>>>>>Types of problems like this fall into the category of cardinality. Some can't be solved without knowing the theory, since there is no "brute force" method. For example: You and your most significant other decide that for simplicity's sake you're only going to exchange 5 gifts, from a list of 52 (one for each week). Come Christmas morning, how many distinct possibilities (including opening order) are there?
>>>>>
>>>>You're right, I wouldn't want to try solving this without a knowledge of permutations...
>>>
>>>A bunch !!!!!
>>
>>Did I express the problem wrong? It doesn't involve permutations, but rather distinct combinations. Perhaps I should have left the "opening order" business out.
>>
>Ah, then we're back to combinations...

Yep!