Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 48
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
We want permutations of the letters of JUDGE with the vowels U and E adjacent. This is a classic “keep-a-group-together” arrangement question.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Letters: J, U, D, G, E (all distinct). Vowels: U, E; consonants: J, D, G.
Concept / Approach:
Treat the two vowels as a single block, then permute that block with the three consonants. Inside the block, the two vowels can swap.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Complementary counting (total 5! minus permutations with vowels separated) also yields 48 after careful inclusion–exclusion.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
24 misses the internal swap; 60 or 120 overcount beyond constraints.
Common Pitfalls:
Forgetting the 2! within the vowel block.
Final Answer:
48
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