Probability & Combinatorics
Lesson 1 of 3 6 min +40 XP

Counting Outcomes

Permutations and combinations.

What you'll learn

  • Understand counting outcomes
  • Apply it to real examples
  • Check yourself with a quiz
Lining up for the photo

Five friends can line up for a photo in 5×4×3×2×1 = 120 different orders. Counting arrangements is the first tool of probability — you can't find a chance without counting the possibilities.

Order matters or not

Permutations count ordered arrangements (n!). Combinations count unordered choices, C(n,k) = n!/(k!(n−k)!).

Knowledge Check

+10 XP / correct

1. How many ways can 4 people line up?

2. Order matters for a…