Questions

EXT 1: Combinatorics (Ext1), A1 Working with Combinatorics (Y11)

  The Binomial (Ext1) 1.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2014 HSC 3 MC
  Permutations and Combinations (Ext1)
What is the constant term in the binomial expansion of   ?
Teacher: Kirtana Hariharan
Exam Equivalent Time: 169.5 minutes (based on HSC allocation of 1.5 minutes approx.
per mark) (A)   

(B)   

(C)   

(D)   

2.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2015 HSC 4 MC

A rowing team consists of 8 rowers and a coxswain.
The rowers are selected from 12 students in Year 10.
HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTION
The coxswain is selected from 4 students in Year 9.
Combinatorics looks at counting and ordering techniques and introduces binomial coefficients within
this context. In how many ways could the team be selected?

This topic has been split into two sub-categories for analysis purposes which are: 1-Permutations (A)   
and Combinations (3.4%) and 2-Binomial Expansion (3.6%).
(B)   
This analysis looks at Permutations and Combinations.
(C)   
HSC ANALYSIS - What to expect and common pitfalls (D)   
Permutations and Combinations (3.4%) are examined every year, at least once.
Examiners have favoured the multiple choice format for this sub-topic, asking an MC question in 8 of 3.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2017 HSC 9 MC
the last 9 years (most recently in 2020).
When expanded, which expression has a non-zero constant term?
Most multiple choice questions have been of moderate difficulty, although 2018 8 MC deserves
attention.
A.     
Longer answer questions have been rare in recent years although they were included in 5 seperate
exams between 2010-2015 , with allocations of 2-5 marks. Given the low mean marks of these
questions and the fact that probability is no longer in the Ext2 syllabus, we highly recommend a
B.     
revision focus here.
The pigeonhole principle represents new Ext1 content whose importance is underscored by its
inclusion in 2020 exam where it caused problems, producing a mean mark of 52%. This question, C.     
along with Ext1 EQ-Bank Q12-14, should be included in any revision.
Be aware that this topic area is the source of some of the most difficult questions examiners have
thrown at students (some of the beasts include 2015 Ext1 14c, 2014 Ext1 14b and 2010 Ext1 7c). D.     
4.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2020 HSC 8 MC 7.  Combinatorics, EXT1′ A1 2016 HSC 6 MC
Out of 10 contestants, six are to be selected for the final round of a competition. Four of those six will   RAP Data - Bottom 1%:  School result (37%) was -33% below state average (70%)
be placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Let  
In how many ways can this process be carried out?
What is the coefficient of in the expansion of  
A.
(A) 
(B) 
B.
(C) 

C. (D) 

D. 8.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2013 HSC 7 MC

A family of eight is seated randomly around a circular table. 

5.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2016 HSC 8 MC What is the probability that the two youngest members of the family sit together?

A team of 11 students is to be formed from a group of 18 students. Among the 18 students are 3 (A)   
students who are left-handed.
What is the number of possible teams containing at least 1 student who is left-handed?
(B)   
(A)   
(B)    (C)   
(C)   
(D)    (D)     

6.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2012 HSC 5 MC 9.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2014 HSC 8 MC

How many arrangements of the letters of the word    are possible if the    and  the   In how many ways can 6 people from a group of 15 people be chosen and then arranged
 are to be together in any order? in a circle?
(A)     
(A)   
(B)     
(C)     
(B)   
(D)     

(C)   

(D)   
10.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2017 HSC 10 MC 12.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2021 HSC 10 MC
Three squares are chosen at random from the 3 × 3 grid below, and a cross is placed in each chosen The members of a club voted for a new president. There were 15 candidates for the position of
square. president and 3543 members voted. Each member voted for one candidate only.
 
One candidate received more votes than anyone else and so became the new president.
What is the smallest number of votes the new president could have received?
A. 236
B. 237
C. 238
 
D. 239
What is the probability that all three crosses lie in the same row, column or diagonal?

A.      13.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2018 HSC 8 MC

Six men and six women are to be seated at a round table.
B.     
In how many different ways can they be seated if men and women alternate?

