HelpContactFor teachers and institutes
>_StemPy Lab
Mock TestsClasses

>_StemPy Lab

Learn. Solve. Code the solutions. Test yourself.

Live examsFree mock exams, timed and rankedEveryone starts together, and your score and rank come the moment it ends.See the exams →

Learn

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Python Programming
  • Statistics & Data Science
  • Classes
  • Groups

Practice

  • Problems
  • Quizzes
  • Mock Tests
  • Prepare for an Exam
  • Question Sets
  • Exams
  • Certificates
  • Python Labs
  • AI Practice Generator
  • Student-Created Tests

Community

  • Discussions
  • Resources
  • Notes
  • Blog

Account

  • Dashboard
  • My Content
  • Profile
  • Log in
© 2026 senLearn. All rights reserved.HelpAboutContactPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseRefund Policy
  1. Problems
  2. /If ⁿC₁₂ = ⁿC₈, find n and then ⁿC₁₇.
EasyMathematicsHigh School (11–12)Algebra › Permutations and CombinationsNumericalBoard Exam

If ⁿC₁₂ = ⁿC₈, find n and then ⁿC₁₇.

StemPy LabContributed by StemPy Lab

Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.

If nC12=nC8^{n}C_{12} = {}^{n}C_{8}nC12​=nC8​, find nnn and then nC17^{n}C_{17}nC17​.

Check your answer

Work it out on paper, then type your number. The answer itself stays hidden.

Need a reminder? The key ideaShowHide

nCr=nCn−r^{n}C_{r} = {}^{n}C_{n - r}nCr​=nCn−r​; if nCa=nCb^{n}C_{a} = {}^{n}C_{b}nCa​=nCb​ then a=ba = ba=b or a+b=na + b = na+b=n; Pascal's rule nCr+nCr−1=n+1Cr^{n}C_{r} + {}^{n}C_{r - 1} = {}^{n + 1}C_{r}nCr​+nCr−1​=n+1Cr​; and nCrnCr−1=n−r+1r\dfrac{^{n}C_{r}}{^{n}C_{r - 1}} = \dfrac{n - r + 1}{r}nCr−1​nCr​​=rn−r+1​. With nnn points, no three in a line, there are nC2^{n}C_{2}nC2​ lines and nC3^{n}C_{3}nC3​ triangles. A polygon of nnn sides has nC2−n^{n}C_{2} - nnC2​−n diagonals.

The worked solution

Have you tried it?

Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.

Step 1. Find nnn. The two lower numbers differ, so they add up to nnn: n=12+8=20n = 12 + 8 = 20n=12+8=20.

Step 2. Use the symmetry. 20C17=20C3^{20}C_{17} = {}^{20}C_{3}20C17​=20C3​.

Step 3. Work it out. 20×19×186=1140\dfrac{20 \times 19 \times 18}{6} = 1140620×19×18​=1140.

Answer: n=20n = 20n=20 and nC17=1140^{n}C_{17} = 1140nC17​=1140.

Log in to save this for later
← All Problems
← For some n and r, ⁿPr = 336 and ⁿCr = 56. Find n and r.Write ¹⁰C₄ + ¹⁰C₅ + ¹¹C₆ as a single ⁿCr, and find its value. →
More onAlgebra › Permutations and Combinations

Discussion (0)

Log in to join the discussion.

Loading…

Learn it in

  1. Properties of nCrCombinations

More on this topic

  1. In a round-robin tournament every two teams play each other exactly once, and every match has a…Advanced
  2. A 7 × 7 board has its rows numbered 0 to 6 from the top and its columns numbered 0 to 6 from the…Advanced
  3. A small town has a rectangular grid of streets, shown in the figure…Hard
  4. How many 4-letter words, with or without meaning, can be made from the letters of EDUCATION, if…
Medium
  • A team of 11 is picked from 15 players, who include Kiran and Joseph…Medium
  • All problems on this topic →

    Want to go further in Algebra › Permutations and Combinations?

    With Standard, you also open 12 more problems, 2 Python labs and 1 extra course. Everything you have used here stays free, always.

    Part of our upcoming paid plans.