Determine whether the scenario below involves permutations or combinations.

A group of seven actors are competing to earn one of three roles in a TV show: Michael, George, and Oscar. How many unique arrangements are possible?
Would this be combinations since it does not matter who gets the role?

Question

Determine whether the scenario below involves permutations or combinations.

A group of seven actors are competing to earn one of three roles in a TV show: Michael, George, and Oscar. How many unique arrangements are possible?
Would this be combinations since it does not matter who gets the role?

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

if the roles are people who are extras or non-important actors, then the order wouldn't matter

but if it they are top billed roles, then order would matter

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

my guess is that the roles are important, so order would matter

anonymous · Answer

A combination is essentially an equivalence class of permutations

anonymous · Answer

anyways, @summertimesadness they are competing for roles... the roles matter, since person A being Michael, B being George, and C being Oscar is a different arrangement than A being George, B being Oscar, and A being Michael -- see?

anonymous · Answer

Thank you! @oldrin.bataku @jim_thompson5910