The Excel PERMUT function returns the number of permutations (combinations where order is significant) of a given number of items. To use PERMUT, specify the total number of items and “number chosen”, which represents the number of items in each combination.
Syntax:= PERMUT (number, number_chosen)
The PERMUT function syntax has the following arguments:
- Number Required. An integer that describes the number of objects.
-
Number_chosen Required. An integer that describes the number of objects in each permutation.
Example: Let’s look at some Excel PERMUT function examples and explore how to use the PERMUT function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:
Syntax: =PERMUT(A2,B2)
Result: 5
Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following PERMUT examples would return:
Syntax: =PERMUT(A3,B3)
Result: 20
Syntax: =PERMUT(A4,B4)
Result: 60
Syntax: =PERMUT(A5,B5)
Result: 120
Syntax: =PERMUT(A6,B6)
Result: 120
Syntax: =PERMUT(A7,B7)
Result: 720
Syntax: =PERMUT(A8,B8)
Result: 5040
Syntax: =PERMUT(A9,B9)
Result: 151200
Syntax: =PERMUT(A10,B10)
Result: 10068347520
Syntax: =PERMUT(A11,B11)
Result: 6
Syntax: =PERMUT(A12,B12)
Result: 720
Syntax: =PERMUT(A13,B13)
Result: 2520
Note:
- Both arguments are truncated to integers.
- If number or number_chosen is nonnumeric, PERMUT returns the #VALUE! error value.
- If number ≤ 0 or if number_chosen < 0, PERMUT returns the #NUM! error value.
- If number < number_chosen, PERMUT returns the #NUM! error value.
- The equation for the number of permutations is:
