Problem 3

How many 4-letter “words” may be formed form the letters PEEPS? For example PEEP, PPEE, SPPE, etc.

[Problem submitted by Don Hentschel, LACC Assistant Professor of Mathematics.]

Solution 1:

There are three non-overlapping possibilities:

Case I: two P’s, one E, one S. This has or 12 words.

Case II: one P, two E’s, one S. This has or 12 words.

Case III: two P’s, two E, no S. This has or 6 words.

Total = 12 + 12 + 6 = 30

Solution 2:

There are ways to arrange all letters if no two were the same; dividing by repetitions: 2! and 2! we have 120/4 = 30.

Solution 3:

An organized student may list them, there are only 30.