How to use the PERMUTATIONA function
What is the PERMUTATIONA function?
The PERMUTATIONA function returns the number of permutations for a specific number of elements that can be selected from a larger group of elements. Repetition is allowed.
Explain what a permutation is?
A permutation is a way of arranging a set of elements in a specific order. For example, if you have three letters A, B, and C, you can arrange them in six different ways: ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, and CBA.
Each of these arrangements is called a permutation of the three letters. The order of the objects matters in a permutation, so ABC and BAC are considered different permutations.
What is repetition allowed?
Repetition allowed is when there can be duplicate values. A phone number is a great example of a permutation that may contain duplicate digits.
What is an element?
An element refers to an item which can be anything.
What is the difference between the PERMUTATIONA function and the PERMUT function?
PERMUTATIONA allows repetition, PERMUT does not.
PERMUTATIONA calculates the number of permutations for a given number of objects (n) selected from a pool of objects where order is important and objects can repeat.
PERMUT calculates the number of permutations for a given number of objects (n) selected from a pool of unique objects where order is important but repetition is not allowed.
How can I create a list of permutations with repetition?
Recommended articles
This blog post demonstrates a custom function (UDF) that creates permutations. Repetition is allowed. The custom function lets you specify the […]
What is the difference between combination and permutation?
Combinations: Order does not matter. ABC and BAC are considered the same.
Permutations - Order matters. ABC is different from BAC.
Permutations are used when order matters - like sequences, orders, arrangements.
Combinations are used when specific groupings matter but order doesn't - like teams, packs, sets.
How can I create a list of permutations without repetition?
Recommended articles
This blog post describes how to create permutations, repetition is NOT allowed. Permutations are items arranged in a given order meaning […]
Related functions
| Excel Function and Arguments | Description |
|---|---|
| PERMUT(number, number_chosen) | Returns the number of permutations for a given number of objects selected from number items without repetition |
| PERMUTATIONA(number, number_chosen) | Returns the number of permutations for a given number of objects selected from number items with repetition allowed |
| COMBIN(number, number_chosen) | Returns the number of combinations for a given number of objects selected from number items without repetition |
| COMBINA(number, number_chosen) | Returns the number of combinations for a given number of objects selected from number items with repetition allowed |
PERMUTATIONA function Syntax
PERMUTATIONA(number, number-chosen)
PERMUTATIONA function Arguments
| number | The total number of elements. |
| number-chosen | A specific number of elements. |
PERMUTATIONA function example
The picture above shows permutations with repetition allowed, 2 out of 3 numbers. The numbers are 1,2 and 3 and there are 9 permutations.
Formula in cell D3:
PERMUTATIONA function not working
The PERMUTATIONA function returns:
- #NUM! error value if numeric arguments are values that are not valid.
- #VALUE! error value if numeric arguments use data types that are nonnumeric.
'PERMUTATIONA' function examples
This blog post demonstrates a custom function (UDF) that creates permutations. Repetition is allowed. The custom function lets you specify the […]
This article demonstrates a macro that lets you create a list of permutations, repetitions are allowed, based on a number […]
Functions in 'Statistical' category
The PERMUTATIONA function function is one of 74 functions in the 'Statistical' category.
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