The branch of mathematics concerned with counting, arranging, and selecting objects according to specified rules.
Coined in the 17th century by German mathematician Leibniz, blending Latin combinare ('to join') with the Greek -ics suffix indicating a field of study. Became formalized as a distinct mathematical discipline in the 18th-19th centuries.
Combinatorics powers modern cryptography, search engines, and genetics—it's the hidden math behind figuring out if a password is secure or how many genetic variations humans can have!
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