Lecture Note 5
February 9, 2018
STA 121
INTRODUCTION
TO PROBABILITY
Dr. M. K. Garba
08035568461
and
Caution
Mrs. N. F. Gatta This learning material is NOT
08057149509 FOR SALE by anybody, not even
Department of Statistics, by the Class Representative.
Appropriate sanctions await the
University of Ilorin, Nigeria violators.
In today’s class, you would learn
Factorial Notation
Permutations
Combinations
Related Word Problems
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FACTORIAL NOTATION
The product of all the successive
positive integers from 1 to n
(inclusive) is denoted by n! and
read as “n factorial”.
That is,
n! = 1 x 2 x 3 x . . . x (n-1) x n
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Thus, by the definition in the previous slide,
1! = 1
2! = 1 x 2 = 2
3! = 1 x 2 x 3 = 6
4! = 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 = 24
5! = 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 120
6! = 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 = 720
And so on.
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In general, for any positive integer n,
n! = n x (n-1) x (n-2) x (n-3) x . . . x 2 x 1.
By conventional definition, 0! = 1.
Note the following:
1. (m + n)! ≠ m! + n!
2. (m x n)! ≠ m! x n!
3. (m – n)! ≠ m! – n!, for m > n
4. (m ÷ n)! ≠ m! ÷ n!, for m > n
5. (kn)! ≠ k x n!, where k is a constant.
Take m = 6, n = 3 and k = 2 to verify.
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Example 1
Simplify the following
(1) 8! (2) 12! 8! (3) 25!
4! 9! 6! 23!
(4) 7!5!3! (5) n! (6) (n+1)!
2!4!6! (n – 3)! (n – 2)!
(7) (n – 2)!
3(n!)
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PERMUTATIONS
Suppose that in an arrangement of k objects
selected from a set of n distinct objects in
which the order of arrangements is important
so that different orderings of the same set of
k objects are regarded as different. In this
case, each of such arrangements is called a
permutation.
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Each such arrangement is usually referred
to as a permutation of n objects taking k at
a time and denoted by P(n, k) or nPk.
Mathematically, permutation of n objects
taking k at a time is defined as
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Illustrations
Suppose we are to find how many possible
distinct arrangements are there in the letters
A, B and C taking all at a time.
By definition,
Here, n = 3 and k = 3, then
These are
ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB & CBA
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Example 2
i. How many distinct arrangements can
be formed from digits 1, 2, 3 and 4
taking three digits at a time? Hence,
list all the distinct arrangements.
ii. How many 2-letter arrangements can
be made from letters K, A, B, I, R?
Hence, list all the arrangements.
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Example 3
Compute the following
1. 5P1
2. 7P3
3. 11P5
4. 6P0
5. 8P8
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Examples 4, 5 and 6
4. How many ways can 4 out of 9 different
books be arranged on a shelf?
5. How many different four-letter
permutations can be formed from the
letters of the word DECAGON?
6. An investigative agency has seven cases
and five agents. How many different
ways can the cases be assigned if only
one case is assigned to each agent?
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PERMUTATIONS OF n OBJECTS,
NOT ALL DISTINCT
Given a set of n objects in which n1 objects
are alike and of one kind, n2 objects are alike
and of another kind, . . . , nk objects are alike
and yet of another kind such that n1 + n2 + n3
+. . . + nk = n; then the number of
permutations of these n objects taken all at a
time is given by n!
n1! n2! n3! . . . nk!
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Example 7
How many different permutations can be made
from the letters in each of the following words?
i. SEEM
ii. ATLANTA
iii. STATISTICIANS
iv. MISSISSIPPI
v. MATHEMATICIAN
vi. SOGOLOGOBANGOSE
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Exercise
1. In how many ways can 9 different books be arranged
on a shelf?
2. In how many ways can 6 people be seated for group
photographs if there are only 5 seats?
