In counting, which statement about a combination is correct?

In counting, which statement about a combination is correct?

• A. In a combination, order does not matter.
• B. In a combination, order must be preserved.
• C. A combination always uses repetition allowed.
• D. A combination is always the same as a permutation.

Answer: (A)

In counting, a combination is a selection where the order of the items chosen is not important; only which items you pick matters. For example, choosing two items from A, B, and C yields the same outcome whether you pick A then B or B then A. This contrasts with a permutation, where AB and BA are considered different because the order matters. Repetition is not assumed in a typical combination problem—you usually select distinct items unless the problem says “with repetition.” Because of that distinction, a combination is not the same as a permutation. Therefore, the statement that order does not matter in a combination is the correct description.

In counting, a combination is a selection where the order of the items chosen is not important; only which items you pick matters. For example, choosing two items from A, B, and C yields the same outcome whether you pick A then B or B then A. This contrasts with a permutation, where AB and BA are considered different because the order matters. Repetition is not assumed in a typical combination problem—you usually select distinct items unless the problem says “with repetition.” Because of that distinction, a combination is not the same as a permutation. Therefore, the statement that order does not matter in a combination is the correct description.