COMBIN Function (LibreOffice Calc)
The COMBIN function in LibreOffice Calc returns the number of combinations of a given size from a larger set, without repetition and without regard to order. It is essential for probability, statistics, and combinatorics.
Compatibility
▾| Excel | ✔ |
| Gnumeric | ✔ |
| Google_sheets | ✔ |
| Libreoffice | ✔ |
| Numbers | ✔ |
| Onlyoffice | ✔ |
| Openoffice | ✔ |
| Wps | ✔ |
| Zoho | ✔ |
What the COMBIN Function Does ▾
- Computes combinations without repetition
- Order does not matter
- Uses the formula:
n! / (k! × (n − k)!) - Useful for probability, statistics, and counting problems
- Works with non-integer inputs (truncated)
It is designed to be precise, efficient, and universally compatible.
Syntax ▾
COMBIN(number; number_chosen)
Arguments
-
number:
Total number of items (n). -
number_chosen:
Number of items to choose (k).
Both arguments must be non‑negative integers (or values that can be truncated to integers).
Basic Examples ▾
Choose 3 items from 5
=COMBIN(5; 3)
Returns 10.
Choose 2 items from 10
=COMBIN(10; 2)
Returns 45.
COMBIN with non-integer input
=COMBIN(6.9; 2.1)
Equivalent to COMBIN(6; 2) → returns 15.
COMBIN with cell references
=COMBIN(A1; B1)
Computes combinations using values in A1 and B1.
Advanced Examples ▾
Probability of drawing a specific hand size
=COMBIN(52; 5)
Number of 5‑card hands from a standard deck.
Hypergeometric distribution components
=COMBIN(A1; B1) * COMBIN(A2; B2) / COMBIN(A1 + A2; B1 + B2)
Used in probability and statistics.
Combinations for lottery odds
=COMBIN(49; 6)
Classic 6‑number lottery odds.
Combinations for binomial coefficients
=COMBIN(n; k)
Equivalent to “n choose k”.
Relationship to factorials
=FACT(A1) / (FACT(B1) * FACT(A1 - B1))
Equivalent to COMBIN(A1; B1).
COMBIN for subset counting
=SUM(COMBIN(A1; ROW(INDIRECT("1:" & A1))))
Counts all possible subset sizes.
COMBIN for polynomial expansion coefficients
=COMBIN(n; k)
Used in binomial theorem expansions.
Common Errors and Fixes ▾
Err:502 — Invalid argument
Occurs when:
- number < 0
- number_chosen < 0
- number_chosen > number
- arguments are text
- arguments cannot be coerced to integers
Err:503 — Overflow
Occurs when:
- factorial components exceed Calc’s numeric limit
- n is too large (e.g., COMBIN(2000; 1000))
COMBIN returns unexpected results
Cause:
- Non-integer values are truncated
Example:COMBIN(5.8; 2.9)→COMBIN(5; 2)→10.
Best Practices ▾
- Use COMBIN for combinations without repetition
- Use COMBINA for combinations with repetition
- Use PERMUT when order matters
- Avoid large inputs (factorials grow extremely fast)
- Use FACT and FACTDOUBLE for manual combinatorics
Related Patterns and Alternatives ▾
- Use COMBINA for combinations with repetition
- Use PERMUT for permutations without repetition
- Use PERMUTATIONA for permutations with repetition
- Use FACT and FACTDOUBLE for factorial-based formulas
- Use n! / (k! × (n − k)!) for manual combinations
By mastering COMBIN and its related combinatorics functions, you can build powerful probability, counting, and statistical models in LibreOffice Calc.