easy permutation question

[glk2101]

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class has 20 students..if teacher is to choose a pres. and vp, how many different pairs of students could be chosen..

so this a combination since the problem says how many different pairs??
if the question had said how many ways can a pres and vp be chosen, then order would matter and it would be a permutation, right??

 

[jbravo12]

Exactly. Different pairs of students? vs. different pairs of VP and P? Specificity should indicate a permutation.

 

[klutzy1987]

class has 20 students..if teacher is to choose a pres. and vp, how many different pairs of students could be chosen..

so this a combination since the problem says how many different pairs??
if the question had said how many ways can a pres and vp be chosen, then order would matter and it would be a permutation, right??

Very vague question, it may be asking how many ways can a VP and Pres be chosen, or it could be asking how many ways can their be 2 people elected regardless of job. The former is permutations, and the latter is combinations.