Number of Permutations of All Elements/Proof 2

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Theorem

Let $S$ be a set of $n$ elements.


The number of permutations of $S$ is $n!$


Proof

We pick the elements of $S$ in an arbitrary order.

There are $n$ elements of $S$, so there are $n$ options for the first element.

Then there are $n - 1$ elements left in $S$ that we have not picked, so there are $n - 1$ options for the second element.

Then there are $n - 2$ elements left, so there are $n - 2$ options for the third element.

And so on, until there are $3$, then $2$, then $1$ remaining elements.

Each mapping is independent of the choices made for all the other mappings.

So, by the Product Rule for Counting, the total number of ordered selections from $S$:

\(\ds {}^n P_n\) \(=\) \(\ds n \paren {n - 1} \paren {n - 2} \cdots 3 \times 2 \times 1\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds n!\) Definition of Factorial

$\blacksquare$


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