# 3. Permutations (Ordered Arrangements)

An arrangement (or ordering) of a set of objects is called a permutation. (We can also arrange just part of the set of objects.)

In a permutation, the order that we arrange the objects in is important

### Example 1

Consider arranging 3 letters: A, B, C. How many ways can this be done?

## Reminder - Factorial Notation

Recall from the Factorial section that n factorial (written n!) is defined as:

n! = n × (n − 1) × (n − 2) ... 3 × 2 × 1

Each of the theorems in this section use factorial notation.

Continues below

## Theorem 1 - Arranging n Objects

In general, n distinct objects can be arranged in n! ways.

### Example 2

In how many ways can 4 different resistors be arranged in series?

## Theorem 2 - Number of Permutations

The number of permutations of n distinct objects taken r at a time, denoted by P_r^n, where repetitions are not allowed, is given by

P_r^n=n(n-1)(n-2)...(n-r+1)=(n!)/((n-r)!

### Notes

(1) P_n^n=n! (since 0! = 1)

(2) Some books use the following notation for the number of permutations:

nPr

and others have:

{::}^n P_r

### Example 3

In how many ways can a supermarket manager display 5 brands of cereals in 3 spaces on a shelf?

### Example 4

How many different number-plates for cars can be made if each number-plate contains four of the digits 0 to 9 followed by a letter A to Z, assuming that

(a) no repetition of digits is allowed?

(b) repetition of digits is allowed?

## Theorem 3 - Permutations of Different Kinds of Objects

The number of different permutations of n objects of which n1 are of one kind, n2 are of a second kind, ... nk are of a k-th kind is

(n!)/(n_1!xxn_2!xxn_3xx...xx n_k!

### Example 5

In how many ways can the six letters of the word "mammal" be arranged in a row?

## Theorem 4 - Arranging Objects in a Circle

There are (n - 1)! ways to arrange n distinct objects in a circle (where the clockwise and anti-clockwise arrangements are regarded as distinct.)

### Example 6

In how many ways can 5 people be arranged in a circle?

## Exercises

### Exercise 1

In how many ways can 6 girls and 2 boys be arranged in a row

(a) without restriction?

(b) such that the 2 boys are together?

(c) such that the 2 boys are not together?

### Exercise 2

How many numbers greater than 1000 can be formed with the digits 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 if a digit cannot occur more than once in a number?

### Exercise 3

How many different ways can 3 red, 4 yellow and 2 blue bulbs be arranged in a string of Christmas tree lights with 9 sockets?

### Exercise 4

In how many ways can 5 people be arranged in a circle such that two people must sit together?

### Online Algebra Solver

This algebra solver can solve a wide range of math problems.

### Math Lessons on DVD

Easy to understand math lessons on DVD. See samples before you commit.