COMBIN in Excel

For example, if the number is 5 and the number chosen is 1, there are 5 combinations, giving 5 as a result.

Syntax

Remark

It helps to derive such combinations, as shown above. The number of combinations is as follows, where number = n and number_chosen = k:

Parameters

It has two critical parameters, i.e., number and number_chosen.

Compulsory Parameter:

  • number: number should be greater than or equal to zero. Also, it should be greater than or equal to the number_chosen.number_chosen: number_chosen is the number of items in each combination and must be greater than or equal to zero.

How to Use COMBIN Function in Excel?

Let us understand the working of the COMBIN function in excel by some examples. It can be used as a worksheet function and as a VBA functionVBA FunctionVBA functions serve the primary purpose to carry out specific calculations and to return a value. Therefore, in VBA, we use syntax to specify the parameters and data type while defining the function. Such functions are called user-defined functions.read more.

Example #1

For any six objects (e.g., a, b, c, d, e, f), there are 15 different combinations of 2 objects.

These are:

And can be calculated easily by the COMBIN function as follows:

=COMBIN(6,2)

As a result, we will get 15 combinations.

Example #2

Suppose we are given ten numbers from 1 to 10 as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Now, let us use the COMBIN function to calculate the number of combinations without repetitions for the other numbers of objects taken from a set of 10.

The output of the COMBIN is shown in the result column.

Example #3

Let us now see how we can use this function in day-to-day life. For example, suppose there are 20 employees, and we want to pair them into two-person teams. Then, using the COMBIN function, we can see the possible two-person teams formed from 20 employees.

=COMBIN (20, 2)

As a result, the output will be 190.

Example #4

Let us consider the five objects as A, B, C, D, and E. Then, take a pair for each. Now, determine the possible combinations manually and use COMBIN in Excel separately, as shown below.

Manual calculation on possible combinations as follows:

First, we must make the combination with A, as shown in the first column, then with B, as shown in column 2, and then with C, as shown in column 3, and last with D, as shown in column 4 without repetition.

Now, we must calculate every possible combination using =COMBIN(K17,K18).

Consequently, we will get 10.

Example #5

A combination in Excel can be used as a VBA function.

Sub usefunction()

Dim dblCombin As Double // declare a variable as double

dblCombin = Application.WorksheetFunction.Combin(42 , 6) //save the combination in excel o/p in dblcombin variable

Msgbox(dblCombin)  //Print the output possible combinations in Message box.

End sub

Output “5245786” will be printed in the message box.

Things to Remember

  • Arguments that contain decimal values are truncated to integers.If the supplied number is a non-numeric value, the COMBIN function will return the #VALUE! Error.The COMBIN function will return the #VALUE! Error if the supplied number_chosen is a non-numeric value, then the COMBIN function will return the #VALUE! Error.#NUM error occurs when the value or argument is outside its constraint.The supplied number argument is less than 0.The supplied number_chosen argument is less than 0 or is greater than the number argument.

This article has been a guide to COMBIN Function in Excel. Here, we discuss the COMBIN formula in Excel, using the combination function and Excel examples, and downloadable Excel templates. You may also look at these useful functions in Excel: –

  • The supplied number argument is less than 0.The supplied number_chosen argument is less than 0 or is greater than the number argument.

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