Content: Permutation Vs Combination

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Example
5. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR
PERMUTATION COMBINATION
COMPARISON

Meaning Permutation refers to the Combination refers to several

different ways of arranging ways of choosing items from a
a set of objects in a large set of objects, such that
sequential order. their order does not matters.

Order Relevant Irrelevant

Denotes Arrangement Selection

What is it? Ordered elements Unordered sets

Answers How many different How many different groups

arrangement can be can be chosen from a larger
created from a given set of group of objects?
objects?

Derivation Multiple permutation from Single combination from a

a single combination. single permutation.

Definition of Permutation
We define permutation as different ways of arranging some or all the members of
a set in a specific order. It implies all the possible arrangement or rearrangement
of the given set, into distinguishable order.

For example, All possible permutation created with letters x, y, z –

 By taking all three at a time are xyz, xzy, yxz, yzx, zxy, zyx.
 By taking two at a time are xy, xz, yx, yz, zx, zy.

Total number of possible permutations of n things, taken r at a time, can be

calculated as:

Definition of Combination

The combination is defined as the different ways, of selecting a group, by taking

some or all the members of a set, without the following order.

For example, All possible combinations chosen with letter m, n, o –

 When three out of three letters are to be selected, then the only
combination is mno
 When two out of three letters are to be selected, then the possible
combinations are mn, no, om.

Total number of possible combinations of n things, taken r at a time can be

calculated as:

Key Differences Between Permutation and Combination

The differences between permutation and combination are drawn clearly on the
following grounds:
 1. The term permutation refers to several ways of arranging a set of objects in
a sequential order. Combination implies several ways of choosing items
from a large pool of objects, such that their order is irrelevant.
2. The primary distinguishing point between these two mathematical
concepts is order, placement, and position, i.e. in permutation
characteristics mentioned above does matter, which does not matter in the
case of the combination.
3. Permutation denotes several ways to arrange things, people, digits,
alphabets, colours, etc. On the other hand, combination indicates different
ways of selecting menu items, food, clothes, subjects, etc.
4. The permutation is nothing but an ordered combination while
Combination implies unordered sets or pairing of values within specific
criteria.
5. Many permutations can be derived from a single combination. Conversely,
only a single combination can be obtained from a single permutation.
6. Permutation answers How many different arrangements can be created
from a given set of objects? As opposed to the combination which explains
How many different groups can be picked from a larger group of objects?

Example

Suppose, there is a situation where you have to find out the total number of
possible samples of two out of three objects A, B, C. In this question, first of all,
you need to understand, whether the question is related to permutation or
combination and the only way to find this out is to check whether the order is
important or not.

If the order is significant, then the question is related to permutation, and

possible samples will be, AB, BA, BC, CB, AC, CA. Where, AB is different from
BA, BC is different from CB and AC is different CA.

If the order is irrelevant, then the question is related to the combination, and the
possible samples will be AB, BC and CA.

Conclusion

With the above discussion, it is clear that permutation and combination are
different terms, which are used in mathematics, statistics, research and our day
to day life. A point to remember, regarding these two concepts is that, for a given
set of objects, permutation will always be higher than its combination.