Question

How many 4-letter “words” can be made using all the letters in BEEP, if the two Es are indistinguishable? Two such “words” to include are BEEP and EBEP.

Answer 1

10

BEEP

BPEE

BEPE

EEPB

EEBP

EBEP

EPEB

PBEE

PEEB

PEBE

Answer 2

12

Explanation:

4! is 4*3*2*1

since there were 4 letters 4 could be chosen at the first letter

since one of the letters were chosen only 3 could be chosen as the second letter

and then it is 2 because there are 2 letters left

and 1 because there is only 1 letter left

so 4!

Then you divide by 2 because the 2 es are indistinguishable