$o = $n - $r; //calc factorial of $n for ($a = 1, $f = $n1; $f > 1; $f--) { $a *= $f; } //calc factorial of $r for ($k = 1, $r = $n2; $b > 1; $b--) { $k *= $b; } //calc factorial of ($n - $r) for ($m = 1, $o = ($n1-$n2); $o > 1; $o--) { $m *= $o; } $theanswer = $a / ($k*$o)