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Basic tutorials Permutation and Combinations
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Difference Between Combinations and Permutations
In English we use the word "combination" loosely, without thinking if the order of things is important. In other words:
"My fruit salad is a combination of apples, grapes and bananas" We don't care what order the fruits are in, they could also be "bananas, grapes and apples" or "grapes, apples and bananas", its the same fruit salad
"The combination to the safe was 472". Now we do care about the order. "724" would not work, nor would "247". It has to be exactly 4-7-2.
So, in Mathematics we use more precise language:
If the order doesn't matter, it is a Combination.
If the order does matter it is a Permutation.
 | So, we should really call this a "Permutation Lock"!
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In other words:
A Permutation is an ordered Combination.
To help you to remember, think "Permutation ... Position"
Permutation and Combination Formula & Tips by Sandeep Jain, S.S. Education
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