3. If the word starts with an O, there are still 6 letters left of which two are Ss.

Number of arrangements =
6!
2!
= 360 arrangements
4. If the word starts and ends with the same letter, there are two possibilities:
S - - - - - S with the letters in between consisting of B,A,O,O and N.
Therefore:
Number of arrangements =
5!
2!
= 60 arrangements
O - - - - - O with the letters in between consisting of B,A,S,S and N.
Therefore:
Number of arrangements =
5!
2!
= 60 arrangements
Therefore, the total number of arrangements = 60 + 60 = 120.
This allows us to formulate the following:
For a set of n objects, of which n
1
are the same, n
2
are the same . . . , n
k
are the same,
the number of arrangements =
n!
n
1
! n
2
! . . . n
k
!
Exercise 10 7: Number of arrangements of sets containing alike objects
1. You have the word EXCELLENT.
a) If the repeated letters are regarded as different letters, how many letter ar-
rangements are possible?
b) If the repeated letters are regarded as identical, how many letter arrange-
ments are possible?
c) If the rst and last letters are identical, how many letter arrangements are
there?
d) How many letter arrangements can be made if the arrangement starts with
an L?
e) How many letter arrangements are possible if the word ends in a T?
2. You have the word ASSESSMENT.
a) If the repeated letters are regarded as different letters, how many letter ar-
rangements are possible?
b) If the repeated letters are regarded as identical, how many letter arrange-
ments are possible?
c) If the rst and last letters are identical, how many letter arrangements are
there?
d) How many letter arrangements can be made if the arrangement starts with
a vowel?
e) How many letter arrangements are possible if all the Ss are at the beginning
of the word?
435 Chapter 10. Probability