Determine whether the scenario below involves permutations or combinations.

At a family gathering, 23 people are trying to fit into several cars. Your car holds 6 people. How many different groups of 6 could you take in your car?

Question

Determine whether the scenario below involves permutations or combinations.

At a family gathering, 23 people are trying to fit into several cars. Your car holds 6 people. How many different groups of 6 could you take in your car?

anonymous · Answer

order does not matter, so combination.  it doesn't matter what order they get in to the car.

anonymous · Answer

Oh so if the order matters the its permutations?

anonymous · Answer

now i bet it is clear how to get $$\dbinom{26}{6}$$
a rather large number.

anonymous · Answer

yes if order matters it is permutations.  if order does not, combinations.  so 'committees' etc always combinations.

anonymous · Answer

of course you have to use common sense and determine for your self whether order matters or not. I failed to have that common sense on your first question about 'itineraries'.  that was a permutation because traveling first to city A and then to city B is counted differently from first B and then A.

anonymous · Answer

Okay , this makes sense . Its okay, Im just glad that I know now thx

anonymous · Answer

welcome