If we want to choose 3 from 5 why do we not calculate 5C1 * 4C1 * 3C1?

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I feel this may be a silly question but i suddenly came across this idea and i cant get over it. I know to choose 3 from 5 we do 5C3. But to calculate the same thing i also think 5C1 * 4C1 * 3C1 should give the required answer. But it is giving the permutation. Why is it so? Can you please explain intuitively. Thanks

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That would be the number of ways you can arrange $3$ things from $5$ in a line. Since the arrangement is not important you must divide this by $3!$.