Returns the number of permutations for a given number of objects that can be selected from number objects. A permutation is any set or subset of objects or events where internal order is significant. Permutations are different from combinations, for which the internal order is not significant. Use this function for lottery-style probability calculations.
Syntax
PERMUT(number,number_chosen)
Number is an integer that describes the number of objects.
Number_chosen is an integer that describes the number of objects in each permutation.
Remarks
- Both arguments are truncated to integers.
- If number or number_chosen is nonnumeric, PERMUT returns the #VALUE! error value.
- If number ≤ 0 or if number_chosen < 0, PERMUT returns the #NUM! error value.
- If number < number_chosen, PERMUT returns the #NUM! error value.
- The equation for the number of permutations is:
Example
Suppose you want to calculate the odds of selecting a winning lottery number. Each lottery number contains three numbers, each of which can be between 0 (zero) and 99, inclusive. The following function calculates the number of possible permutations:
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.
How?- Create a blank spreadsheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.
| Data | Description |
|---|---|
| 100 | Number of objects |
| 3 | Number of objects in each permutation |
| Formula | Description (Result) |
| =PERMUT(A2,A3) | Permutations possible for the terms above (970200) |