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Permutation for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ,pɜrmjə'teɪʃən

What does Permutation really mean?

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Permutation is a big word, but don't worry, I'm here to help you understand it better! So, let's dive right in. Have you ever played with building blocks or stacking toys? Well, imagine you have a set of blocks, and you can arrange them in different ways. Each arrangement is like a permutation.

In simpler terms, permutation means the ways in which you can arrange or organize a group of things. It's like putting puzzle pieces together to create different pictures, except with permutations, we're talking about arranging numbers or objects instead of puzzle pieces. It's a way of thinking about how many different ways something can be arranged.

Now, there's more than one situation where we use permutations. One type of permutation is called a simple permutation. It's when you're arranging or rearranging a group of things without repeating any item. Let me give you an example. Say you have three different colors of blocks: red, blue, and green. How many different ways can you arrange these blocks if you use each color only once? Well, you can arrange them in different orders like red, blue, green or green, red, blue. Each arrangement is a permutation!

But wait, there's more! Another type of permutation is called a permutation with repetition. This one is a bit different because it allows repeating elements in the arrangement. Let's say you have three identical blocks of the same color, for example, three red blocks. Now, how many different ways can you arrange these blocks? Even though they're all the same, you can still arrange them differently, like red, red, red or red, red, red. Each arrangement is considered a permutation with repetition.

So, in summary, permutation means arranging or organizing a group of things in different ways. It can be simple, where you don't repeat any items, or it can be with repetition, where you allow repeating elements. It's like playing with building blocks, but instead of physical objects, we use numbers or objects to create different arrangements. Remember, it's all about exploring the different possibilities and combinations!

Revised and Fact checked by Liam Lewis on 2023-10-29 19:16:02

Permutation In a sentece

Learn how to use Permutation inside a sentece

  • Arranging the letters A, B, and C in different orders gives us different permutations like ABC, BAC, and CBA.
  • Choosing different outfits from a wardrobe, where each outfit consists of a top, bottom, and shoes, can result in various permutations.
  • In a race with 5 participants, the different orders in which they finish determine the permutations of their positions.
  • A combination lock with 3 digits can have different permutations of numbers like 123, 312, and 231 to unlock it.
  • Creating a password using different letters, numbers, and symbols can provide multiple permutations to enhance security.

Permutation Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Permutation Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.