How many different four letter words can be formed (the words need not be meaningful using the letters of the word "MEDITERRANEAN" such that the first letter is E and the last letter is R?  Choose the correct choice from the following options:
A) 59 B) 77 C) 36 D) 99 E) 17
Explanation:   The first letter is E and the last one is R.   Therefore, one has to find two more letters from the remaining 11 letters.   Of the 11 letters, there are 2 Ns, 2Es and 2As and one each of the remaining 5 letters.   The second and third positions can either have two different letters or have both the letters to be the same.   Case 1: When the two letters are different. One has to choose two different letters from the 8 available different choices. This can be done in 8 * 7= 
<gadget id="calculator">8 * 7</gadget>
<output>56</output>
56 ways.   Case 2: When the two letters are same. There are 3 options - the three can be either Ns or Es or As. Therefore, 3 ways.   Total number of possibilities= 56 + 3= 
<gadget id="calculator">56 + 3</gadget>
<output>59</output>
59   59nswer: 59) 59
<result>A</result>
How many different four letter words can be formed (the words need not be meaningful using the letters of the word "MEDITERRANEAN" such that the first letter is E and the last letter is R?