Copy ₙPᵣ, the permutation symbol, or ₙCᵣ for combinations, as plain text, then change n and r.
Permutation Symbol Math
ₙPᵣPermutation symbolU+2099 U+0050 U+1D63Ready to copy
36 symbols and pieces. Tap any value to copy it.
36 symbols and pieces. A character and its name both copy the character. A code copies the code.
Character
Name
Code point
Alt code
Option keys
HTML
LaTeX
A lowered n (U+2099), a capital P and a lowered r (U+1D63): the number of ordered ways to pick r things from n, n!/(n−r)!.
A lowered n, a capital C and a lowered r: the number of ways to pick r things from n when order does not matter, n!/(r!(n−r)!).
The same symbol with the n raised, U+207F, as other books set it.
The combination symbol with the n raised, U+207F.
The function form, in plain letters and parentheses: the same number as ₙPᵣ.
The function form of the combination count: the same number as ₙCᵣ.
The product of the whole numbers from 1 to n. Both formulas are built from it.
Three plain letters, for a place that takes no subscripts.
The same symbol with a lowered k, U+2096, where other books write r.
The function form with k.
A P with a raised n and a lowered k after it: the stacked form of print, flattened onto one line.
An A with a lowered n and a raised k: the same count under its other name, k-arrangements.
n in parentheses with a lowered k: the permutation count again, ₙPₖ.
Three plain letters: a form that fits on one line, which is why many calculators show the count this way.
The combination symbol with a lowered k, U+2096: n choose k on one line.
The same with the n raised.
The function form with k: the usual way to type n choose k as plain text.
A C with a raised n and a lowered k after it.
The same letters the other way up, a variation some books print.
U+2099. The lowered n, in Unicode since version 6.0 (2010).
U+207F. The raised n. Alt+252 types it.
U+1D63. The lowered r, from the block Phonetic Extensions.
U+2096. The lowered k, in Unicode since version 6.0 (2010).
U+1D4F. The raised k, from the block Phonetic Extensions.
U+0021. On the keyboard. After a number it is the factorial sign, and Unicode lists factorial as another name for it. ! in HTML.
The bottom of both formulas, with a true minus sign, U+2212.
The mark in front: the number of ways to rearrange n things so that none stays where it was.
U+239B. The top left piece of a tall parenthesis. With ⎝ under it on the next line it is the left side of n choose k; in text with space between its lines the two halves do not touch.
U+239D. The bottom left piece, for the second line.
U+239E. The top right piece: it closes the first line, after the n.
U+23A0. The bottom right piece: it closes the second line, after the k.
U+03C3. A permutation as a rearrangement, not a count, is by custom named with a small Greek letter: σ, π or τ. Alt+229, σ in HTML, \sigma in LaTeX.
U+03C0. Another customary name for a permutation. Alt+227, Option+P on a U.S. keyboard, π in HTML, \pi in LaTeX.
U+03C4. The third of the customary letters. Alt+231, τ in HTML, \tau in LaTeX.
An S with a lowered n: the set of all the permutations of n things.
A small epsilon with lowered i, j and k: the sign that tensor math also calls the permutation symbol.
The permutation symbol in math is ₙPᵣ: the number of ordered ways to pick r things from n. Its partner ₙCᵣ, the combination symbol, counts picks where order does not matter. Each is three characters, built with subscript letters.
Read the full guide
The formulas they stand for
ₙPᵣ = n!/(n−r)! and ₙCᵣ = n!/(r!(n−r)!), which is ₙPᵣ divided by r!. The exclamation mark is the factorial: n! is the product of the whole numbers from 1 to n.
The binomial symbol, n choose k
The binomial coefficient, n choose k, takes two lines, so no single character holds it. LaTeX sets it with \binom{n}{k} from the amsmath package; in plain text the pieces ⎛ ⎝ ⎞ ⎠ draw the tall brackets over two lines.
ⁿ is Alt+252. The lowered ₙ, ᵣ and ₖ are in neither Alt code table.
A permutation as a rearrangement, not a count, is usually named σ, π or τ.
Questions and answers
What is the nPr symbol in math?
ₙPᵣ, also typed nPr, P(n,r) or ⁿPᵣ: the number of ways to pick r things out of n when the order of the picks counts. ₁₀P₂ is 90, the ways to award first and second place among ten people.
What is the choose symbol in math?
n over k in tall parentheses, read n choose k. On one line it is ₙCₖ, nCk or C(n,k): the number of ways to choose k things from n when order does not matter. ₄C₂ is 6.
Which math symbols for counting combinations and permutations use parentheses?
