{"id":6425,"date":"2026-10-31T12:43:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T07:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catmock.com\/blog\/?p=6425"},"modified":"2026-10-31T12:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T07:13:15","slug":"cat-2026-permutation-and-combination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catmock.com\/blog\/cat-2026-permutation-and-combination\/","title":{"rendered":"CAT 2026 Permutation and Combination: Formulas, Tricks & Practice Questions with PDF"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’re preparing for CAT 2026, permutation and combination<\/strong> is one of the important Quantitative Aptitude topics to understand. A CAT 2026 permutation and combination question may look easy at first, but one small counting mistake can double your answer. You might count every arrangement twice without even realising it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That one slip explains why permutation and combination has a harder reputation than it deserves. The maths is simple. The trouble is knowing which rule to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you searched for CAT 2026 permutation and combination<\/strong>, you likely want three things: the formulas that matter, faster ways to solve questions, and problems to practise with answers. This guide covers all three. You can also download a formula-and-practice PDF further down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Short answer:<\/strong> Use a permutation (nPr)<\/strong> when the order of the chosen items matters, and a combination (nCr)<\/strong> when it does not. In CAT, most P&C questions add conditions such as \u201calways together\u201d, \u201cnever together\u201d or \u201cat least one\u201d. Solve those with the glue method, the gap method or the complement method.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Where Permutation and Combination Fits in CAT 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Detail<\/th>Information<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
CAT 2026 exam date<\/td>29 November 2026 (Sunday)<\/td><\/tr>
Conducting institute<\/td>IIM Indore<\/td><\/tr>
QA section<\/td>22 questions, 40 minutes (as in recent years)<\/td><\/tr>
Question types<\/td>MCQ and TITA (type in the answer)<\/td><\/tr>
Marking<\/td>+3 for a correct answer, \u22121 for a wrong MCQ, no negative marking for TITA<\/td><\/tr>
Where P&C sits<\/td>Modern Maths, along with Probability and Set Theory<\/td><\/tr>
Weightage<\/td>Low, and it changes from year to year<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source<\/strong>: iimcat.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the low weightage, why bother? Two reasons. A solid grip on counting makes Probability much easier, and it sharpens case-by-case thinking that helps in some logical reasoning sets. A P&C question is also one of the few QA questions where a clean method can finish the job in under a minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do not need to study everything in this topic. The next sections cover what matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the CAT 2026 Permutation and Combination PDF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The PDF puts every formula, the seven tricks and the ten practice questions with the answer key on two pages. Print it and keep it beside your notebook.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/span>Download the CAT 2026 Permutation and Combination PDF<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Permutation vs Combination: The 10-Second Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ask one question before you touch a formula: if I swap two chosen items, does the outcome change?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n