Permutation vs. Combination

Permutationnoun

One of the ways something exists, or the ways a set of objects can be ordered.

Permutationnoun

(mathematics) A one-to-one mapping from a finite set to itself.

Permutationnoun

An ordering of a finite set of distinct elements.

Permutationnoun

(music) A transformation of a set's prime form, by applying one or more of certain operations, specifically, transposition, inversion, and retrograde.

Permutationnoun

The act of permuting; exchange of the thing for another; mutual transference; interchange.

Permutationnoun

The arrangement of any determinate number of things, as units, objects, letters, etc., in all possible orders, one after the other; - called also alternation. Cf. Combination, n., 4.

Permutationnoun

Barter; exchange.

Permutationnoun

an event in which one thing is substituted for another;

Permutationnoun

the act of changing the arrangement of a given number of elements

Permutationnoun

complete change in character or condition;

Permutationnoun

act of changing the lineal order of objects in a group

Permutation

In mathematics, a permutation of a set is, loosely speaking, an arrangement of its members into a sequence or linear order, or if the set is already ordered, a rearrangement of its elements. The word also refers to the act or process of changing the linear order of an ordered set.Permutations differ from combinations, which are selections of some members of a set regardless of order.

Combinationnoun

The act of combining, the state of being combined or the result of combining.

Combinationnoun

An object formed by combining.

Combinationnoun

A sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock.

Combinationnoun

(mathematics) One or more elements selected from a set without regard to the order of selection.

Combinationnoun

An association or alliance of people for some common purpose.

Combinationnoun

(billiards) A combination shot; a billiard; a shot where the cue ball hits a ball that strikes another ball on the table.

Combinationnoun

A motorcycle and sidecar.

Combinationnoun

A rapid sequence of punches or strikes in boxing or other combat sports.

Combinationnoun

The act or process of combining or uniting persons and things.

Combinationnoun

The result of combining or uniting; union of persons or things; esp. a union or alliance of persons or states to effect some purpose; - usually in a bad sense.

Combinationnoun

The act or process of uniting by chemical affinity, by which substances unite with each other in definite proportions by weight to form distinct compounds.

Combinationnoun

The different arrangements of a number of objects, as letters, into groups.

Combinationnoun

a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

Combinationnoun

a coordinated sequence of chess moves

Combinationnoun

a sequence of numbers or letters that opens a combination lock;

Combinationnoun

a group of people (often temporary) having a common purpose;

Combinationnoun

an alliance of people or corporations or countries for a special purpose (formerly to achieve some antisocial end but now for general political or economic purposes)

Combinationnoun

the act of arranging elements into specified groups without regard to order

Combinationnoun

the act of combining things to form a new whole

Combination

In mathematics, a combination is a selection of items from a collection, such that the order of selection does not matter (unlike permutations). For example, given three fruits, say an apple, an orange and a pear, there are three combinations of two that can be drawn from this set: an apple and a pear; an apple and an orange; or a pear and an orange.