noun
combinatorics
kom-bin-uh-TOR-iks
Combinatorics (noun) means the branch of mathematics concerned with counting, arranging and combining objects that meet particular rules, usually within a finite collection. Example: “She took a course in combinatorics to learn how to count arrangements of a deck of cards.”
noun
1
technical The branch of mathematics concerned with counting, arranging and combining objects that meet particular rules, usually within a finite collection.
"She took a course in combinatorics to learn how to count arrangements of a deck of cards."
"Combinatorics is used to work out how many different teams could be formed from a group of players."
"His research in combinatorics focuses on the properties of graphs."
How to use combinatorics
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe maths of counting and arranging things.
When to use it
It is a specialist mathematical term used mainly in academic and technical contexts.
Memory tip
The word is always treated as singular, even though it ends in an s, so say combinatorics is, not combinatorics are.
Common pairings
study combinatorics
a course in combinatorics
combinatorics problem
enumerative combinatorics
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Can you complete this real example?
She took a course in _____ to learn how to count arrangements of a deck of cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is combinatorics used for?
It is used to count, arrange and analyse finite collections of objects, which is useful in computer science, probability and statistics.
Is combinatorics hard?
It can be challenging because problems often require creative counting methods rather than a single fixed formula.
Is combinatorics the same as probability?
No, but the two are closely linked, since counting arrangements with combinatorics is often the first step in working out a probability.
What is the meaning of combinatorics?
"combinatorics" (noun) means the branch of mathematics concerned with counting, arranging and combining objects that meet particular rules, usually within a finite collection.
