STEP-BY-STEP TECHNOLOGY GUIDE: Factorials, Permutations, and Combinations

TI-83/84

Factorials n!

  • Step 1 On the home screen, enter the value of n.
  • Step 2 Press MATH, highlight PRB, and select 4: ! (Figure 20).
  • Step 3 Press ENTER two times.

Permutations nPr and Combinations nCr

  • Step 1 On the home screen, enter the value of n.
  • Step 2
    1. For permutations, press MATH, highlight PRB, and select 2:nPr
    2. For combinations, press MATH, highlight PRB, and select 3:nCr.
      image
      Figure 5.25: FIGURE 20
  • Step 3 On the home screen, enter the value of r.
  • Step 4 Press ENTER (see Figure 19a and Figure 19c in Example 43).

EXCEL

Factorials n!

Calculate 9!

  • Step 1 Select an empty cell, and type = FACT(9).
  • Step 2 Press ENTER.

Permutations nPr

We illustrate Example 43a (page 298): 9P6.

  • Step 1 Select an empty cell and type = PERMUT(9,6).
  • Step 2 Press ENTER. See Figure 19b in Example 43 for the result.

Combinations nCr

We illustrate Example 43b (page 298): 10C7.

  • Step 1 Select an empty cell and type = COMBIN(10,7).
  • Step 2 Press ENTER. See Figure 19d in Example 43 for the result.

MINITAB

Factorials n!

  • Step 1 Click Calc > Calculator…
  • Step 2 In Store result in variable, type C1. From Functions, choose Arithmetic, then double-click Factorial. Under Expression, replace number of items with n. Click OK.

Permutations nPr

We illustrate Example 43a (page 298): 9P6.

  • Step 1 Click Calc > Calculator…
  • Step 2 In Store result in variable, type C1. From Functions, choose Arithmetic, then double-click Permutations. Under Expression, replace number of items with 9 and number to choose with 6. Click OK.

Combinations nCr

We illustrate Example 43b (page 298): 10C7.

  • Step 1 Click Calc > Calculator…
  • Step 2 In Store result in variable, type C1. From Functions, choose Arithmetic, then double-click Combinations. Under Expression, replace number of items with 10 and number to choose with 7. Click OK.