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NPm notation

Meaning of N permute M notation

This math skill explains the concept of permutations, specifically "N permute M" notation. It describes the number of ways to select and arrange M items from a total of N items, emphasizing that the order of selection matters. The formula involves factorials, dividing N factorial by the factorial of (N-M).

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Teaching Transcript

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What does this probability notation of a number, the letter 'P', and another number mean?

It is said 6 permute 2 when you read it out loud

What that means is the number of ways you can pick any 2 items in order from a group of 6 items

It is quite important to notice that order does matter. So picking the 3 of clubs then the 7 of hearts is not the same as picking the 7 of hearts and then the 3 of clubs.

The equation for it is 6 factorial, divided by, 6 minus 2, or 4, factorial

Which would calculate out to a value of 30. So there are 30 unique, ordered, ways to pick 2 cards out of this hand of 6.