Functions Reference

FILEMAKER FUNCTIONS REFERENCE 189
Related topics
Contents
Functions reference (alphabetical list)
Combination
Purpose
Returns the number of ways to uniquely choose numberOfChoices items from a set of size
setSize.
Format
Combination(setSize;numberOfChoices)
Parameters
setSize - any numeric expression or field containing a non-negative numeric expression
numberOfChoices - any numeric expression or field containing a non-negative numeric
expression
Data type returned
number
Originated in
FileMaker Pro 7.0
Description
This function is useful in statistics, combinatorics, and polynomial expansions. The values returned
by this function are referred to as combination coefficients. They form Pascal’s triangle.
Examples
Combination(5;2) returns 10 for a set consisting of {a, b, c, d, e} because the unique choices
when choosing two at a time are {ab, ac, ad, ae, bc, bd, be, cd, ce, de}.
(13 * 12 * Combination(4;2) * Combination(4;3)) / Combination(52;5) returns
0.00144057..., which is the probability of being dealt a full-house in 5-card poker (less than a 1%
chance).
Related topics
Contents
Functions reference (alphabetical list)
Combination
Factorial setSize, numberOfChoices
Factorial numberOfChoices
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