Perms and combs is the hardest shit ever!! HELP (1 Viewer)

jamesfirst

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Perms = Where the order matters
Combs = Where the order doesn't matter

I know both the formulas for perms and combs and these statements above


But when I actually attempt to do the questions (both the textbook and the HSC questions), I get fucked over so bad that it's just not funny...


Any TIPS ?!??!?! This is literally the hardest math I've ever done.
 

Alkanes

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Most asians struggle with this topic LOL, because a lot of engrish involved.
 

enoilgam

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Perms and combs, the reason I dropped MX1. Couldnt understand this topic at ALL.
 

SpiralFlex

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- Lack of practice.

- Perceived fear.

Solution: Practice and persistence. Buy one of those practice questions by topic books, go through this topic and attempt all the questions. Circle the ones you cannot do, ask a teacher. Finish the questions. Do some past papers. Problem solved. The reason I think people struggle with this topic is not because they don't have the capacity to do the questions, it's because they "give up" after they see the really prickling questions. Hence never touch this topic again until the HSC.
 
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i really don't think practice helps at all

kinda like circle geometry, you have to "see it"
 

enoilgam

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not helping lol. OP is not going to feel much better after reading this post.
I wish I could give the OP an answer. With this topic and circle geometry, its either you see it or you dont, practice really doesnt help you if you cannot see it. You guys may disagree with me about this point, but thats what I found when doing it.
 

funnytomato

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- Lack of practice.

- Perceived fear.

Solution: Practice and persistence. Buy one of those practice questions by topic books, go through this topic and attempt all the questions. Circle the ones you cannot do, ask a teacher. Finish the questions. Do some past papers. Problem solved. The reason I think people struggle with this topic is not because they don't have the capacity to do the questions, it's because they "give up" after they see the really prickling questions. Hence never touch this topic again until the HSC.
+1
 

Alkanes

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I thought most schools start perms and combs in yr 11?
 

jnney

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- Lack of practice.

- Perceived fear.

Solution: Practice and persistence. Buy one of those practice questions by topic books, go through this topic and attempt all the questions. Circle the ones you cannot do, ask a teacher. Finish the questions. Do some past papers. Problem solved. The reason I think people struggle with this topic is not because they don't have the capacity to do the questions, it's because they "give up" after they see the really prickling questions. Hence never touch this topic again until the HSC.
Yes.
 

enoilgam

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- Lack of practice.

- Perceived fear.

Solution: Practice and persistence. Buy one of those practice questions by topic books, go through this topic and attempt all the questions. Circle the ones you cannot do, ask a teacher. Finish the questions. Do some past papers. Problem solved. The reason I think people struggle with this topic is not because they don't have the capacity to do the questions, it's because they "give up" after they see the really prickling questions. Hence never touch this topic again until the HSC.
I disagree. Some people simply lack the natural ability to be able to do it. Not everyone can do MX1 or MX2, some people cant even do general.
 

Alkanes

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Ahh hence why some people struggle. But i know schools are really dodgy with teaching this topic as well, some of them just skim through it and don't actually explain the whole concept.
 

SpiralFlex

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^this.


I went through perms and combs with my tutor though. I think you just need to think what it's asking you and think in a logical way. Diagrams really help with me.
Probably the perceived ambiguity of some questions may confuse many students.
 
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Probably the perceived ambiguity of some questions may confuse many students.
I agree. Like... what the question is asking you sometimes doesn't make sense. I don't think actual permutations and combinations is hard, it's actually figuring out the question.
 

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