Combination of n things= suppose you have 5 things
taking some or all at a time= taking any number of things is a separate combntn i.e. taking 1 or 2 or 3 like 4,5,12,13,14,15,23,24,25,34,35,45,123,124,125,234,235,345,1234,2345,12345 are the diff combntn,
Main diff between prmutation and combination is, in a comb things appear once in any order ( comb is indepedent of order) but in prmuttn diff order of things is diff permuttn. ( permttn is depedent of order) i.e.1234 is one combntn but 1234,1243,2341,2341,3412,3421,4321,1432,1324,1423,1432 are diff permttn.
You take the formula to derive no. of permttn/combntn from your book.