Answer :

To find the number of different combinations of three students that can be chosen from a group of seven, we use the combination formula:
[tex]\[ { }_n C_r = \frac{n!}{(n-r)! \cdot r!} \][/tex]
For this particular problem, we have [tex]\( n = 7 \)[/tex] and [tex]\( r = 3 \)[/tex]. Plugging these values into the combination formula, we get:
[tex]\[ { }_7 C_3 = \frac{7!}{(7-3)! \cdot 3!} \][/tex]
First, calculate the factorials:
- [tex]\( 7! \)[/tex] (7 factorial) is the product of all positive integers up to 7:
[tex]\[ 7! = 7 \times 6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 5040 \][/tex]

- [tex]\( (7-3)! = 4! \)[/tex] (4 factorial) is the product of all positive integers up to 4:
[tex]\[ 4! = 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 24 \][/tex]

- [tex]\( 3! \)[/tex] (3 factorial) is the product of all positive integers up to 3:
[tex]\[ 3! = 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 6 \][/tex]

Now, substitute these factorials back into the combination formula:
[tex]\[ { }_7 C_3 = \frac{5040}{24 \cdot 6} \][/tex]
Calculate the denominator:
[tex]\[ 24 \cdot 6 = 144 \][/tex]

So, we have:
[tex]\[ { }_7 C_3 = \frac{5040}{144} \][/tex]

Finally, divide 5040 by 144:
[tex]\[ \frac{5040}{144} = 35 \][/tex]

Therefore, the number of different combinations of three students from a group of seven is:
[tex]\[ \boxed{35} \][/tex]

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