Permutations vs Combinations: How to Tell the Difference and Calculate Both

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This comprehensive mathematics tutorial clarifies the often-confusing distinction between permutations and combinations. The narrator begins by establishing the fundamental difference: in permutations, the order of arrangement matters, whereas in combinations, the order does not. Through clear, handwritten visual examples using letters (A, B, C, D), the video demonstrates how listing out possibilities reveals different totals for permutations versus combinations, providing concrete proof of the concepts before introducing abstract formulas.