Question

Decide if the situation involves permutations, combinations, or neither. Explain your reasoning.The number of ways in which 3 contestants in a singing competition can finish

Answer 1

In maths you have the next for combinations and permutations:

When the order doesn't matter, it is a combination

When the order does matter it is a permutation

Given situation: The number of ways in which 3 contestants in a singing competition can finish

As it is the position in a singing competition the order matters; the position of each of the three persons matter as it is a competition.

Then, as the order matter it is a permutation