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How many different four letter words can be formed (the words need not be meaningful using the letters of the word "MEDITERRANEAN" such that the first letter is E and the last letter is R?

Correct Answer: 59

Explanation:

The first letter is E and the last one is R.


 


Therefore, one has to find two more letters from the remaining 11 letters.


 


Of the 11 letters, there are 2 Ns, 2Es and 2As and one each of the remaining 5 letters.


 


The second and third positions can either have two different letters or have both the letters to be the same.


 


Case 1: When the two letters are different. One has to choose two different letters from the 8 available different choices. This can be done in 8 * 7 = 56 ways.


 


Case 2: When the two letters are same. There are 3 options - the three can be either Ns or Es or As. Therefore, 3 ways.


 


Total number of possibilities = 56 + 3 = 59


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