusive, then
the collection of all the outcomes that are elements of the probability that either A or B occurs is the sum of their
both of the sets A and B. It corresponds to combining probabilities decreased by the probability of both
descriptions of the two events using the word “and”. occurring. In symbols,

Probability - an expression of likelihood that the event P (A or B) = P(A) + P(B) P(A and B)
will occur, meaning comparison of the number of
outcomes in an event to the number of outcomes in the
sample space.

The probability can be expressed as a fraction, as a

decimal or as a percentage. For example, a probability
of ½ can be expressed as 0.5 or 50%.

If each of the outcomes in a sample space is equally

likely to occur, then the probability of an event E to
happen, denoted by P(E) is given by
P(E) = number of outcomes in the event/number of
outcomes in the sample space