Vocabulary

Permutation – an arrangement, or listing, of objects in which order is important.

Concepts

Writing factors represented by permutation notation.

Rules

1. The notation P(a,b) represents a items taken b at a time.

2. Write the b numbers starting at a and counting down, then multiply them together. 
Example: P(5,3) = 5 × 4 × 3 = 60

Example

Choose the correct factors that are represented by P(7,3).

Solution

P(7,3) represents 7 items taken 3 at a time. Therefore, 7 ∙ 6 ∙ 5 is the correct choice.

Pre-requisite Skills

Permutations (6.9.4)