COMBIN

Formulas / COMBIN
Calculate combinations without repetition.
=COMBIN(number, number_chosen)
  • number - required argument of total number of items
  • number_chosen - [OPTIONAL] argument of number of items to be chosen

Examples

  • =COMBIN(8,2)

    This returns the value 28, which means that 28 two-person teams can be formed from 8 candidates.

  • =COMBIN(4,3)

    This returns the value 4, which means that there are 4 possible combinations of three numbers from the set of {1, 2, 3, 4}.

  • =COMBIN(3,2)/COMBIN(8,2)

    This returns the value 0.375, which means that the probability of picking two red marbles is 0.375.


Summary

The COMBIN function is used to calculate the number of combinations for a set of items. If any of the arguments are not numeric, the result will be #VALUE!.

  • The COMBIN function returns the number of combinations for a given number of items, without repetitions.
  • To count combinations that allow repetitions, use the COMBINA function.
  • To count permutations, use the PERMUT function.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the COMBIN function?
The COMBIN function is a mathematical function used to determine the total possible combinations for a given number of items. Order does not matter for combinations.
What does the COMBIN function take as arguments?
The COMBIN function takes two arguments: number and number_chosen.
What does the COMBIN function return?
The COMBIN function returns the total possible combinations for a given number of items.
What happens if both arguments of the COMBIN function are not numerical?
The COMBIN function returns a #VALUE! error if both arguments are not numerical.

Related Functions

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