Special Placement

Training- June 2021

Permutation, Combination & Probability
In how many distinguishable ways can the letters in the word “SUCCESS” be
arranged?
A. 420 B. 840 C. 240 D. 2520

The required different ways =

ANS: 420
A library has 'a' copies of one book, 'b' copies of each of two book, 'c'
copies of each of three books and single copy of 'd' book. The number
of ways in which these books can be distribute is ?
A. (a + b + c + d)! / (a! b! c!) B. (a + 2b + 3c + d)! / {a! (b!)2
(c!)3}
C. (a + 2b + 3c + d )! / (a! b! c!) D. None of these
Total number of books = a + 2b + 3c + d .
Since there are 'b' copies of each of two books, 'c' copies of each of three
books and single copy of 'd' book.

Therefore, the total number of arrangements is

= (a + 2b + 3c + d )! / {a! (b!)2 (c!)3}
The number of triangles that can be formed by choosing the vertices
from a set of 12 points, seven of which lie on the same straight line,
is ?
A. 185 B. 175 C. 115 D. 105

Required no. of triangles = 12C3 - 7C3 = 185

(Or) 7c2*5c1+7c1*5c2+5c3 = 21*5+7*10+10 = 185

How many words of 4 consonants and 3 vowels can be made from
12 consonants and 4 vowels, if all the letters are different?
A. 16C7 × 7! B. 12C4 × 4C3 × 7! C. 12C3 × 4C4 D. 11C4 × 4C3

4 consonants out of 12 can be selected in, 12C ways.

4

3 vowels can be selected in 4C ways.

3

Therefore, total number of groups each containing 4 consonants and 3

vowels, = 12C4 × 4C3
Each group contains 7 letters, which can be arranging in 7! ways.

Therefore required number of words, = 12C × 4

C3 × 7!
4
12 persons are to be arranged to a round table. If two particular
persons among them are not to be side by side, the total number of
arrangements is ?
A. 9 (10!) B. 2 (10!) C. 45 (8!) D. 10!

12 persons can be seated around a round table in 11! ways.

The total number of ways in which 2 particular persons sit side by side =
10! x 2!.
Hence, the required number of arrangements = 11! - 10! x 2! = 9 x (10!)
The total number of selections of fruit which can be made from 3
bananas, 4 apples and 2 oranges is ?
A. 39 B. 315 C. 512 D. 59
Required number of ways = (3 + 1) (4 + 1) (2 + 1) - 1 = 59

The total number of selections of atleast one fruit which can be

made from 3 bananas, 4 apples and 2 oranges is
Number of selection of at least one fruit = Number of selection of one
fruit + No. of selection of two fruit + .......... + No. of selection of 9
fruit= 9C1​+ 9C2​+ 9C3​+ 9C4​+ 9C5​+ 9C6​+ 9C7​+ 9C8​+ 9C9​
=9+36+84+126+126+84+36+9+1 =511

Alternate= 29-1 [1 fruit 2 options (Select, not select)]

Letters of the word DIRECTOR are arranged in such a way that all the vowels
come together. Find out the total no. of ways for making such arrangement. ?
A. 4320 B. 2720 C. 2160 D. 1120
Taping all vowels (IEO) as a single letter (since they come together ) there
are six letters with two 'R’ s
Hence no. of arrangement = = 2160
[3 vowels can be arranged in 3! ways among themselves. ]

In how many ways can the letters of the word 'Director' be arranged so that
the three vowels are never together ?
Total number of arrangements when there is no restriction =
∴ Required number =Total- Vowels together= = 18,000
A man has 5 friends and his wife has 4 friends. They want to invite either of
their friends, one or more to a party. In how many ways can they do so ?
A. 9 B. 18C. 31D. 46

Number of ways of selecting one or more friends from 5 friends

= 5C1 + 5C2 + 5C3 + 5C4 + 5C5
= 5 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 31 ways

Number of ways of selecting one or more friends from 4 friends

= 4C1 + 4C2 + 4C3 + 4C4
= 4 + 6 + 4 + 1 = 15 ways
∴ Total number of ways = 31 + 15 = 46 ways

Alternate: (25-1) + (24-1) =46

There is a 7-digit telephone number with all different digits. If the
digit at extreme right and extreme left are 5 and 6 respectively, find
how many such telephone number are possible ?
A. 120 B. 100000 C. 6720 D. 30240

