Permutations and Combinations

Permutation or Combination: The student body of 30 students wants to elect a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

• permutation

• combination

Permutation or Combination: Rob and Micaela are planning trips to four countries this year. There are 5 countries they would like to visit. One trip will be one week long, another two days, another two weeks, and the other a month.

• permutation

• combination

Permutation or Combination: A group of 40 people are going to run a race. The top three runners earn gold, silver, and bronze medals.

• permutation

• combination

Permutation or Combination: A group of 14 people need to take an elevator to the top floor. They will go in groups of seven. They are deciding who will take the elevator on its second trip.

• permutation

• combination

Permutation or Combination: You are setting the combination on a four-digit lock. You want to use the numbers 3, 8, 1 and 7. How many different arrangements for your lock are there?

• permutation

• combination

Permutation or Combination: Jaidee and Amy are planning trips to four countries this year. There are 6 countries they would like to visit. They are deciding which countries to skip.

• permutation

• combination

Permutation or Combination: Willie and Paul are planning trips to two countries this year. There are 10 countries they would like to visit. One trip will be one week long and the other two weeks.

• permutation

• combination

Determine whether the following scenarios are a permutation or a combination:
 
Selecting a lead and an understudy for a school play.

• Combination
• Permutation

Permutation, combination, or neither?
The batting order for seven players on a 12 person team.

• combination
• permutation
• neither

An election ballot asks voters to select three city commissioners from a group of six candidates. In how many ways can this be done?

Is this a Permutation or a Combination?

• Permutation - the order matters

• Combination - the order does not matter