COMBIN

Syntax:

COMBIN ( number , number-chosen )

Description: Computes the possible number of groups of size number-chosen that can be formed from number objects. [Note: A combination is any set or subset of objects, regardless of their internal order. Combinations are distinct from permutations, for which the internal order is significant. end note]

Mathematical Formula:

The number of combinations is as follows, where number = n and number-chosen = k:

where:

Arguments:

Name	Type	Description
number	number	The total number of objects available, truncated to an integer.
number-chosen	number	The number of objects in each combination, truncated to an integer.

 

Return Type and Value: number – The number of different combinations of number-chosen in number.

However, if

• number < 0, #NUM! is returned.

• number-chosen < 0, #NUM! is returned.

• number < number-chosen, #NUM! is returned.

[Example:

COMBIN(8,2) results in 28
COMBIN(10,4) results in 210
COMBIN(6,5) results in 6

end example]