C.      A.     
B.     
D.      C.     
D.     

11.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2019 HSC 8 MC

14.  Combinatorics, EXT1′ S1 2019 HSC 10 MC
In how many ways can all the letters of the word PARALLEL be placed in a line with the three Ls
together? An access code consists of 4 digits chosen from the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The code will only
work if the digits are entered in the correct order.
A.
Some access codes contain exactly two different digits, for example 3377 or 5155.
How many such access codes can be made using exactly two different digits?
B.
A. 630
B. 900
C.
C. 1080

D. D. 2160

15.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2021 HSC 11d

A committee containing 5 men and 3 women is to be formed from a group of 10 men and 8 women.
In how many different ways can the committee be formed?  (1 mark)

16.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 8

Show .  (1 mark)
17.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 9 24.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2019 13b

. In the expansion of  , the coefficients of    and    are equal.

Evaluate and using a binomial expansion.  (2 marks) What is the value of  ?  (3 marks)

18.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2021 HSC 11b 25.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 1

Expand and simplify  .  (2 marks)

Evaluate the value of and .  (2 marks)
19.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2011 HSC 2e
Alex’s playlist consists of 40 different songs that can be arranged in any order.   26.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 3
i. How many arrangements are there for the 40 songs?    (1 mark)
Find the coefficient of    in the expansion of  .  (2 marks)
ii. Alex decides that she wants to play her three favourite songs first, in any order.
How many arrangements of the 40 songs are now possible?   (1 mark)

27.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 11

20.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2015 HSC 13b
A multiple choice quiz asks students 4 questions. Each question has three possible answers, a, b or
Consider the binomial expansion c, and students must attempt each question.
  How many students must do the quiz to ensure that at least two sets of answers are identical?    (2
marks)

  28.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 12

where , . . . are constants. Eleven numbers are randomly chosen from the set of integers, , where
i. Find an expression for .  (2 marks)
ii. Find an expression for the term independent of .  (2 marks) Prove that the sum of two of the eleven numbers randomly selected must equal 21.   (2 marks)

21.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2004 HSC 2e 29.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 13

A four-person team is to be chosen at random from nine women and seven men. A sock drawer contains blue, white and green socks.
i. In how many ways can this team be chosen?  (1 mark) If individual socks are randomly chosen from the drawer, what is the minimum number that must be
selected to ensure there are at least three pairs?   (2 marks)
ii. What is the probability that the team will consist of four women?  (1 mark)

22.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2008 HSC 1d 30.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 4

How many numbers greater than 6000 can be formed with the digits 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 if no digit is
Find an expression for the coefficient of    in the expansion of   .   (2 marks)  repeated.  (2 marks)

23.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2011 HSC 2c

Find an expression for the coefficient of    in the expansion of   .     (2 marks)

31.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 14 38.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 6
A delivery company has 1095 packages to deliver on a given day. i. In how many ways can the numbers 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 be arranged around a circle?   (1 mark)
It has 17 delivery vans that will deliver all packages. Find the minimum number of packages that at ii. How many of these arrangements have at least two odd numbers together?    (2 marks)
least one of the vans delivers.   (2 marks)

39.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2019 MET1 8

32.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 7
A fair standard die is rolled 50 times. Let be a random variable with binomial distribution that
Show .  (2 marks) represents the number of times the face with a six on it appears uppermost.
a. Write down the expression for  , where  .  (1 mark)

33.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2012 HSC 11e

b. Show that  .  (2 marks)
In how many ways can a committee of 3 men and 4 women be selected from a group of 8 men and
10 women?     (1 mark)
40.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 5
34.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2007 HSC 5b i. In how many ways can the letters of COOKBOOK be arranged in a line?  (1 mark)
Mr and Mrs Roberts and their four children go to the theatre. They are randomly allocated six ii. What is the probability that a random rearrangement of the letters has four O's together?  (2 marks)
adjacent seats in a single row.
What is the probability that the four children are allocated seats next to each other?  (2 marks)
41.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2004 HSC 4c
Katie is one of ten members of a social club. Each week one member is selected at random to win a
35.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2020 HSC 12c prize.
To complete a course, a student must choose and pass exactly three topics. i. What is the probability that in the first 7 weeks Katie will win at least 1 prize?  (1 mark)
There are eight topics from which to choose. ii. Show that in the first 20 weeks Katie has a greater chance of winning exactly 2 prizes than of
Last year 400 students completed the course. winning exactly 1 prize.  (2 marks)

Explain, using the pigeonhole principle, why at least eight students passed exactly the same three iii. For how many weeks must Katie participate in the prize drawing so that she has a greater chance
topics.  (2 marks) of winning exactly 3 prizes than of winning exactly 2 prizes?  (2 marks)

36.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 10 42.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2006 HSC 3c

Sophie has five coloured blocks: one red, one blue, one green, one yellow and one white. She stacks
By using the fact that  , show that
two, three, four or five blocks on top of one another to form a vertical tower.
 
