The products x3*1*1*1 gives x3. The number of distinguishable arrangements or x3,1,1,1 is 4!/3! = 4 The products x2*x*1*1 gives x3. The number of distinguishable arrangements or x2,x,1,1 is 4!/2! = 12 The products x*x*x*1 gives x3. The number of distinguishable arrangements or x,x,x,1 is 4!/3! = 4 Total ways to get x3 is 4+12+4 = 20 So the coefficient of x3 is 20 Incidentally, the whole thing multiplied out is: x16+4x15+10x14+20x13+35x12+52x11+68x10+80x9+85x8+80x7+68x6+52x5+35x4+20x3+10x2+4x+1 Edwin