Grade 12 Applied Math
Unit 2 Lesson 1
Permutations Part 1
Probability is a description about how likely a particular “event” is to
occur. An event can be defined as any outcome that we are
interested in.
A Sample space is a list of all possible outcomes for an event. These
outcomes represent all of the possible arrangements of “items”
In general terms, the probability P of an event (E) occurring can be
defined as:
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸
𝑃 𝐸 =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠
Example:
If I put 3 red candies and 5 blue candies in a bag, what is the
probability that if you reach in and take a candy (at random) that you
with choose a red candy?
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠 3
𝑃 𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑦 = =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠 8
We will do more with probability in a later lesson.
A question like the example above is easy because the numbers are
given to you so you don’t need to figure them out.
The problem in calculating the probability is that we may not know
how many occurrences of E there are or the total number of possible
outcomes.
Before we can calculate probability, we need to learn some new ways
of counting so that we can determine these values.
Tree Diagram
A tree diagram can help to develop a list of all possible outcomes called
a sample space, but they take up lots of space.
Make a tree diagram by starting at a point and draw a line to all
possible outcomes for the first event, draw lines from each outcome in
the first event to all options for the second event etc.
Follow every path through the diagram and list each arrangement in
your sample space.
Example:
If you have 3 children, how many different arrangements are
possible?
Fundamental Counting Principle. This principle can be used when you
are given information about the number of choices and the number
of options for each choice.
To use this method, start by drawing blank lines representing the
number of choices you are making. Then fill in numbers that
represent the number of options for each choice. Finally, multiply the
numbers together.
Example:
A lock has a requires a 3 digit code to open it. Each dial on the lock
has the digits 0 – 9. How many different codes are possible? (Note:
you cannot call them “combinations” because they are not, and it is
not a “combination lock”. More on that later.)
Example:
If you have the digits 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, how many different 2 digit numbers
can you make?
BUT, what if I tell you the digits in the numbers that you make cannot
be doubles (33, 44, 55…), how would the answer change?
Example:
A group of 6 people is lining up to buy coffee. In how many different
arrangements can the 6 people line up? (1,2,3,4,5,6 is a different
order than 1,2,4,3,6,5)
The type of questions in this the previous example, where the order
of items in a line or list is important(the order matters) are called
Permutations.
To determine if something is a permutation, ask yourself if there is
any significance to the order in which items are selected. If there is, it
is a permutation
For example:
Karen, Steve and Amy have entered a draw. The first person selected
in the draw wins $100, the second person wins $50 and the third wins
$10. The order matters because if Steve is selected first he wins $100
but if he is selected third he only wins $10.
You can find the number of arrangements in a permutation using a
sample space, the fundamental counting principal, a formula, or a
calculator. You need to be able to use all of these methods,
The calculation in the previous example where you multiply a number
by all of the numbers less than it, is called a Factorial. A ! Is used to
indicate a factorial in math. We did the 6! (read as “six factorial”)
6x5x4x3x2x1. Factorials are very important for this unit.
Your calculator should have a ! Button. Find it and try doing 6! On the
calculator, you should get 720.
There is a pattern in factorials:
4! is defined as 4x3x2x1
3! Is defined as 3x2x1
2! Is defined as 2x1
1! Is defined as 1x1
0! Is defined as 1
So 0! = 1 you need to remember this (it may not make sense).
The permutation formula is:
𝒏!
nPr = 𝒏−𝒓 ! Note: if n=r then just use n!
Where: n = the total number of choices
r = the number of items chosen
P stands for permutation
Example:
Matt downloads 10 new songs and wants to make a 6 song playlist
out of the new music. How many different arrangements of 6 songs
can Matt make?
• You could also use the fundamental counting principle to solve this
question.
• Most scientific calculators have built in probability functions. For
permutations, use the nPr function. Enter the n value, select the nPr
function, enter the r value.