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In how many different ways can the letters of the word 'OFFICE' be arranged so that the vowels never come together?

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1

The word OFFICE contains 6 letters: O, F, F, I, C, E

Vowels: O, I, E (3 vowels, all different)

Consonants: F, F, C (3 consonants, F repeats twice)


To find arrangements where vowels never come together:

Vowels never together = Total arrangements - Vowels always together


The word has 6 letters with F repeating twice.

Total arrangements =6!2!= \dfrac{6!}{2!}

=7202= \dfrac{720}{2}

=360= 360


Treat all vowels (O, I, E) as one single block [OIE].

The units to arrange are: [OIE], F, F, C (4 units with F repeating twice)

Arrangements of these 4 units =4!2!= \dfrac{4!}{2!}

=242= \dfrac{24}{2}

=12= 12

Arrangements of vowels within the block =3!= 3!

=6= 6

Total arrangements with vowels together =12×6= 12 \times 6

=72= 72


Arrangements where vowels never come together =360−72= 360 - 72

=288= 288

Therefore, the answer is 288.

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