In how many different ways, can the letters of the word ASSOCIATION be arranged, so that the vowels always come together?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → 32400
Step 1: Count letters and vowels/consonants
Word: A S S O C I A T I O N → 11 letters
- Vowels: A, O, I, A, I, O → 6 vowels (A twice, I twice, O twice)
- Consonants: S, S, C, T, N → 5 consonants (S twice)
Step 2: Treat vowels as a single entity
- Consider all vowels together as one block.
- So total "letters" to arrange = 5 consonants + 1 vowel block = 6 items
- Consonants have S repeated twice.
Arrangements of 6 items:
$\frac{6!}{2!} = \frac{720}{2} = 360$
Step 3: Arrange vowels inside the block
- Vowels: A, O, I, A, I, O → 6 letters with A, I, O repeated twice each
$\text{Arrangements} = \frac{6!}{2! \cdot 2! \cdot 2!} = \frac{720}{8} = 90$
Step 4: Total arrangements
$360 \times 90 = 32400$