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Need help on Permutations

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:44 pm
by Nipuna
Hello New Problem.

I can Solve questions like these.

Q= You have given 5 different letters k, l, m, n, o
What is the number of permutations that you can have by taking 3 letters at a time ?

Answer=
P(n,r)=n!/(n-r)!
=5!/(5-3)!
=5!/2!
=5.4.3.2.1/2.1
=120/2

=60

And can Resolve Combination Questions too.

But Don't understand How to do ones like these? :?
What is the number of permutations that you can have by taking 3 letters at a time and the first letter to be m or n?

Re: Need help on Permutations

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:39 pm
by Saman
Again Permutations & Combinations (One of the A/L Maths topics and also done in uni level maths). This subject is very easy.

Here are the Wiki articles on this subject.
Permutation
Combination

See following video tutorials under Discrete Mathematical Structures Tutorial

Lecture-27 - Permutations and Combinations
Lecture 28 - Permutations and combinations
Lecture 29 - Permutations and Combinations (Contd...)

Re: Need help on Permutations

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:25 am
by Neo
For the guy who don't have an idea on the subject see my little tutorial. What is Permutations & Combinations?
But Don't understand How to do ones like these? :?

What is the number of permutations that you can have by taking 3 letters at a time and the first letter to be m or n?
Very easy when you get it right. Just notice the 2nd tree of your first post.
We had 3 letters there {a, b,c}. We were asked to get the permutations and we had 6.
Note the first letter on them. We had 2 'a's, 2 'b's and 2 'c's as the first letter.
So to get the number of permutations which starts with letter 'a', you need to divide the result by n (n=3).
So if you were asked to get the number of permutations that starts with letter a or b. It would be,

(3P3 / 3) * 2 = (6 / 3) * 2 = 4

Okay. Let's consider your question.
Our set S is {k, l, m, n, o}. n= 5. We were asked to pick 3 letters at a time means k = 3.
5P3 = 5! / (5 - 3)! = 5! / 2! = 5 x 4 x 3 = 60
On these 60 permutations, we have equal number of 'k', 'l', 'm', 'n' and 'o' letters.
Number of permutations from 1 letter is, 60 / 5 = 12.
So, Number of permutations from 2 letters is, (60 / 5) x 2 = 24

I'll make the question a bit difficult now :D
Let's say we were given the same set {k, l, m, n, o}. Can you tell me the number of permutations that you can get when you chose 3 letters with first letter 'm' and the second letter not 'm'. Just evaluate your answer and see my answer.

5P3 = 60
To have first letter m = 60 / 5 = 12
When you select m once, you can't select it again. So the answer is obviously 12.

Okay another easy one.
From the same set {k, l, m, n, o}, you were asked to pick 3 numbers where the first letter to be 'k' and the second to be 'n'.
5P3 = 60
First letter to be 'k' = 60 / 5 = 12
Out of these 12, the second letter also repeats equal times. Since we have already selected the first letter, we only have 4 letters now. So each letter repeats 12 / 4 times. So the answer is 3.

See how easy the permutations are. You just need to read the question carefully. That's all. Combinations are even more easier.

Re: Need help on Permutations

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:29 am
by Nipuna
Cool. And Thanks My Dear Teacher :)

I will read later Since I have to go now.

Thanks Again.

Re: Need help on Permutations

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:16 pm
by Nipuna
Cool. I got It :)

This is a Trick Questions
I'll make the question a bit difficult now :D
Let's say we were given the same set {k, l, m, n, o}. Can you tell me the number of permutations that you can get when you chose 3 letters with first letter 'm' and the second letter not 'm'. Just evaluate your answer and see my answer.
After reading It well. It's Easy. It's same as Which is " How much permutations we Get that Beginning with "m" :D "

Thanks a Lot. And I have Questions with that Nasty Pigeon hole Principal and Pascal's Triangle I will ask them Later.

I get what is Pigeonhole Principal. It says "If there are n holes and we have n+1 pigeon, Then for a one hole there are more than one Pigeon " That can even Understand by a 5 Year Kid. But the Questions I can see on papers, I don't get them.

Here are They Pigeonhole Principal Thread
Binomial Theorem And Binomial Coefficients
Pascal's Principal