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gmatpapa
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7C3 * 4C2 * 5!

(7 * 6 * 5)/3! * 4!/2!2! * 120



35 * 6 * 120

= 210 * 120

= 25200

I don't understand what is need of arranging the 5 letters again, as 7C3*4C2 will do that already.

7C3*4C2 will select letters, thereafter one has to arrange those.
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subhashghosh
7C3 * 4C2 * 5!

(7 * 6 * 5)/3! * 4!/2!2! * 120



35 * 6 * 120

= 210 * 120

= 25200

I don't understand what is need of arranging the 5 letters again, as 7C3*4C2 will do that already.

7C3*4C2 will select letters, thereafter one has to arrange those.

Uh.. thanks I think I got it now..

Say for example, the first combination is "r t y u i" You can sure arrange it in 5! ways, and since this is a unique combination, alphabets can be arranged in 5! and still form words not contained in any of the other combinations. Thanks for pointing out. great tip!
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7c3*4c2*5!

= 25200

Answer is C.
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5 letters in the word - hence 5! ways of arranging them.

positions - - - - -
7* 6 *5 * 4 * 3
consonants vowels

Thus without actually multiplying one can deduce like this : 5! = 120 means the number is divisible by 3.D and E POE.

Also, the number must have 2 zeros at the units and tens place, 120 and 6*5 = 30 is there.

C is a perfect fit.
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I think the question needs to mention that repetition of letters is not allowed

Posted from my mobile device
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firas92
I think the question needs to mention that repetition of letters is not allowed

Posted from my mobile device

Agreed! Otherwise, words like AABBB would be allowed.
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firas92
I think the question needs to mention that repetition of letters is not allowed

Posted from my mobile device

Agreed! Otherwise, words like AABBB would be allowed.

أHi GMATPrepNow Brent

How will be the solution if repetition would allowed? what will change in way to solve it?

Thanks in advance
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Mo2men
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firas92
I think the question needs to mention that repetition of letters is not allowed

Posted from my mobile device

Agreed! Otherwise, words like AABBB would be allowed.

أHi GMATPrepNow Brent

How will be the solution if repetition would allowed? what will change in way to solve it?

Thanks in advance

That rewording would require us to consider many different cases:
5-letter words with 2 different vowels and 3 different consonants
5-letter words with 2 identical vowels and 3 different consonants
5-letter words with 2 different vowels, 2 identical consonants, and 1 different consonant
5-letter words with 2 identical vowels, 2 identical consonants, and 1 different consonant
5-letter words with 2 different vowels, and 3 identical consonants
5-letter words with 2 identical vowels, and 3 identical consonants

Phew! I'm already tired.
As you might imagine, the reworded question would take up wayyyyyyy too much time to be a true GMAT question.

Cheers,
Brent
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Given the OA, the prompt should read as follows:

gmatpapa
Out of 7 DISTINCT consonants and 4 DISTINCT vowels, how many words of 3 consonants and 2 vowels can be formed, if no letter may appear in the word more than once?

A. 210
B. 1050
C. 25200
D. 21400
E. 42800

One approach:

From the 5 positions in the word, the number of ways to choose 3 positions for the 3 consonants = 5C3 = \(\frac{5*4*3}{3*2*1} = 10\)
From the remaining 2 positions in the word, the number of ways to choose 2 positions for the 2 vowels = 2C2 \(= \frac{2*1}{2*1} = 1\)

Number of options for the first consonant = 7 (Any of the 7 consonants)
Number of options for the second consonant = 6 (Any of the 6 remaining consonants)
Number of options for the third consonant = 5 (Any of the 5 remaining consonants)
Number of options for the first vowel = 4 (Any of the 4 vowels)
Number of options for the second vowel = 3 (Any of the 3 remaining vowels)

To combine the options above, we multiply:
10*1*7*6*5*4*3 = 25200

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