combination

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combination

1. A set containing a certain number of objects selected from another set.

The number of combinations of r objects chosen from a set of n is

n C r = n! / ((n-r)! r!)

where "n C r" is normally with n and r as subscripts or as n above r in parentheses.

See also permutation.

2. In the theory of combinators, a combination denotes an expression in which function application is the only operation.

(1995-04-10)