The x and y can be from this way where x comes 1st and y comes 7th x-----y------------------- to this case where x comes 20th and y comes 26th: -------------------x-----y So that's 20 ways to place the x 6 places before the y. And there are 20 more ways to place the x 6 places after the y y-----x------------------- to -------------------y-----x That's 40 ways to place the x and y. For each of those 40 ways to place the x and y, the remaining 24 letters can be arranged in 24! ways. Answer: (40)(24!) = 24817936069329577574400000 Edwin