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# Permutations/Combinations

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Senior Manager
Affiliations: PMP
Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 312
Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 153 [0], given: 37

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23 Oct 2009, 19:34
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Difficulty:

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Question Stats:

33% (01:35) correct 67% (00:23) wrong based on 4 sessions

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On how many ways can the letters of the word "COMPUTER" be arranged?
1. M must always occur at the third place
2. Vowels occupy the even positions.

Ans 1)
[Reveal] Spoiler:
5040 or 7P2*5P2

Ans 2)
[Reveal] Spoiler:
4 * 720

Someone please explain 2, I understand 1
_________________

Thanks, Sri
-------------------------------
keep uppp...ing the tempo...

Press +1 Kudos, if you think my post gave u a tiny tip

SVP
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 1888
Location: Oklahoma City
Schools: Hard Knocks
Followers: 40

Kudos [?]: 549 [1] , given: 32

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26 Oct 2009, 21:58
1
KUDOS
#2 doesn't make any sense. It says "vowels have to occupy the even positions" but there are not enough vowels to occupy the even positions. This is where the 4 comes in.

First, if you assume that the vowels occupy slot numbers 2, 4 and 6, then that leaves slot 8 open for a consonant.

The consonant's can be arranged in 5! ways, and the vowels in 3! ways. Together, that would be 120 * 6 = 720. But, that is assuming that the vowels occupy only slot #2, 4 and 6. Now, those vowels can be arranged in 3 of the 4 available slots. This is the same as selected 3 out of 4, which is also the same as selecting 4 (remember that in selecting 3, you're selecting 1 that is left out) This means that for any combination of placement for vowels, multiply that number by 4 and you get the number total.

Example: Vowels = O, U, E

2=0, 4=U, 6=E 8={Non-vowel}
In the same order of OUE, you could have 2={non vowel} 4=O 6=U 8=E. Same order, but different combination possibility.

So 4 * 720 accounts for the fact that vowels can be placed in any 3 of the 4 open "even" spots. Hope this helps.

srini123 wrote:
On how many ways can the letters of the word "COMPUTER" be arranged?
1. M must always occur at the third place
2. Vowels occupy the even positions.

Ans 1)
[Reveal] Spoiler:
5040 or 7P2*5P2

Ans 2)
[Reveal] Spoiler:
4 * 720

Someone please explain 2, I understand 1

_________________

------------------------------------
J Allen Morris
**I'm pretty sure I'm right, but then again, I'm just a guy with his head up his a$$. GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings Senior Manager Affiliations: PMP Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 312 Followers: 4 Kudos [?]: 153 [0], given: 37 Re: Permutations/Combinations [#permalink] ### Show Tags 27 Oct 2009, 06:26 thanks Jallen , that makes sense +1 Kudos _________________ Thanks, Sri ------------------------------- keep uppp...ing the tempo... Press +1 Kudos, if you think my post gave u a tiny tip Manager Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 175 Location: Streamwood IL Schools: Kellogg(Evening),Booth (Evening) WE 1: 5 Years Followers: 12 Kudos [?]: 173 [0], given: 3 Re: Permutations/Combinations [#permalink] ### Show Tags 27 Oct 2009, 10:43 I know this has already been answered but this seemed like an easier solution. First we find out the number of ways 3 vowels (e,o,u) occupy even positions 2,4,6,8. this is picking 3 positions out of the 4 where order is imp hence 4P3 the other 5 consonants can occupy any any of the remaining 5 positions hence !5 Answer is !4*!5 = 24*120 = 4*720. _________________ Rock On SVP Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 1888 Location: Oklahoma City Schools: Hard Knocks Followers: 40 Kudos [?]: 549 [0], given: 32 Re: Permutations/Combinations [#permalink] ### Show Tags 27 Oct 2009, 10:48 It's faster only in that I went to great lengths (as I usually do) to make sure we understand WHY we must answer a problem in a certain way. This way, when someone gets a similar problem, but not identical, that person has confidence and can answer that problem too. Guess it's just the teacher in me. atish wrote: I know this has already been answered but this seemed like an easier solution. First we find out the number of ways 3 vowels (e,o,u) occupy even positions 2,4,6,8. this is picking 3 positions out of the 4 where order is imp hence 4P3 the other 5 consonants can occupy any any of the remaining 5 positions hence !5 Answer is !4*!5 = 24*120 = 4*720. _________________ ------------------------------------ J Allen Morris **I'm pretty sure I'm right, but then again, I'm just a guy with his head up his a$$.

GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings

Senior Manager
Affiliations: PMP
Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 312
Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 153 [0], given: 37

### Show Tags

30 Nov 2009, 20:44
Thank you both... thats a lot of help.
_________________

Thanks, Sri
-------------------------------
keep uppp...ing the tempo...

Press +1 Kudos, if you think my post gave u a tiny tip

Re: Permutations/Combinations   [#permalink] 30 Nov 2009, 20:44
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