3. In how many ways can a family of 5 be seated on a
bench if the parents must sit at both ends?
4. Three sets of twins are to pose for photographs. How
many photographs are possible if (a) there is no
restriction? (b) each set of the twins are to stand
close to each other?
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5. At UNILORIN library exhibition of Professors’
publications, 5 science journals, 4 education journals
and 2 computer books will be displayed on a shelf.
Assuming that the publications are all distinct, in how
many ways can they be arranged on the shelf (a) if
there is no restriction? (b) if publications on the same
subject matter are placed together?
6. How many different permutations can be made from
the letters in each of the following words?
(a) MILITANT (b) CHIPOLOPOLO
(c) BAFANABAFANA (d) ASSISTANTSHIPS
(e) INTERPRETATION (f) TAMUNONIMITIEN
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CIRCULAR PERMUTATIONS
Suppose n distinct objects are arranged in a
circle, the number of different circular
arrangements of the n objects is (n – 1)!
Consider the following
A
B
E
We have ABCDE
C
D
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B C
C D
A B
D E
E A
We also have ABCDE Ditto for others…
D
E
E
A
C
D
Go this way
A
B B
C
Remarks
It can be observed that the permutations ABCDE
as demonstrated in the two previous slides are not
distinguishable. Hence, it is pertinent to use one of
the n objects to mark the starting point (origin) so
that the remaining n – 1 objects could then be
arranged in (n – 1)! ways if there is no other
restrictions.
That is, (n-1)P = (n-1)! ways
(n-1)
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Examples 8 and 9
8. In how many ways can 5 TV sport
analysts be seated at a roundtable for
discussion?
9. In how many ways can four men and
four women be seated at roundtable at a
dinner party if each guest is to be seated
next to members of the opposite sex?
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COMBINATIONS
Suppose that in an arrangement of k objects
selected from a set of n distinct objects in
which the order of arrangements is NOT
important so that different orderings of the
same set of k objects are regarded as same.
In this case, each of such arrangements is
called a combination.
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Each such arrangement is usually referred
to as a combination of n objects taking k at
a time and denoted by C(n, k) or nCk.
Mathematically, combination of n objects
taking k at a time is defined as
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Illustrations
Suppose we are to find how many permutations
are there in the letters A, B, C and D taking three
at a time.
Here, n = 4 and k = 3, then 4P3 = 24 and the
permutations are
ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, CBA
ABD, ADB, BAD, BDA, DAB, DBA
ACD, ADC, CAD, CDA, DAC, DCA
BCD, BDC, CBD, CDB, DBC, DCB
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Illustrations Continue…
But if we are to find how many combinations are
there in the letters A, B, C and D taking three at a
time. Here, n = 4 and k = 3, then 4C3 = 4. This
implies that
ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, CBA = ABC
ABD, ADB, BAD, BDA, DAB, DBA = ABD
ACD, ADC, CAD, CDA, DAC, DCA = ACD
BCD, BDC, CBD, CDB, DBC, DCB = BCD
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Example 10
Compute the following
i. 5C2
ii. 5C3
iii. 7C5
iv. 10C3
v. 12C5
vi. 3C0
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Example 11
i. How many combinations of four
objects are there taken two at a time?
ii. How many ways can a Lecturer select
2 textbooks for a course from a list of
10 suggested textbooks?
iii. How many ways can 10 face cards be
selected from a standard deck of 52
cards?
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Example 12
i. There are 7 women and 5 men in a club. A
committee of 3 women and 2 men is to be
chosen. How many different possibilities
are there?
ii. A committee of 4 men and 6 women is to
be selected from 7 men and 8 women. If
there is a married couple among the 15
people, in how many ways can the
committee be selected so that the couple
are automatically in the committee? 27
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Example 13
A delegation of the University of Ilorin wants to pay a
courtesy visit to the Governor of Kwara State who is
an alumnus of the Better By Far University. The
University’s protocol officer is charged with the
responsibility to select the delegates. In how many
ways can the delegation be constituted if it must
include the VC, Registrar, 2 other Principal Officers
and 5 of the Faculty Deans?
