What is the difference between permutation and combination?
Quick answer
A permutation is an arrangement where order matters; a combination is a selection where order does not matter.
Permutations: number of ways to arrange r items from n is ⁿPᵣ = n! / (n − r)!. Combinations: number of ways to choose r items from n is ⁿCᵣ = n! / [r!(n − r)!].
Example: from 3 people {A, B, C}, choosing 2 in order (permutations) gives AB, BA, AC, CA, BC, CB = 6. Choosing 2 without order (combinations) gives AB, AC, BC = 3.
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