X a X e X i X o X u X In the above there are 6 positions marked with X's in which we can insert consonants q, t, n. We can choose 3 of those 6 positions to insert one consonant each in C(6,3) ways. Example: a t e i n o u q We can choose 2 of those 6 positions to insert two consonants in the leftmost one and one consonant in the rightmost one in C(6,2) ways Example: a e i q n o t u We can choose 2 of those 6 positions to insert one consonant in the leftmost one and two consonants in the rightmost one in C(6,2) ways Example: n a e i t q o u We can choose 1 of those 6 positions to insert all three consonants in C(6,1) ways Example: a e i n q t o u So that's C(6,3)+C(6,2)+C(6,2)+C(6,1) = 20+15+15+6 = 56 ways to choose places to insert consonants. For each of those 56 ways to insert 3 consonants, the consonants can be arranged in 3! or 6 ways. Answer 56·6 = 336 ways. Edwin