A combination lock is a useful tool to stow away valuables securely in your school, work, or home locker. You can use this practical storage solution for all types of objects: from books and clothes to office accessories and almost any other item that comes to mind. No matter which one it is, you have the option of picking a combination lock that either opens with four or more numbers. A few quick turns to the left or right and the combination lock will spring open. To learn how to open a combination lock, simply check out our guide below. How To Open A Combination Lock Rotate the dial three times to the right. Turn the dial left to pass over the first number, then stop at the second number. Now turn the dial to your right until you reach your last number. Done. Pull-on the shackle to open. This article discusses how to open a combination lock step by step. 1. At small intervals, turn the key in the windscreen wiper’s direction once and then continue to rotate it clockwise. This clears the obstruction and resets it so that it's ready to open. 2. Stop turning when the marker is at the top of the dial, pointing to the twelve o'clock position. In a lot of cases, this will be red. The first number on this lock's combination is 36, so you should stop turning once the marker has hit that number. 3. You need to turn the dial back to the left one full turn. In this case, it is counterclockwise one full turn, past the first number (36) and stopping at the second number. 4. The dial should be turned to the right. Continue turning the dial clockwise until you reach the last number on the stick. 5. Open the lock. It should be easy to open up once you hold onto the shackle at the top of the lock and lift it up. For extra help, pull down on the shackle since this will also help make opening easier. FAQs What's the difference between a permutation and a combination? A permutation is a number related to the event where one can select r items out of the total n number of things. Permutations always result in the order not being important, unlike combinations. Combinations are normally represented by Cn, which represents different groups of r objects taken from the total size of n objects. What is the method for finding the combination without repetition? The number of k-element combinations of n objects, without repetition, is Cn,k = (n k ) = n! k! ( n − k)! . The counting problem is the same as the number of ways of putting k identical balls into n distinct boxes, such that each box receives at most one ball. When you forget the combination to a combination lock, how do you open it? To open a combination lock without knowing the code, start by lifting up on the dial and turning it clockwise. When you feel the lock click, check what number you're at, add 5 to that number, and write it down. Next, set the dial to that said number and turn it counterclockwise until you feel it click again.