$val){ $newArr = $arr; $newres = $result; $newres[] = $val; unset($newArr[$key]); permut($newArr,$newres); } } } $givenPerms = Array("ABCD","CABD","ACDB","DACB","BCDA","ACBD","ADCB","CDAB","DABC","BCAD","CADB","CDBA","CBAD","ABDC","ADBC","BDCA","DCBA","BACD","BADC","BDAC","CBDA","DBCA","DCAB"); $given = Array("A","B","C","D"); permut($given); print_r(array_diff($finalres,$givenPerms)); // Array ( [20] => DBAC )