What's the difference between a combination and a permutation?

pjotr

In combination, order does not matter, so if you are forming groups of three, you might be asked how many combinations are possible out of 6 people. so a group of persons A, D, and F is no different than a group of persons F, D, and A. In permutations, order does matter however, as in a race, if A comes first then D, then F, that is obviously not the same as D coming first, then A, then D. Jan 31 06, 7:38 PM