[Math] Arranging letters of a word so that two Letters are together

combinatoricspermutations

In how many ways can the letters of the word SOCKS be arranged in a line so that the two S's are together?
In how many arrangements can the letters in SLOOPS be arranged so that the two O's are together?

I would think the answer to the first one would be: Treat the two S's as one entity and permute the letters: 4! and divide by 2! to account for the identical element S.Apparently not.
However for the second question, you are able to use this method?

Best Answer

For the first question, you are arranging $\fbox{SS}\text{OCK}$, where $\fbox{SS}$ is a single entity, so there are $4$ different elements and the permutations work out to $4!$ without further adjustment.

For the second question, you are arranging $\fbox{OO}\text{SLPS}$, where again $\fbox{OO}$ is a single entity, so there are $5$ elements of $4$ different values, one of which is repeated, and the permutations work out to $5!/2! = 60$, the division by $2!$ adjusting for the repeated S.