[Math] Counting Problem Discrete Math: How many DNA strings of length $6$ have exactly two thymine (T) nucleotides

combinatoricsdiscrete mathematics

I am struggling on this question.

DNA = Four Nucleotides (C,G,A,T)
Cytosine
Guanine
Adenine
Thymine

How many DNA strings of length $6$ have exactly two (T) thymine nucleotides?

Ex: CTATAG,GGGTTG,TAAATG not CAAATG nor CTGTTG?

I am not sure how to go about solving the problem. Please help. Thanks!

Best Answer

Choose $2$ out of $6$ places for the Ts: $\binom62=15$.

Fill the remaining $4$ places with any of the other $3$ letters: $3^4=81$.

The answer is therefore $15\cdot81=1215$.