The COMBIN function in Google Sheets is a valuable mathematical tool used to determine the number of combinations possible when selecting a specified number of items from a larger group. This function is essential for tasks in statistics, probability, and any scenarios where combinations are significant.

Syntax

COMBIN(n, k)

• n: The total number of items in the set.
• k: The number of items to choose from the set.

Example #1

COMBIN(5, 3)

This function calculates the number of ways to select 3 items from a total of 5 items. The result is 10 combination options.

Example #2

COMBIN(10, 2)

Here, the function finds the number of ways to choose 2 items from 10. The result returns 45 combinations.

Example #3

COMBIN(8, 4)

In this example, the function computes the number of combinations for choosing 4 items out of 8, yielding a result of 70 potential combinations.

Error handling

• NUM!: This error occurs if k is greater than n or if either value is negative, indicating an invalid selection scenario.
• VALUE!: This error indicates that the inputs provided are not numbers, meaning the function cannot process them as valid numerical values.

Conclusion

In summary, the COMBIN function is a powerful tool for calculating the potential combinations of items in a set, making it an essential function for users working with statistical data and various analytical tasks. Mastery of this function can greatly enhance productivity and accuracy when managing and analyzing datasets.