Permutations and CombinationsMCQMTP May 19Question 1637 of 249
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If nP6=336\displaystyle ^nP_6 = 336 and nCr=56\displaystyle ^nC_r = 56, then n and r will be

Select Your Answer (Keyboard: A, B, C, D)
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Correct Answer

✅ Option b — (8,3)\displaystyle (8,3)

All Options:

  • A(3,2)\displaystyle (3,2)
  • B(8,3)\displaystyle (8,3)
  • C(7,4)\displaystyle (7,4)
  • Dnone of these

Detailed Solution & Explanation

Let us first analyze the equations printed in the question:
nP6=336quadtextandquadnCr=56^nP_6 = 336 \\quad \and\displaystyle \text{and} \\quad ^nC_r = 56
If n=7\displaystyle n = 7, then 7P6=7!=5040neq336\displaystyle ^7P_6 = 7! = 5040 \≠\displaystyle \neq 336. This indicates a typographical error where nPr\displaystyle ^nP_r was printed as nP6\displaystyle ^nP_6.

Let us solve the correct intended equations:
nPr=336quadtextandquadnCr=56^nP_r = 336 \\quad \and\displaystyle \text{and} \\quad ^nC_r = 56
Using the fundamental relationship nPr=r!timesnCr\displaystyle ^nP_r = r! \×\displaystyle \times ^nC_r, we substitute the values:
336=r!times56336 = r! \×\displaystyle \times 56
r!=frac33656=6r! = \33656=6\displaystyle \frac{336}{56} = 6
Since $3! = 6,wefind:<br><spanclass="katex−display"><spanclass="katex"><spanclass="katex−mathml"><mathxmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow><annotationencoding="application/x−tex">r=3</annotation></semantics></math></span><spanclass="katex−html"aria−hidden="true"><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.4306em;"></span><spanclass="mordmathnormal"style="margin−right:0.02778em;">r</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">=</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">3</span></span></span></span></span><br>Nowwesubstitute\displaystyle , we find:<br><span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">r = 3</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.02778em;">r</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span></span></span></span></span><br>Now we substituter = 3intothecombinationequation:<br><spanclass="katex−display"><spanclass="katex"><spanclass="katex−mathml"><mathxmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow></mrow><mi>n</mi></msup><msub><mi>C</mi><mn>3</mn></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>56</mn></mrow><annotationencoding="application/x−tex">nC3=56</annotation></semantics></math></span><spanclass="katex−html"aria−hidden="true"><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.8644em;vertical−align:−0.15em;"></span><spanclass="mord"><span></span><spanclass="msupsub"><spanclass="vlist−t"><spanclass="vlist−r"><spanclass="vlist"style="height:0.7144em;"><spanstyle="top:−3.113em;margin−right:0.05em;"><spanclass="pstrut"style="height:2.7em;"></span><spanclass="sizingreset−size6size3mtight"><spanclass="mordmathnormalmtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><spanclass="mord"><spanclass="mordmathnormal"style="margin−right:0.07153em;">C</span><spanclass="msupsub"><spanclass="vlist−tvlist−t2"><spanclass="vlist−r"><spanclass="vlist"style="height:0.3011em;"><spanstyle="top:−2.55em;margin−left:−0.0715em;margin−right:0.05em;"><spanclass="pstrut"style="height:2.7em;"></span><spanclass="sizingreset−size6size3mtight"><spanclass="mordmtight">3</span></span></span></span><spanclass="vlist−s">​</span></span><spanclass="vlist−r"><spanclass="vlist"style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">=</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">56</span></span></span></span></span><br><spanclass="katex−display"><spanclass="katex"><spanclass="katex−mathml"><mathxmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"display="block"><semantics><mrow><mspacelinebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>f</mi><mi>r</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>c</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mostretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mostretchy="false">)</mo><mostretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn><mostretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn><mostretchy="false">!</mo></mrow><mo>=</mo><mn>56</mn></mrow><annotationencoding="application/x−tex">fracn(n−1)(n−2)3!=56</annotation></semantics></math></span><spanclass="katex−html"aria−hidden="true"><spanclass="mspacenewline"></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:1em;vertical−align:−0.25em;"></span><spanclass="mordmathnormal"style="margin−right:0.10764em;">f</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal"style="margin−right:0.02778em;">r</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">a</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">c</span><spanclass="mord"><spanclass="mordmathnormal">n</span><spanclass="mopen">(</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">n</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span><spanclass="mbin">−</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span><spanclass="mord">1</span><spanclass="mclose">)</span><spanclass="mopen">(</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">n</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span><spanclass="mbin">−</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span><spanclass="mord">2</span><spanclass="mclose">)</span></span><spanclass="mord"><spanclass="mord">3</span><spanclass="mclose">!</span></span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">=</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">56</span></span></span></span></span><br><spanclass="katex−display"><spanclass="katex"><spanclass="katex−mathml"><mathxmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi><mostretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mostretchy="false">)</mo><mostretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn><mostretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>56</mn><mspacelinebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>6</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>336</mn></mrow><annotationencoding="application/x−tex">n(n−1)(n−2)=56times6=336</annotation></semantics></math></span><spanclass="katex−html"aria−hidden="true"><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:1em;vertical−align:−0.25em;"></span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">n</span><spanclass="mopen">(</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">n</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span><spanclass="mbin">−</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:1em;vertical−align:−0.25em;"></span><spanclass="mord">1</span><spanclass="mclose">)</span><spanclass="mopen">(</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">n</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span><spanclass="mbin">−</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2222em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:1em;vertical−align:−0.25em;"></span><spanclass="mord">2</span