TheNightKing
Question: In how many ways can letters of word ASSISTANT be arranged?
A. 13600
B. 5040
C. 30240
D. 15120
E. 22680
--------------ASIDE-------------------------
When we want to arrange a group of items in which some of the items are identical, we can use something called the MISSISSIPPI rule. It goes like this:
If there are n objects where A of them are alike, another B of them are alike, another C of them are alike, and so on, then the total number of possible arrangements = n!/[(A!)(B!)(C!)....] So, for example, we can calculate the number of arrangements of the letters in MISSISSIPPI as follows:
There are
11 letters in total
There are
4 identical I's
There are
4 identical S's
There are
2 identical P's
So, the total number of possible arrangements =
11!/[(
4!)(
4!)(
2!)]
-----------------------------------
Onto the question!
In ASSISTANT:
There are
9 letters in total
There are
3 identical S's
There are
2 identical A's
There are
2 identical T's
So, the total number of possible arrangements =
9!/[(
3!)(
2!)(
2!)]
= (9)(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)
(3)(2)(1)/(3)(2)(1)(2)(1)(2)(1)
= (9)(8)(7)(6)(5)(4)
/(2)(1)(2)(1)
= (9)(8)(7)(6)(5)(
4)
/(2)(1)(2)(1)= (9)(8)(7)(6)(5)
= 15,120
Answer: D
Cheers,
Brent