There is a 7 - digit telephone number but extreme right and

extreme left positions are fixed .
ie. , 6 x x x x x 5
∴ Required number of ways = 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 = 6720
The probability of occurrence of an event A is 5/9 . The probability of
non-occurrence of the event B is 5/11. The probability that at least one
of them will occur ?
A. 6/11 B. 5/9 C. 4/9 D. 0.8
∵ P(A) = 5/9, P(A) = 1- 5/9 = 4/9
∵ P(B) = 5/11, P(B) = 1 - 5/11 = 6/11

Probability that none of them will occur = P(A ∩ B) = 4/9 x 5/ 11 = 20/99

Hence, Reqd. probability = 1-20/99 = 79/99

= 0.798 which is near 0.8.
The probability that a card drawn from a pack of 52 cards will be
diamond or king being to ?
A. 4/52 B. 4/13 C. 1/52 D. 2/13
Total ways = 52
There are 13 cards of diamond, 4 cards of king, but one card is king of diamond which is
counted both in diamond and king cards
⇒ Favourable ways = 13 + 4 - 1 = 16
∴ Required probability = 16/52 = 4/13

A card is drawn from a well-shuffled pack of cards. The probability of

getting a queen of club or a king of heart is ?
There is one queen of club and one king of heart.
∴ Favorable ways = 1 + 1 = 2
∴ Required probability = 2/52 = 1/26
Four whole number taken at random are multiplied together. The
chance that the last digit in the product is 1, 3, 7, or 9 is ?
A. 16/625 B. 1/210 C. 8/125 D. 4/25

If the product of the four numbers ends in one of the digits 1, 3, 7 or 9, each
number should have the last digit as one of these 4 digits.
∴ The number of favourable cases = 44
Total number of all possible cases = 104
Hence, the required probability =44/104
= 24/54 = 16/625
In a box carrying one dozen of oranges, one third have become bad. If
3 oranges are taken out from the box at random, what is the probability
that at least one oranges out of the three oranges picked up is good?
A. 1/55 B. 54/55 C. 45/55 D. 3/55

Explanation
n(S) = 12C3 = (12 x 11 x 10) / (3 x 2) = 2 x 11 x 10 = 220

Number of ways of selecting 3 oranges out of 4 bad oranges = 4C3 = 4

n(E) = No. of desired selection of oranges = 220 - 4 = 216

P(E) = n(E) / n(S) = 216 / 220 = 54/55

A natural number is selected at random from the set x = { x : 1 ≤ x ≤
100 }. The probability that the number satisfies the inequality x 2 - 13x
≤ 30 is ?
A. 5/9 B. 9/50 C. 3/20 D. 7/9

x2 - 13 x - 30 ≤ 0
⇒ (x + 2) (x - 15) ≤ 0
⇒ -2 ≤ x ≤ 15

But x is a natural number.

∴ 1 ≤ x ≤ 15
Reqd. Probability P = 15/100 = 3/20
Three dice (each having six faces with each face having one number
from 1 or 6 ) are rolled. What is the number of possible outcomes such
that atleast one dice shows the numbers 2 ?
A. 36 B. 81 C. 91 D. 116

When three dice are rolled, the number of possible outcomes

= 63 = 216
Number of possible outcomes in which 2 does not appear on any
dice = 53 = 125
∴ Number of possible outcomes in which atleast one dice shows 2
= 216 - 125 = 91
In how many ways can 3 prizes be distributed among 4 boys, when (i) no boy
gets more than one prize? (ii) a boy may get any number of prizes?
(iii) no boy gets all the prizes?
• (i) We have  to distribute  3  prizes  in 4 boys. if no any  boy   gets  more than a  one
 prize than we have to select   3 boys.
• Number  of ways  to select  3  boys   = ⁴p₃ =24
• (ii) Now, in  second  a  boy can  get  any  number  of  prize. We  can  give  fisrt  prize to
any  of  4  boys , second  prize  to any  of  4  boys and also third  to any  of  4  boys .
• Total number  of  ways = 4 × 4 × 4 = 64
• (iii) if  no boys get  all prizes than , we have  to remove  those  ways  from 64  in which
a  boy  get  all prizes .  Clearly,  we can given all prizes  to first  or  second  or  third  or
 fourth boy .
• Hence, Total number  of  ways  = 64  - 4 = 60
If all the letters of the word ‘SRMIST' are arranged in all possible
ways and written out in alphabetical(dictionary) order, then find the
rank of the given word.

