Mark the correct alternative in the following:

The number of six letter words that can be formed using the letters of the word “ASSIST” in which S’s alternate with other letters is


We have, 6 objects {A}, {S}, {S}, {I}, {S}, {T} and there are 3 S's.


The S’s can be arranged in following two ways to form a six letter word in which the S’s alternate with other letters, is as shown below:


S×S×S× and ×S×S×S where the ‘×’ are to be filled with the other letters.


Now, for the other 3 positions we have to place A, I and T, so, 3 positions can be filled with 3 letters in 3!


= 6 ways.


The number of six letter words that can be formed using the letters of the word “ASSIST” in which S’s alternate with other letters is


= 12.


The discussion can be shown pictorially as:



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