Reference > Functions reference > Number functions > Combination
 

Combination

Returns the number of unique ways to choose numberOfChoices items from a set of setSize.

Format 

Combination ( setSize ; numberOfChoices )

Parameters 

setSize - any numeric expression or field containing a non-negative numeric expression

numberOfChoices - any numeric expression or field containing a non-negative numeric expression

Data type returned 

number

Originated in 

FileMaker Pro 7.0

Description 

This function is useful in statistics, combinatorics, and polynomial expansions. The values returned by this function are referred to as combination coefficients. They form Pascal's triangle.

Equation

Example 1 

Combination(5;2) returns 10 for a set consisting of {a, b, c, d, e} because the unique choices when choosing two at a time are {ab, ac, ad, ae, bc, bd, be, cd, ce, de}.

Example 2 

(13 * 12 * Combination(4;2) * Combination(4;3)) / Combination(52;5) returns 0.00144057..., which is the probability of being dealt a full-house in 5-card poker (less than a 1% chance).

Related topics 

Functions reference (category list)

Functions reference (alphabetical list)

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