I am curious as to why the PERMUT function returns the #NUM error value when
the number < number_chosen.

The function is PERMUT(number,number_chosen) where number is an integer that
describes the number of objects and number_chosen is an integer that
describes the number of objects in each permutation.

Why does Excel consider it an error to have a number < number_chosen? For
example, say I have 4 bits of data, each of which can be 2 numbers (a 0 or a
1). This results in number = 2 and number_chosen = 4, and the #NUM error.

I see there is a complex formula for calculating the total permutation, is
it mathematically undefined with a number < number_chosen? If not, I suggest
Excel allow a number < number chosen.

If it is mathematically undefined, I suggest a new function to calculate the
total number of possible permutations in cases when the number < number
chosen. The need to figure this out is common in programming fields, so I
think it would be frequently used.

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