permutation etymology

Etymology

The word "permutation" comes from the Latin word "permutare," which means "to exchange" or "to rearrange."

Meaning and Origin

A permutation is a mathematical term that refers to an arrangement of objects in a specific order. It is a mathematical operation that takes a set of distinct objects and arranges them in a particular sequence. The number of possible permutations for a set of n objects is n!.

For example, the permutation 123 represents the arrangement of the numbers 1, 2, and 3 in the order 1, 2, 3. The permutation 321 represents the same numbers arranged in the order 3, 2, 1.

The concept of permutations was first introduced by ancient Greek mathematicians, such as Archimedes and Euclid. They used permutations to study the symmetry of geometrical figures and to solve combinatorial problems.

In modern mathematics, permutations are used in a wide variety of areas, including probability, statistics, and computer science. For example, permutations are used in probability to calculate the probability of a certain event occurring, and in statistics to analyze data.

permutation relate terms

  • permutate

    Etymology Latin permutare to exchange to change to alter Proto Indo European pe

  • permutation

    Etymology The word permutation comes from the Latin word permutare which means to e

  • permute

    Etymology From Latin permutare meaning to exchange or to alter Ultimately deriv

  • substitution

    Etymology The word substitution comes from the Latin word substitutus which means p

  • switch

    Etymology The word switch has multiple etymological origins Dutch zwitsen meanin

  • operation

    Etymology Operation comes from the Latin word operatio which means work or action

  • translation

    Etymology The word translation comes from the Latin word translatio which means to

  • combination

    Etymology The English word combination comes from the Latin word combinatio which is

  • emancipate

    Etymology Latin emancipare to release a child from parental authority Latin root

  • countenance

    Etymology From Old French contenance appearance from Medieval Latin continentia

  • rock

    Etymology The word rock originates from the Old English word rocc which meant a la

  • fret

    Etymology From Middle English freten fretten freten from Old English fretian to de

  • hope

    Etymology The word hope originates from the Old English word hopian which means to