180 + 48 + 6 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 234
234 + 1 = 235
i.e., Rank of the word 'SRMIST' = 235
What is the average of all five digit numbers that can be formed using
all the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 exactly once?
A. 33453 B. 33333 C. 34333 D. 34535

• The sum of all possible numbers can be found using the formula
• (n-1)!(sum of digits)(1111…n times) here n=5 .
• therefore, (5-1)!(15)(11111)= 4!(15)(11111)
• Total number of such possible cases= 5!
• Average= 3999960/5! = 33333.
How many necklaces of 12 beads can be made from 18 beads of various colours ?
A. [118 x 13!] / 2 B. [110 x 14! ] / 2 C. [119 x 13!] / 2 D. [110 x 12!] / 2

First, we can select 12 beads out of 18 beads in 18C12 ways.

Now, these 12 beads can make a necklace in ways as clockwise and anti-
clockwise arrangements are same.

So, required number of ways = =

=

= =
In how many ways, a cricket team of 11 players can be made from 15
players, if a particulars player is always chosen ?
A. 1835 B. 1001 C. 1635 D. 1365

Since, particular player is always chosen. It means that 11 - 1 = 10 players

are selected out of the remaining 15 - 1 = 14 players.

∴ Required number of ways = 14C10

= 14 ! / (10! x 4!)
= (14 x 13 x 12 x 11) / (4 x 3 x 2 x 1)
= 7 x 13 x 11
= 91 x 11
= 1001
A five-digit number divisible by 3 is to be formed using digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5 without repetition, the total number of ways this can be done, is
A. 122 B. 210 C. 216 D. 217

A five-digit number, which is divisible by 3, is formed when sum of digits is

also divisible by 3.
So, combination formed using six-digits, which are divisible by 3
= 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 15 & = 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 0 = 12
So, set of number are (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) and (5, 4, 2, 1, 0).
Number formed by using 1st set = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120
Similarly, using 2nd set = 4 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 96
Hence, using 2nd set, FIRST place cannot be filled by 0, otherwise it will
become a four-digit number.
Total number = 120 + 96 = 216
If n positive integers are taken at random and multiplied together, then
the probability that the last digit of the product is 2, 4, 6 or 8, is
A. (4n+2n)/5n B. (4n x 2n)/5n C. (4n– 2n)/5n D. 4n/5n

If the last digit in the product is to 2, 4, 6, 8 the last digit in all the n number
should not be 0 and 5 and the last digit of all number should not be selected
exclusively from the set of number {1, 3, 7, 9}

∴ Favourable number of cases = 8n - 4n

But generally the last digit can be one of 0, 1, 2, 3, .... 9.

Hence, the total number of ways = 10n
Hence, the required probability = 8n - 4n / 10n = 4n - 2n / 5n
39 persons have signed for an elimination tournament. all players are to be paired up for the first
round, but because 139 is an odd number one player gets a bye, which promotes him to the second
round, without actually playing in the first round. the pairing continues on the next round, with a
bye to any player left over. if the schedule is planned so that a minimum number of matches is
required to determine the champion, the number of matches which must be played is (a) 136 (b)
137 (c) 138 (d) 139
• Step-by-step explanation:
• 1st round : Matches = 139 - 1 = 138/2 = 69 and 69 winners, Bye given = 1
• 2nd round : Matches = 35 and 35 winners
• 3rd round : Matches played = 17 and 17 winners, Bye given = 1
• 4th round : Matches played = 9 and 9 winners
• 5th round : Matches played = 4 and 4 winners, Bye given = 1
• 6th round : Matches played = 2 and 2 winner, Bye given = 1
• 7th round :Matches played = 1 and 1 winner, Bye given = 1
• 8th round :Matches played = 1 and 1 winner or champion
• So, Total number of matches to be played = 69 + 35 + 17 + 9 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1= 138
The letters in the word ADOPTS are permuted in all possible ways and arranged in
alphabetical order then find the word at position 42 in the permuted alphabetical
order?
A. AOTDSPB. AOTPDS C. AOTDPS D. AOSTPD
In alphabetical order : A D O P S T
A _ _ _ _ _ : the places filled in 5! ways = 120, But we need a rank less than 120. So the
word starts with A.
A D _ _ _ _ : empty places can be filled in 4!=24
A O _ _ _ _ : the places filled with 4! ways = 24. If we add 24 + 24 this total crosses 42. So
We should not consider all the words starting with AO.
A O D _ _ _ : 3!= 6
A O P _ _ _ : 3!=6
Till this 36 words are obtained, we need the 42nd word.
AOS _ _ _ : 3!= 6
Exactly we are getting the sum 42. So last 3 letters in the descending order are TPD.
So given word is AOSTPD
There are 4 identical pens and 7 identical books. In how many ways
can a person select at least one object from this set?
A. 11 B. 12 C. 39 D. (2^4 - 1)(2^7 -1)
Selecting pen 1 is the same as say selecting pen 2 or 3 or 4 because they are
identical- So there is just one way of selecting 1 pen
Similarly there is just 1 way each of selecting 2 ,3 or 4 pens
One can also not select any pen. So there are 5 ways of selecting pens.
Similarly there are 8 ways of selecting books.
Total number of ways = 8*5=40.
Selecting at least one object = Total number of ways of selecting - ways
of selecting no object =40-1=39
How many odd 4-digit positive integers that are multiples of 5 can be
formed without using the digit 3?
A. 648 B. 729 C. 900 D. 1296

