PERMUTATIONS — FULL NOTES, FORMULAS, EXPLANATIONS & 20 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
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1. WHAT IS A PERMUTATION?
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A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.
Order matters.
Example:
ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, CBA are different permutations.
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2. MAIN PERMUTATION FORMULAS
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Formula 1: P(n) = n!
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The number of ways to arrange n distinct items.
Explanation:
First position: n choices
Second: n−1 choices
...
Last: 1 choice
Total = n!
Example:
Permutations of ABCD = 4! = 24.
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Formula 2: P(n, r) = n! / (n − r)!
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Number of ways to pick and arrange r items from n.
Example:
Arrange 3 from 10:
10! / 7! = 720.
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Formula 3: Permutation with Repeated Items
n! / (n1! n2! n3! …)
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Example:
BANANA: A(3), N(2), B(1)
6! / (3! 2! 1!) = 60.
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Formula 4: Circular Permutations
(n − 1)!
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Circular order ignores rotation.
Explanation:
Fix 1 person. Arrange the remaining n−1.
Example:
5 people around table = 4! = 24.
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Formula 5: Circular Permutations with Repetition
(n − 1)! / (n1! n2! …)
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3. EXAMPLES FOR EACH FORMULA
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Example A:
Permute 6 digits: 6! = 720.
Example B:
P(7,4) = 7×6×5×4 = 840.
Example C:
MISSISSIPPI:
11! / (4! 4! 2!) = 34,650.
Example D:
Circular 8 beads:
7! = 5040.
Example E (must stay together):
Treat block AB as 1 unit:
4! × 2! = 48.
Example F (must NOT be together):
5! − 48 = 120 − 48 = 72.
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4. 20 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
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Easy:
1. How many permutations of 5 letters?
2. Arrange digits 1,2,3.
3. Find P(7,2).
4. 8 students in a line.
5. Permutations of DOG.
Medium:
6. Find P(9,4).
7. 3-digit numbers from 1–6 no repetition.
8. Permutations of LEVEL.
9. Circular seating of 6 people.
10. Arrange 5 books from 10.
11. Orderings of ABCADE.
12. TIGER with T first.
13. 4-letter passwords from A–G.
Hard:
14. 10 items, 3 must stay together.
15. Permutations of UNIVERSITY.
16. Permutations of COMMITTEE.
17. 5-digit numbers from 0–9, no repetition, no zero-leading.
Very Hard:
18. ARRANGEMENTS permutations.
19. 8 people, two opposite each other.
20. 6-letter words from MATHEMATICS (no repeated letters).
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5. CYCLIC PERMUTATIONS — FULL DETAILED EXPLANATION
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A cyclic (circular) permutation is arranging objects in a circle where rotations do not change the
arrangement.
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Why circular permutations use (n − 1)!
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In a circle, we fix one person to break rotation symmetry.
Remaining (n−1)! are unique.
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Round-table vs Necklace
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Round-table:
Clockwise ≠ counter-clockwise
Formula: (n−1)!
Necklace:
Flips identical
Formula: (n−1)! / 2
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Circular with Repetition
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(n − 1)! / (k1! k2! ...)
Example:
AABBC around circle:
(5−1)! / (2! 2!) = 6.
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Special Cases
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1. Labeled seats → n!
2. One fixed seat → (n−1)!
3. Restrictions → case analysis.
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Cyclic Examples
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Example 1:
7 people → 6! = 720.
Example 2:
Circular MISSISSIPPI:
10! / (4! 4! 2!) = 15,750.
Example 3:
5-bead necklace:
(5−1)! / 2 = 12.
Example 4:
8 people, A and B opposite:
Fix A, B fixed opposite.
Remaining 6: 6! = 720.
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END OF DOCUMENT
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