Summary

The Excel PERMUTATIONA function returns the number of permutations (combinations where order is significant) for a given number of items. The PERMUTATIONA function allows repetitions. To calculate the number of permutations without repetitions, use the PERMUT function.

Purpose 

Get number of permutations with repetitions

Return value 

Number of permutations as an integer

Syntax

=PERMUTATIONA(number,number_chosen)
  • number - The total number of items.
  • number_chosen - The number of items in each combination.

How to use 

The Excel PERMUTATIONA function returns the number of permutations (combinations where order is significant) for a given number of items. The PERMUTATIONA function allows repetitions. To calculate the number of permutations without repetitions, use the PERMUT function.

A permutation is a combination where order matters. In other words, a permutation is an ordered combination. There are two types of permutations:

  1. Permutations where repetition is not allowed (i.e. 123)
  2. Permutations where repetition is allowed (i.e. 333)

The PERMUTATIONA function calculates permutations where repetitions are allowed. To calculate permutations where repetitions are not allowed, use the PERMUT function.

Example

To use PERMUTATIONA, specify the total number of items and "number_chosen", which represents the number of items in each combination. For -example, to calculate 3-number permutations for the numbers 0-9, there are 10 numbers and 3 chosen, so the formula is:

=PERMUTATIONA(10,3) // returns 1000

You can see this result in cell D8 in the example shown.

Notes

  • A permutation is a group of items in which order/sequence matters.
  • If order is not significant, see the COMBIN function.
  • Arguments that contain decimal values are truncated to integers.
  • PERMUTATIONA returns a #VALUE! error value if either argument is not numeric.
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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.