i. How many different towers are there that she could form that are three blocks high?  (1 mark)
.  (3 marks) ii. How many different towers can she form in total?  (2 marks)

43.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2008 HSC 4b

37.  Combinatorics, EXT1′ A1 2007 HSC 5a
Barbara and John and six other people go through a doorway one at a time.
A bag contains 12 red marbles and 12 yellow marbles. Six marbles are selected at random without
replacement. i. In how many ways can the eight people go through the doorway if John goes through the doorway
after Barbara with no-one in between?  (1 mark)
i. Calculate the probability that exactly three of the selected marbles are red. Give your answer correct
to two decimal places.   (1 mark) ii. Find the number of ways in which the eight people can go through the doorway if John goes
through the doorway after Barbara.   (1 mark)
ii. Hence, or otherwise, calculate the probability that more than three of the selected marbles are red.
Give your answer correct to two decimal places.   (2 marks)
44.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2010 HSC 3a 48.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2020 HSC 14a
At the front of a building there are five garage doors. Two of the doors are to be painted red, one is to i. Use the identity
be painted green, one blue and one orange.   
to show that
i. How many possible arrangements are there for the colours on the doors?   (1 mark)  
ii. How many possible arrangements are there for the colours on the doors if the two red doors are
   ,
next to each other?    (1 mark)
 
where is a positive integer.  (2 marks)
45.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2005 HSC 2b
ii. A club has members, with women and men.
Use the binomial theorem to find the term independent of    in the expansion of  
A group consisting of an even number of members is chosen, with the number of
men equal to the number of women.
  (3 marks)  

Show, giving reasons, that the number of ways to do this is .  (2 marks)

46.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 2 iii. From the group chosen in part (ii), one of the men and one of the women are selected as leaders.
 
Show, giving reasons, that the number of ways to choose the even number of people and then the
Using
leaders is
show that  
 

      (2 marks)
   .  (2 marks)
 
47.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2012 HSC 11f
iv. The process is now reversed so that the leaders, one man and one woman, are chosen first. The
  rest of the group is then selected, still made up of an equal number of women and men.
 
By considering this reversed process and using part (ii), find a simple expression for the sum in part
i. Use the binomial theorem to find an expression for the constant term in the expansion of 
(iii).  (2 marks)
 

  .   (2 marks)
49.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2015 HSC 14c
Two players and play a series of games against each other to get a prize. In any game, either of
ii. For what values of    does    have a non-zero constant term?    (1 mark) the players is equally likely to win.
To begin with, the first player who wins a total of 5 games gets the prize.
 

i. Explain why the probability of player getting the prize in exactly 7 games is  .  (1

mark)

ii. Write an expression for the probability of player getting the prize in at most 7 games.  (1 mark)
iii. Suppose now that the prize is given to the first player to win a total of games, where is a
positive integer.
 
By considering the probability that gets the prize, prove that
 

.   (2 marks)
50.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2014 HSC 14b Worked Solutions
Two players    and    play a game that consists of taking turns until a winner is determined. Each
turn consists of spinning the arrow on a spinner once. The spinner has three sectors   ,    and   . 1.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2014 HSC 3 MC
The probabilities that the arrow stops in sectors   ,   and    are   ,    and    respectively.
 

 
 
The rules of the game are as follows:
• If the arrow stops in sector   , then the player having the turn wins.
• If the arrow stops in sector   , then the player having the turn loses and the other player wins.  

• If the arrow stops in sector   , then the other player takes a turn.
Player    takes the first turn.
i. Show that the probability of player    winning on the first or the second turn of the game is  
.   (2 marks)

ii. Show that the probability that player    eventually wins the game is  .   (3 marks)  

51.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2010 HSC 7c

2.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2015 HSC 4 MC
i. A box contains    identical red balls and    identical blue balls. A selection of    balls is made
from the box, where   .  
 
Explain why the number of possible colour combinations is   .   (1 mark)
 
ii. Another box contains    white balls labelled consecutively from to   .  A selection of  
 
 balls is made from the box, where   .
 
Explain why the number of different selections is   .   (1 mark)
 
iii. The    red balls, the    blue balls and the    white labelled balls are all placed into one box, and a
selection of    balls is made.
 
