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Bunuel
A small nation issues license plates that consist of just one number (selected from the digits 0 through 9, inclusive) and four letters, selected from a 20-letter alphabet. Repeats are permitted. However, there is one four-letter combination that is not allowed to appear on license plates. How many allowable license plate combinations exist?


(A) 1,599,990
(B) 1,599,999
(C) 1,600,000
(D) 4,569,759
(E) 4,569,760

1 no would be 10
and 4 letters 20^4
so total 10*20^4 = 16*10^5
one combination of 4 letter not allowed to appear on license plates = 1^4 * 10 = 10

so left with valid no= 16*10^5-10 = 159990 IMO A
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Bunuel
A small nation issues license plates that consist of just one number (selected from the digits 0 through 9, inclusive) and four letters, selected from a 20-letter alphabet. Repeats are permitted. However, there is one four-letter combination that is not allowed to appear on license plates. How many allowable license plate combinations exist?


(A) 1,599,990
(B) 1,599,999
(C) 1,600,000
(D) 4,569,759
(E) 4,569,760
I was confused with the wording one four letter combination is not allowed
Lets say it was
FUKC
Did they mean
FKUC and other combinations not allowed too.
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I think the question stem needs to be a bit clearer. It does not specify that the numerical digit can only appear in one position!
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KomalSg
Bunuel
A small nation issues license plates that consist of just one number (selected from the digits 0 through 9, inclusive) and four letters, selected from a 20-letter alphabet. Repeats are permitted. However, there is one four-letter combination that is not allowed to appear on license plates. How many allowable license plate combinations exist?


(A) 1,599,990
(B) 1,599,999
(C) 1,600,000
(D) 4,569,759
(E) 4,569,760
I was confused with the wording one four letter combination is not allowed
Lets say it was
FUKC
Did they mean
FKUC and other combinations not allowed too.


The combination remains same, in your case "FKUC" however this is to be suffixed with a digit and that digit can be any between 0 to 9. Hence. 10 options to be subtracted.
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Where in the question is it stated that digit should be in the first place only?
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shouldn't the total number of plates be 20^4*10*5; *5 because for 4 letters and 1 digit there will be 5 ways of arranging each combination ex. ABCD1 ABC1D AB1CD A1BCD 1ABCD ? Since the question doesn't mention that the digit and letter are always in the form DLLLL
Bunuel
A small nation issues license plates that consist of just one number (selected from the digits 0 through 9, inclusive) and four letters, selected from a 20-letter alphabet. Repeats are permitted. However, there is one four-letter combination that is not allowed to appear on license plates. How many allowable license plate combinations exist?


(A) 1,599,990
(B) 1,599,999
(C) 1,600,000
(D) 4,569,759
(E) 4,569,760
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