What is combinatorics?

Combinatorics is a branch of math that explores counting and possible ways to count items. It includes concepts like enumeration, combination, and permutation of sets. Combinatorics is related to other branches of math, such as graph theory, coding, and probability.

Why learn combinatorics?

Learning combinatorics teaches more than how to calculate permutations—which on its own is a useful skill. It also helps boost your problem-solving skills. You can practice the process of dissecting a problem, exploring all of the possible solutions to the problem, and considering the best possible outcomes. An understanding of combinatorics can come in handy when you play games of chance, too.

What career opportunities can arise from learning combinatorics?

Combinatorics plays a role in many different fields—from software development to medicine—where you can find career opportunities after learning combinatorics. There are opportunities as a math or computer science researcher or algorithm designer. With an understanding of combinatorics, you may choose to work as an analyst and offer consulting services to companies that need help streamlining processes and increasing profit margins. Combinatorics is helpful when people and organizations need to examine possible outcomes. Epidemiologists who want to know how a virus spreads through a population may explore possibilities through combinatorics. Investors who need to decide where to invest their money use math models as they make a decision. A transportation company that wants to reduce fuel costs and increase efficiency can turn to combinatorics to examine the best changes to make within the company.

How can online courses help me learn combinatorics?

Online courses can help you learn combinatorics by giving you a way to work on material at your own pace. You can slow down, speed up, or review lessons as needed. Best of all, you can work wherever you’re comfortable and have the time to completely focus on the material.

What skills or experience do I need to already have before starting to learn combinatorics?

You should have basic arithmetic skills before starting to learn combinatorics. It’s also helpful to have a solid understanding of algebra before taking a combinatorics course. A background in another field of math like graph theory or probability may also be beneficial.

What are the benefits of taking an online Combinatorics course?

Online Combinatorics courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Combinatorics skills. Choose from a wide range of Combinatorics courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Combinatorics courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Combinatorics, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Combinatorics Courses - Learn Combinatorics Online

Explore the Combinatorics Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Algebra: Elementary to Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Algebra, Mathematical Modeling, Graphing, Arithmetic, Advanced Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, General Mathematics, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Analytical Skills, Probability & Statistics, Geometry
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
730 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Design of Experiments
Skills you'll gain: Experimentation, Sample Size Determination, Research Design, Regression Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Methods, Data Analysis Software, Statistical Modeling, Design Strategies, Probability & Statistics, Data Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Data Transformation, Descriptive Statistics, Probability Distribution, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Variance Analysis, Quality Control
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
360 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Linear Algebra from Elementary to Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Linear Algebra, Algebra, Applied Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Mathematical Modeling, Advanced Mathematics, Engineering Analysis, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Geometry, Graph Theory, Applied Machine Learning, Markov Model, Probability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
180 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Data Structures and Algorithms: The Complete Masterclass
Skills you'll gain: Graph Theory, Data Structures, Algorithms, Program Development, Network Analysis, Programming Principles, Performance Tuning, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Theoretical Computer Science, Computer Science, Python Programming, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Accelerated Computer Science Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Graph Theory, Development Environment, Engineering Software, Computer Programming, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Debugging, Program Development, Database Systems, Database Theory, Network Routing, Theoretical Computer Science, Data Storage
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Basic Mathematics
Skills you'll gain: Integral Calculus, Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Derivatives
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
144 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Approximation Algorithms and Linear Programming
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Algorithms, Applied Mathematics, Graph Theory, Network Model, Linear Algebra, Combinatorics, Computational Thinking, Mathematical Modeling, Theoretical Computer Science, Python Programming, Network Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
44 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Fundamentals of Computing
Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Event-Driven Programming, Algorithms, Combinatorics, Graph Theory, Programming Principles, Application Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Structures, Probability, Computer Programming, Bioinformatics, Interactive Design, Program Development, Big Data, Python Programming, Mathematical Software, Data Analysis, Theoretical Computer Science, Computer Science
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
National Taiwan University
頑想學概率：機率一 (Probability (1))
Skills you'll gain: Probability, Probability Distribution, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Methods, Statistics, Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
364 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Princeton University
Algorithms, Part I
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Algorithms, Java, Performance Testing, Computer Programming, Theoretical Computer Science, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computational Thinking
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Tsinghua University
Data Structures and Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Graph Theory, Algorithms, Computational Thinking, Theoretical Computer Science, Database Design, Computer Programming, Query Languages, Computer Science, System Design and Implementation
2.8
Rating, 2.8 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California San Diego
Data Structures
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Algorithms, Data Storage, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, C++ (Programming Language), Theoretical Computer Science, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
5.5K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months