Since the number is odd number and multiple of 5, we can fix digit '5' as the
4th digit.
Remaining 1st digit can be any 8 numbers other than '0' and '3’,
2nd digit can be and 9 numbers other than '3’
and 3rd digit can be any '9' numbers other than '3’,
making possibilities to be- 8X9X9X1= 648
Direction: Study the following information carefully to answer the question the
question that follow.
A box contains 2 blue caps, 4 red caps, 5 green caps and 1 yellow cap.

i. If two caps are picked at random, what is the probability that both are blue?

∴ Required probability = = =

ii. If four caps are picked at random, what is the probability that none is green ?

Except green cap, number of ways to pic 4 caps = n(E) = 7C4 = 35

∴ Required probability = = = =
A box contains 2 blue caps, 4 red caps, 5 green caps and 1 yellow cap.

iii. If three caps are picked at random, what is the probability that two are red
and one is green ?

n(E1) = Out of 4 red caps, number of ways to pick 2 caps = 4C2 = 6,

n(E2) = Out of 5 green caps
Number of ways to pick one cap = 5C1 = 5
P(E) = = =

iv. If two caps are picked at random, what is the probability that atleast one is
red ?

Required probability = 1 - 8C2/ 12C2

= 1 - 28/66 = 38/66 = 19/33
A speaks truth in 60% of the cases and B in 80% of the cases. In what
percentage of cases are they likely to contradict each other, narrating
the same incident ?
A. 70% B. 36% C. 22% D. 44%

P(A) = 3/5 and P(B) = 4/5.

Now they are contradicting means one is telling truth and other telling the
lie.
So, Probability = (3/5)*(1/5) + (2/5)*(4/5) = 3/25 + 8/25= 11/25 = 44%
A bag contains 8 red and 5 white balls. 2 balls are drawn at random.
What is the probability that both are white ?
A. 5/16 B. 2/13 C. 3/26 D. 5/39

n(S) = Number of ways of drawing 2 balls out of 13

= 13C2 = 13 x 12 / 2= 78
n(E) = No. of ways of drawing 2 balls out of 5 = 5C2 = 5 x 4 / 2 = 10

∴ P(E) = n(E)/n(S) = 10/78 = 5/39

Nisha cannot completely remember her four-digit ATM pin number. She does
remember the first two digits, and she knows that each of the last two digits is
greater than 5. The ATM will allow her three tries before it blocks further access.
If she randomly guesses the last two digits, what is the probability that she will
get access to her account?
A. ½ B. ¼ C. 3/16 D. 3/18
There are 4*4 = 16 distinct ways of getting the last two digits. e.g. 68 or 97 or 79 etc. Only 1 of
these 16 is correct.

On the first try, the probability of failing is 15/16 (say you punched in 68 and that was wrong)
Now you have 15 combinations remaining so logically, you will punch in one of the other 15.
Probability of failing = 14/15. Say you punched in 97 and that was wrong.
Now you have sidelined 2 of the 16 cases and will punch in one of the remaining 14.
Probability of failing = 13/14

Probability of failing on all three tries = (15/16)*(14/15)*(13/14) = 13/16

Probability of succeeding = 1 - 13/16 = 3/16