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Mor 21, 2025 at 12.00 AM
In the textbook, Section 5.5 Counting Techniques dlscusses permutations and combinations.
  1. Once certain conditions are met, the number of arrangements of objects from distinct objects, where repetition is not allowed, can be determined using combinations or permutations. Which condition needs to be determined before deciding to use combinations or permutations to calculate the number of arrangements of objects from distinct objects, where repetition is not allowed?
  2. Whenusing combinations or permutations, Is it possible that
    ? Why or why not?

Ask by Ingram Wyatt. in the United States
Mar 26,2025

Upstudy AI Solution

Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

To determine whether to use combinations or permutations, check if the order of objects matters. If order is important, use permutations; if not, use combinations. Yes, both can be used in different scenarios based on whether the arrangement’s order is significant.

Solution

Let’s address your questions step by step.

1) Condition for Using Combinations or Permutations

The key condition that needs to be determined before deciding whether to use combinations or permutations is whether the order of the objects matters.
  • Permutations are used when the order of the arrangement is important. For example, arranging the letters A, B, and C in different sequences (ABC, ACB, BAC, etc.) is a permutation problem.
  • Combinations are used when the order does not matter. For example, selecting a group of letters A, B, and C without regard to the order (ABC is the same as ACB or BAC) is a combination problem.

2) Possibility of Using Both Combinations and Permutations

Yes, it is possible to use both combinations and permutations in different contexts, but not for the same arrangement of objects.
  • Why? The choice between combinations and permutations depends on the specific requirements of the problem:
    • If you need to find the number of ways to select items without regard to order, you would use combinations.
    • If you need to find the number of ways to arrange items where the order is significant, you would use permutations.
In summary, the decision to use combinations or permutations hinges on whether the arrangement’s order is relevant to the problem at hand.

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Extra Insights

To determine whether to use combinations or permutations, you need to assess whether the order of the objects matters. If the order in which you select or arrange the objects impacts the outcome (like ranking finishers in a race), then you should use permutations. However, if you’re simply selecting a group of items where the order doesn’t matter (like forming a committee), combinations are the way to go!
You might wonder if both combinations and permutations can yield the same result. While it’s a fun thought, it’s not possible in their pure forms because they have fundamentally different definitions related to order. However, if the selection consists of only one object from a distinct set, both will yield the same numerical result!

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