Permutations and CombinationsMCQMTP March 22Question 1714 of 249
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15C3r=15Cr+3\displaystyle ^{15}C_{3r} = ^{15}C_{r+3}, then 'r\displaystyle r' is equal to

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Correct Answer

✅ Option b — 3

All Options:

  • A2
  • B3
  • C4
  • D5

Detailed Solution & Explanation

Given equation:
15C3r=15Cr+3^{15}C_{3r} = ^{15}C_{r+3}
We know the standard combinatorial property:
If nCx=nCy\displaystyle ^{n}C_{x} = ^{n}C_{y}, then either:
1. x=y\displaystyle x = y, or
2. x+y=n\displaystyle x + y = n

Let us check both cases:

**Case 1:** $3r = r + 3<br><spanclass="katex−display"><spanclass="katex"><spanclass="katex−mathml"><mathxmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"display="block"><semantics><mrow><mtext>  </mtext><mo>⟹</mo><mtext>  </mtext><mn>2</mn><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn><mtext>  </mtext><mo>⟹</mo><mtext>  </mtext><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>3</mn><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo>=</mo><mn>1.5</mn></mrow><annotationencoding="application/x−tex">  ⟹  2r=3  ⟹  r=32=1.5</annotation></semantics></math></span><spanclass="katex−html"aria−hidden="true"><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.549em;vertical−align:−0.024em;"></span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">⟹</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><spanclass="base"><spanclass="strut"style="height:0.6444em;"></span><spanclass="mord">2</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:0.6684em;vertical−align:−0.024em;"></span><spanclass="mord">3</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mrel">⟹</span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span><spanclass="mspace"style="margin−right:0.2778em;"></span></span><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:2.0074em;vertical−align:−0.686em;"></span><spanclass="mord"><spanclass="mopennulldelimiter"></span><spanclass="mfrac"><spanclass="vlist−tvlist−t2"><spanclass="vlist−r"><spanclass="vlist"style="height:1.3214em;"><spanstyle="top:−2.314em;"><spanclass="pstrut"style="height:3em;"></span><spanclass="mord"><spanclass="mord">2</span></span></span><spanstyle="top:−3.23em;"><spanclass="pstrut"style="height:3em;"></span><spanclass="frac−line"style="border−bottom−width:0.04em;"></span></span><spanstyle="top:−3.677em;"><spanclass="pstrut"style="height:3em;"></span><spanclass="mord"><spanclass="mord">3</span></span></span></span><spanclass="vlist−s">​</span></span><spanclass="vlist−r"><spanclass="vlist"style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><spanclass="mclosenulldelimiter"></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">1.5</span></span></span></span></span><br>Sincethesubscript\displaystyle <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><mtext>  </mtext><mo>⟹</mo><mtext>  </mtext><mn>2</mn><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>3</mn><mtext>  </mtext><mo>⟹</mo><mtext>  </mtext><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mn>3</mn><mn>2</mn></mfrac><mo>=</mo><mn>1.5</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\implies 2r = 3 \implies r = 32=1\displaystyle \frac{3}{2} = 1.5</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.549em;vertical-align:-0.024em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">⟹</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></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">2</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:0.6684em;vertical-align:-0.024em;"></span><span class="mord">3</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">⟹</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><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:2.0074em;vertical-align:-0.686em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:1.3214em;"><span style="top:-2.314em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">2</span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.677em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord">3</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.686em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></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">1.5</span></span></span></span></span><br>Since the subscriptrin\displaystyle in^{n}C_{r}mustbeanon−negativeinteger,\displaystyle must be a non-negative integer,r = 1.5\displaystyle is not a valid solution.<br><br>**Case 2:** &#36;3r + (r + 3) = 15
  ⟹  4r+3=15\implies 4r + 3 = 15
  ⟹  4r=12\implies 4r = 12
  ⟹  r=3\implies r = 3
Since r=3\displaystyle r = 3 is a positive integer, it is a valid solution.

Let us verify by substituting r=3\displaystyle r = 3 back into the original expression:
LHS=15C3(3)=15C9\displaystyle \text{LHS} = ^{15}C_{3(3)} = ^{15}C_9
RHS=15C3+3=15C6RHS=15C3+3=15C6\displaystyle \text{RHS} = ^{15}C_{3+3} = ^{15}C_6
Since 15C9=15!9!×6!\displaystyle ^{15}C_9 = 15!9!×6!\displaystyle \frac{15!}{9! \times 6!} and 15C6=15!6!×9!\displaystyle ^{15}C_6 = 15!6!×9!\displaystyle \frac{15!}{6! \times 9!}, LHS is indeed equal to RHS.

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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