First we find the number of distinguishable permutations of ARRANGEMENT. There are 2 A's, 2 R's, 2 E's, and 2 N's. So that'sFrom that we must subtract the number of distinguishable permutations in which the A's, R's or both come together. We use the "sieve" formula: N(X or Y) = N(X) + N(Y) - N(X and Y) where N() means "the number of elements of". N(permutations with A's together OR R's together) = N(permutations with A's together) + N(permutations with R's together) - N(permutations with A's together AND R's together) ------- Let's get this first: N(permutations with A's together) They are the distinguishable arrangements of these 10 things: (AA),R,R,N,G,E,M,E,N,T There are 2 R's, 2 N's, 2 E's, but only one (AA) That's --- Let's get this next: N(permutations with R's together) They are the distinguishable arrangements of these 10 things: {A,A,(RR),N,G,E,M,E,N,T} That's also --- Now we get: N(permutations with A's together AND R's together) They are the distinguishable arrangements of these 9 things: (AA),(RR),N,G,E,M,E,N,T There are 2 N's, and 2 E's, but only one (AA) and one (RR) That's So the number we must subtract from the 2494800 is So the final answer is Edwin