document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=386163>Question 386163</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If we are interested in determining how many different slates of officers (chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary) we can pick from a committee of five, would we apply the combination formula or the permutation formula? Explain. ( you don't have to actually do the computation). </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #273024 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=273024\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Garamond\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Has to be a permutation.  Permutations are calculated when the order of the elements in the selection matters.  Combinations are calculated when the order of the elements in the selection doesn't matter.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Example:  Let's say that you wanted to draw 5 cards from a standard deck of 52.  As far as anyone is concerned 10&#9827;, 9&#9824;, 5&#9829;, J&#9830;, and A&#9824; is exactly the same as A&#9824;, 10&#9827;, 5&#9829;, 9&#9824;, and J&#9830;.  The order in which the cards were drawn makes no difference.  That means if you calculated the Permutations of 5 taken from 52 and there are 5! ways to arrange your selection of 5, the answer would be 5! = 120 times too large.  Hence, you would use the Combination calculation which differs from the Permutation calculation by a factor of 5! in the denominator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Your example:  Picking a slate of officers is a very different thing.  Consider that President Obama, Vice-President Biden, and Secretary of State Clinton is a vastly different result than President Clinton, Vice President Obama, and Secretary of State Biden.  Order matters, so use a Permutation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Capisce?   \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it<BR>\n" );
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