><spanclass="mclose">)</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">=</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">56</span></span><spanclass="mspacenewline"></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6595em;"></span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">t</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">im</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">es</span><spanclass="mord">6</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">=</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">336</span></span></span></span></span><br>Weneedthreeconsecutivepositiveintegerswhoseproductis336.Testingvalues:<br><spanclass="katex−display"><spanclass="katex"><spanclass="katex−mathml"><mathxmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>8</mn><mspacelinebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>7</mn><mspacelinebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>6</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>336</mn></mrow><annotationencoding="application/x−tex">8times7times6=336</annotation></semantics></math></span><spanclass="katex−html"aria−hidden="true"><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">8</span></span><spanclass="mspacenewline"></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6595em;"></span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">t</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">im</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">es</span><spanclass="mord">7</span></span><spanclass="mspacenewline"></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6595em;"></span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">t</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">im</span><spanclass="mordmathnormal">es</span><spanclass="mord">6</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">=</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">336</span></span></span></span></span><br>Thus,wefind\displaystyle into the combination equation:<br><span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow></mrow><mi>n</mi></msup><msub><mi>C</mi><mn>3</mn></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>56</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">^nC_3 = 56</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.8644em;vertical-align:-0.15em;"></span><span class="mord"><span></span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.7144em;"><span style="top:-3.113em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.07153em;">C</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3011em;"><span style="top:-2.55em;margin-left:-0.0715em;margin-right:0.05em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.7em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.15em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">56</span></span></span></span></span><br><span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mspace linebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>f</mi><mi>r</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>c</mi><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn><mo stretchy="false">!</mo></mrow><mo>=</mo><mn>56</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\n(n−1)(n−2)3!=56\displaystyle \frac{n(n-1)(n-2)}{3!} = 56</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="mspace newline"></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.10764em;">f</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.02778em;">r</span><span class="mord mathnormal">a</span><span class="mord mathnormal">c</span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mclose">)</span></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mclose">!</span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">56</span></span></span></span></span><br><span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>56</mn><mspace linebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>6</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>336</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">n(n-1)(n-2) = 56 \×\displaystyle \times 6 = 336</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mopen">(</span><span class="mord mathnormal">n</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">−</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord">2</span><span class="mclose">)</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">56</span></span><span class="mspace newline"></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6595em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span><span class="mord mathnormal">im</span><span class="mord mathnormal">es</span><span class="mord">6</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">336</span></span></span></span></span><br>We need three consecutive positive integers whose product is 336. Testing values:<br><span class="katex-display"><span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block"><semantics><mrow><mn>8</mn><mspace linebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>7</mn><mspace linebreak="newline"></mspace><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi><mn>6</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>336</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">8 \×\displaystyle \times 7 \×\displaystyle \times 6 = 336</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">8</span></span><span class="mspace newline"></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6595em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span><span class="mord mathnormal">im</span><span class="mord mathnormal">es</span><span class="mord">7</span></span><span class="mspace newline"></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6595em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">t</span><span class="mord mathnormal">im</span><span class="mord mathnormal">es</span><span class="mord">6</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">336</span></span></span></span></span><br>Thus, we findn = 8.<br>Therefore,thecorrectvaluesare\displaystyle .<br>Therefore, the correct values aren = 8and\displaystyle andr = 3$, which corresponds to Option B. The textbook key incorrectly lists Option C ($(7,4)$) as correct. We have shown the correct derivation of $(8,3)$.
Hence, **Option B** is the correct answer.

About This Chapter: Permutations and Combinations

Paper

Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude

Weightage

4-6 Marks

Key Topics

Factorials, Permutations, Combinations

This chapter deals with the fundamental principles of counting. It covers factorials, circular permutations, restricted permutations, combinations, and the differences between selecting items versus arranging them.

View Official ICAI Syllabus

Exam Strategy Tip

The most common mistake is confusing 'P' (Arrangement) with 'C' (Selection). If order matters (like opening a lock), use P. If order doesn't matter (like choosing a team), use C.

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