HINT: There are 15 faculties in UNILORIN and the
Principal Officers of the University are VC, DVC (Acad),
DVC (MS), DCV (RTI), Registrar, Bursar and Librarian 28
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Practice Questions
1. In a club consisting of ten members, find the number of
different ways of selecting an entertainment committee
of four persons.
2. A committee of four men and six women is to be
selected from 7 men and 8 women. If there are two
siblings among the women and it is desired that the two
of them should serve in the committee, in how many
ways can the committee members be selected?
3. A committee of 5 people must be selected from 5 men
and 8 women. How many ways can the selection be
done if there should be at least 3 women in the
committee?
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4. Twelve students are to pose for photographs after a social
gathering at UNILORIN. Four students are from Lagos
state, three are from Kano state and the remaining five are
from Kwara state.
a. How many possible photographs can they take if there is
no restriction?
b. How many photographs can they take if students from the
same state must stand close to one another?
c. It was discovered that two particular students were fond
of each other and they insisted to stand side-by-side. How
many photographs are possible if their interest is to be
protected?
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5. At the expiration of tenure of the present students’ union
leaders of UNILORIN, the eleven leaders wish to snap
pictures to be kept in the union’s album for remembrance.
How many pictures are possible (a) if there is no
restriction? (b) If the president and his vice must sit close
to each other? (c) If the speaker of the SRC must be in
the middle and the president and his vice must sit close to
each other? (d) If the leaders comprise of seven males
and four females, and it is required that leaders of the
same gender must sit close to one another?
6. How many different permutations can be made from the
letters in word “SIBESIBEOLUWADARASIMI”?
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7. Three members from the group of 12 on the
Board of Directors of UNILORIN Microfinance
Bank are to be selected to attend an International
Training on Code of Conduct in the Nigeria
Banking Industry, How many different groups of
3 are possible?
8. Determine the number of different groups of 5
items that can be selected from 12 distinct items.
9. Determine the number of different arrangements
of 5 items that can be made from 12 distinct
items.
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10. In your CHM 101 practical class, you are
advised to read any 4 books from a list of 10
books. How many different groups of 4 are
available from the list of 10?
11. The qualified applicant pool for 6
management trainee positions consist of 7
women and 5 men. (a) How many different
groups of applicants can be selected for the
positions? (b) How many different groups of
trainees would consist entirely of women?
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12. Find the number of distinguishable
permutations that can be formed from the
letters in each of the words
(a) HONOLULU (b) CINCINNATI
(c) PHILIPPINES (d) CONSISTENCY
(e) SIBESIBEOLUWAMBEPELUMI
13. A senate investigative sub-committee of 4
members is to be selected from a senate
committee of 10 members. Determine the
number of ways this can be done?
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14. An investor has decided to purchase shares in
the stocks of 2 telecommunication companies, 2
pharmaceutical companies and 2 manufacturing
companies. In how many ways may the investor
select the group of six investments from the
recommended list of 5 telecommunication
companies, 3 pharmaceutical companies and 4
manufacturing companies?
15. In how many ways can a 6-letter security
password be formed from letters of the English
alphabet if no letter is repeated?
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16. In how many ways can 4 married couples
attending a concert be seated in a row of eight
seats if (a) there is no restrictions? (b) each
married couple is seated together? (c) the
members of each gender are seated together?
17. A student taking an examination is required to
answer 10 out of 15 questions. (a) In how many
ways can the 10 questions be selected? (b) In
how many ways can the 10 questions be
selected if exactly 2 out of the first 3 questions
must be answered?
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Mrs. N. F. Gatta
08057149509
nusiratfunmilayo@[Link]
Dr. M. K. Garba
08035568461
[Link]@[Link]
garbamk@[Link]
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