Math Combinatorics Binomial coefficient

Binomial coefficient

Without replacement, order doesn't matter

From an urn with $n$ different balls, $k$ balls are drawn in succession without replacement.
If the order doesn't matter, the number of possible combinations is $N$:

$N=\frac{n!}{k!\cdot(n-k)!}$ $={n\choose k}$
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$n!$ is called the n-factorial and is the product of all natural numbers from 1 to n.

Example: $5!=1\cdot2\cdot3\cdot4\cdot5$

The term ${n\choose k}$, read: „n choose k“, is called the binomial coefficient.

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Most calculators have their own key for the binomial coefficient: the nCr-key.

Otherwise you always have to enter the fraction with the faculties.

Example

In the lottery, 6 numbers are drawn from 49 numbers without replacement. The order doesn't matter.
Calculate the different options.

${49\choose 6}$ $=\frac{49!}{6!\cdot43!}$ $=13.983.816$

Only one of these options wins, the probability is:
$\frac{1}{13.983.816}$ $\approx0.000000072$


Example

8 teams take part in a football tournament. How many endgame pairs are possible?

${8\choose 2}=28$