Question 350590:  if the letters of the word 'MOTHER'are written in all possible order and these words are written out as in dictionary ,find the rank of the word 'MOTHER'.  
 Answer by sudhanshu_kmr(1152)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! There are 6 letters and all are different.
 
In dictionary, words starting from E, H will come before word MOTHER.
 
so, total no. of words starting from E =  5!= 120  
      (we have to arrange 5 letters on five places)
 
similarly, no. of words starting from H = 5! = 120
 
now, first word starting with letter M will come..
 
similarly, no. of words starting with ME.... = 4! 
            no. of words starting with MH.... = 4! 
     now, words starting from MO will come 
            no. of words starting with MOE...   =3! 
             no. of words starting with MOH...   =3! 
             no. of words starting with MOR...   =3! 
      now, words starting from MOT will come 
              no. of words starting with MOTE..   = 2! 
     then after words starting from MOTH will come and first word will MOTHER 
  
so, total no. of words before MOTHER = 5! + 5! + 2* 4! + 3 * 3!  
                                     = 120 +120 + 48 + 18  
                                     = 306
 
so, rank of MOTHER in dictionary =  307 
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