Math: Combinatorics

What is the + 1 for and how can we just multiply the 3 sets - 4*3*2? Can't the child pick all 4 blue and no red etc?

Combination

A combination is an unordered collection of k objects taken from a set of n distinct objects. The number of ways how we can choose k objects out of n distinct objects is denoted as:

\(C^n_k\)

knowing how to find the number of arrangements of n distinct objects we can easily find formula for combination:

1. The total number of arrangements of n distinct objects is n!
2. Now we have to exclude all arrangements of k objects (k!) and remaining (n-k) objects ((n-k)!) as the order of chosen k objects and remained (n-k) objects doesn't matter.

\(C^n_k = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}\)



Permutation

A permutation is an ordered collection of k objects taken from a set of n distinct objects. The number of ways how we can choose k objects out of n distinct objects is denoted as:

\(P^n_k\)

knowing how to find the number of arrangements of n distinct objects we can easily find formula for combination:

1. The total number of arrangements of n distinct objects is n!
2. Now we have to exclude all arrangements of remaining (n-k) objects ((n-k)!) as the order of remained (n-k) objects doesn't matter.

\(P^n_k = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!}\)

If we exclude order of chosen objects from permutation formula, we will get combination formula:

\(\frac{P^n_k}{k!} = C^n_k\)

Hello friends - this page seems to be the best find yet. I've been using Manhattan gmat books and their content on Combinatorics and Probability is pretty lacking so please excuse my rudimentary questions.

One topic that i'm having a very hard time grasping is the "ordered vs. unordered" set. Seems like Permutation is ordered and Combination is unordered. I have absolutely no clue what that means and more importantly, I can't connect the dots to figure out why it affects the equations the way it does?

Any help would be appreciated.

In how many way we can choose two letters out of {a, b, c}, of the order of the letters does not matter?

{a, b}
{a, c}
{b, c}

So, in 3 ways: \(C^2_3=3\).

In how many way we can choose two letters out of {a, b, c}, of the order of the letters matters?

{a, b}
{b, a}
{a, c}
{c, a}
{b, c}
{c, b}

So, in 6 ways: \(P^2_3=6\).

I'd advice to go through easier questions on the topic to understand better. Check here: ds-question-directory-by-topic-difficulty-128728.html and here: gmat-ps-question-directory-by-topic-difficulty-127957.html

Hope it helps.

can u please share something like this on "Probability" as well?????

Circular arrangements having hard time understanding how did you arrive at the formula of dividing n! by n. Can someone please elaborate?

Thanks
Kunal