P(n,k) and C(n,k) put both numbers after the letter in one pair. The binomial symbol stacks them, n over k, inside a tall pair with no letter. (n)ₖ, the Pochhammer symbol, is the permutation count again.
Which other math symbol denotes a permutation?
In tensor math the permutation symbol is εᵢⱼₖ, the Levi-Civita symbol: a small epsilon carrying indices, whose value comes from the sign of a permutation of them. All permutations of n things form the set Sₙ.
All 36 symbols and pieces
Start here 7
C(n,r)C of n and rThe function form of the combination count: the same number as ₙCᵣ.
ₙCᵣCombination symbolA lowered n, a capital C and a lowered r: the number of ways to pick r things from n when order does not matter, n!/(r!(n−r)!).
ⁿCᵣCombination symbol, raised nThe combination symbol with the n raised, U+207F.
n!n factorialThe product of the whole numbers from 1 to n. Both formulas are built from it.
P(n,r)P of n and rThe function form, in plain letters and parentheses: the same number as ₙPᵣ.
ₙPᵣPermutation symbolA lowered n (U+2099), a capital P and a lowered r (U+1D63): the number of ordered ways to pick r things from n, n!/(n−r)!.
ⁿPᵣPermutation symbol, raised nThe same symbol with the n raised, U+207F, as other books set it.
Show all 36 symbols and pieces (29 more)
Permutations 6
AₙᵏA for arrangementsAn A with a lowered n and a raised k: the same count under its other name, k-arrangements.
nPrnPr in plain lettersThree plain letters, for a place that takes no subscripts.
P(n,k)P of n and kThe function form with k.
PⁿₖP, n above and k belowA P with a raised n and a lowered k after it: the stacked form of print, flattened onto one line.
ₙPₖPermutation symbol with kThe same symbol with a lowered k, U+2096, where other books write r.
(n)ₖPochhammer symboln in parentheses with a lowered k: the permutation count again, ₙPₖ.
Combinations 6
C(n,k)C of n and kThe function form with k: the usual way to type n choose k as plain text.
CⁿₖC, n above and k belowA C with a raised n and a lowered k after it.
CₙᵏC, n below and k aboveThe same letters the other way up, a variation some books print.
ₙCₖCombination symbol with kThe combination symbol with a lowered k, U+2096: n choose k on one line.
ⁿCₖCombination symbol with k, raised nThe same with the n raised.
nCrnCr in plain lettersThree plain letters: a form that fits on one line, which is why many calculators show the count this way.
Small n, r and k 5
ₖLatin subscript small letter kU+2096. The lowered k, in Unicode since version 6.0 (2010).
ₙLatin subscript small letter nU+2099. The lowered n, in Unicode since version 6.0 (2010).
ᵣLatin subscript small letter rU+1D63. The lowered r, from the block Phonetic Extensions.
ᵏModifier letter small kU+1D4F. The raised k, from the block Phonetic Extensions.
ⁿSuperscript Latin small letter nU+207F. The raised n. Alt+252 types it.
Factorials 3
!Exclamation markU+0021. On the keyboard. After a number it is the factorial sign, and Unicode lists factorial as another name for it. ! in HTML.
(n−r)!n minus r, factorialThe bottom of both formulas, with a true minus sign, U+2212.
!nSubfactorial of nThe mark in front: the number of ways to rearrange n things so that none stays where it was.
Tall bracket 4
⎝Left parenthesis lower hookU+239D. The bottom left piece, for the second line.
⎛Left parenthesis upper hookU+239B. The top left piece of a tall parenthesis. With ⎝ under it on the next line it is the left side of n choose k; in text with space between its lines the two halves do not touch.
⎠Right parenthesis lower hookU+23A0. The bottom right piece: it closes the second line, after the k.
⎞Right parenthesis upper hookU+239E. The top right piece: it closes the first line, after the n.
A permutation itself 5
πGreek small letter piU+03C0. Another customary name for a permutation. Alt+227, Option+P on a U.S. keyboard, π in HTML, \pi in LaTeX.
σGreek small letter sigmaU+03C3. A permutation as a rearrangement, not a count, is by custom named with a small Greek letter: σ, π or τ. Alt+229, σ in HTML, \sigma in LaTeX.
τGreek small letter tauU+03C4. The third of the customary letters. Alt+231, τ in HTML, \tau in LaTeX.
εᵢⱼₖLevi-Civita symbolA small epsilon with lowered i, j and k: the sign that tensor math also calls the permutation symbol.
SₙSymmetric groupAn S with a lowered n: the set of all the permutations of n things.