Using the identity,   or otherwise, show that the number of different

selections is   .    (3 marks)

Copyright © 2004-21 The State of New South Wales (Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW)
3.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2017 HSC 9 MC 6.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2012 HSC 5 MC

 
 
 

  7.  Combinatorics, EXT1′ A1 2016 HSC 6 MC

8.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2013 HSC 7 MC

4.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2020 HSC 8 MC

 

9.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2014 HSC 8 MC

 

  

5.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2016 HSC 8 MC

 
10.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2017 HSC 10 MC 13.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2018 HSC 8 MC

♦ Mean mark 42%.

 
 
 

11.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2019 HSC 8 MC

14.  Combinatorics, EXT1′ S1 2019 HSC 10 MC

♦ Mean mark 47%.

12.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2021 HSC 10 MC

 
 

 
 

15.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2021 HSC 11d

16.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 8 20.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2015 HSC 13b
i.  

 
 
 
 
 
17.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 9

         

   

 
 
 

 
18.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2021 HSC 11b
ii. 

19.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2011 HSC 2e

i.   
 

ii.   

   
21.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2004 HSC 2e 23.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2011 HSC 2c
i.   

 
 
 
 ii. 

22.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2008 HSC 1d

MARKER'S COMMENT: More
errors were made by students who
24.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2019 13b
used as the general term
rather than (both are possible).
The Worked Solution uses the
more successful approach.
COMMENT: Arithmetic becomes
  easier by expanding  .

 
 

  

 
25.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 1 28.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 12

COMMENT: Note that "By PHP"

  refers to by pigeonhole principle.

 
 

  29.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 13

COMMENT: Note that "By PHP"

refers to by pigeonhole principle.
26.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 3

 
 

 
 
30.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 4

   

27.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 11 31.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 14

COMMENT: Note that "By PHP" COMMENT: Note that "By PHP"
refers to by pigeonhole principle.   refers to by pigeonhole principle.
 

 
32.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 7 34.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2007 HSC 5b

 
 

 
 

35.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2020 HSC 12c

33.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2012 HSC 11e

Mean mark 52%.

 
 

 
 
36.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 EQ-Bank 10 37.  Combinatorics, EXT1′ A1 2007 HSC 5a

i.   

   
 
ii.   

 
 

 
 

 
38.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 6 40.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 5
i.   
i.   

    
ii.      ii.   
 
 
9

Even Even

Odd Odd

Even
 

39.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2019 MET1 8

a. 

b.  

   

   

   
41.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2004 HSC 4c
i. 

42.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2006 HSC 3c

 
ii.  i.   

 
 
ii.  

 
iii. 

 
43.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2008 HSC 4b 44.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2010 HSC 3a
i. 
i.   

     
   

ii.  ii.    ♦ Mean mark 50%

MARKER'S COMMENT: Drawing a
diagram was a successful strategy
for many students in this part.
 

 
45.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2005 HSC 2b

 
 
 

  MARKER'S COMMENT: The
general term formula was well
known, but many could not apply
it to this question.

 
 
46.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 SM-Bank 2 47.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2012 HSC 11f
i. 

 
 

ii. 

♦♦♦ Mean mark 16%.

 
48.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2020 HSC 14a  
♦♦♦ Mean mark part (iv) 16%.

i.   
iv. 
♦♦ Mean mark part (i) 26%.

   
 
   

 
 
 

 
♦♦ Mean mark part (ii) 23%.
ii.   

 
iii.   

♦♦ Mean mark part (iii) 26%.

 
49.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2015 HSC 14c
50.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2014 HSC 14b
i.   
i.  
♦♦♦ Mean mark 19%.
 

  ♦♦ Mean mark 25%.

  HINT: Expand out the solution 
ii. 
to get a
♦♦♦ Mean mark 23%. better idea of what you need to
prove. 

  ii. 
♦♦♦ Mean mark part (iii) 9%.
iii.   

 
 

♦♦♦ Mean mark 11%. Lowest in the

2014 HSC exam!
HINT: The use of 'eventually' in
the question should flag the
 
  possibility of solving by using 
in a GP.

 
 

 
 
51.  Combinatorics, EXT1 A1 2010 HSC 7c  

i.    ♦♦♦ Mean mark 4%.

COMMENT: Solving this part
 
  required high level logical
reasoning which proved extremely
challenging for the vast majority  
 
of candidates.
   

  Copyright © 2016-2022 M2 Mathematics Pty Ltd (SmarterMaths.com.au)

ii.   

 
♦♦♦ Mean mark 18%.

 
iii.   
♦♦♦ Mean mark part (iii) 2%. Beast
alert - equal lowest mean mark of
  
any part of any question since this
data has been available post-2009.