In how many ways can the letters of the word ‘FAILURE’ be arranged so that the consonants may occupy only odd positions?

To find: number of words


Condition: consonants occupy odd places


There are total of 7 letters in the word FAILURE.


There are 3 consonants, i.e. F, L, R which are to be arranged in 4 places.


The rest 5 letters can be arranged in 4! Ways.


Formula:


Number of permutations of n distinct objects among r different places, where repetition is not allowed, is


P(n,r) = n!/(n-r)!


Therefore, the total nuber of words are


P(4,3) ×4! = ×4! = ×4! = ×24 = 576.


Hence total number of arrangements is 576.


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