The question, “How many ways can 4 different students be selected in order from a class of 30 students?”, is a(n) _____.

Answer 1

Permutations and combinations are both ways that objects can be taken from a set. The difference between them is that in a permutation, the order where they are selected matters (think lock combination or zip code); in a combination, two sets in different orders are considered the same (think lottery numbers or top 5 winners). Remember permutation = position.

To calculate a permutation, use the equation P(n,r) = n! / (n-r)! where n is total objects and r is number at a time.

To calculate a permutation, use the equation C(n,r) = n! / r!(n-r)! where n is total objects and r is number at a time.

The answer is permutation, as the order of students makes a difference.