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 version
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.
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).