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

National Taiwan University
Operations Research (1): Models and Applications
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Mathematical Modeling, Process Optimization, Business Modeling, Industrial Engineering, Business Analytics, Production Planning, Inventory Management System, Microsoft Excel, Scheduling, Linear Algebra
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
543 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Princeton University
Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines
Skills you'll gain: Theoretical Computer Science, Data Structures, Computer Science, Computer Architecture, Algorithms, Programming Principles, Computational Logic, Computational Thinking, Java Programming, Computer Hardware
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
700 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Zurich
An Intuitive Introduction to Probability
Skills you'll gain: Probability, Probability Distribution, Probability & Statistics, Descriptive Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Statistical Methods, Risk Analysis, Finance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
The University of Melbourne
Discrete Optimization
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Combinatorics, Applied Mathematics, Graph Theory, Algorithms, Mathematical Modeling, Computational Thinking, Linear Algebra, Computational Logic, Computer Programming
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
777 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
National Taiwan University
Operations Research (3): Theory
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Network Model, Statistical Machine Learning, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Machine Learning, Transportation Operations, Process Optimization, Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Algorithms
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
91 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
École normale supérieure
Approximation Algorithms Part I
Skills you'll gain: Theoretical Computer Science, Combinatorics, Algorithms, Graph Theory, Computational Thinking, Operations Research, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Modeling, Solution Design, Probability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
554 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Mathematics for Engineers
Skills you'll gain: Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Matlab, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Finite Element Methods, Integral Calculus, Mathematical Software, Mechanical Engineering, Calculus, Algebra, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Engineering, Simulation and Simulation Software, Advanced Mathematics, Geometry, Computational Thinking, Estimation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
DeepLearning.AI
Mathematics for Machine Learning and Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Probability & Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Probability, Linear Algebra, Statistical Inference, Applied Mathematics, NumPy, Calculus, Dimensionality Reduction, Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Machine Learning, Machine Learning Methods, Python Programming, Jupyter, Data Manipulation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
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
University of California San Diego
Data Structures and Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Graph Theory, Algorithms, Network Routing, Program Development, Debugging, Network Model, Bioinformatics, Operations Research, Data Storage, Development Testing, Test Engineering, Software Testing, Theoretical Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Network Analysis, Test Case, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Epidemiology
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Stanford University
Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Graph Theory, Algorithms, Bioinformatics, Theoretical Computer Science, Network Model, Computational Thinking, Network Analysis, Analysis, Network Routing, Probability, Operations Research, Design Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.9K reviews
Intermediate · 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