QUEUE शब्द के वर्णों का स्थान अदल-बदल कर कितने शब्द बनाए जा सकते हैं, यदि Q के बाद सदैव U आता है? इस प्रकार बने शब्द का कोई अर्थ होना आवश्यक नहीं है।
Read this question in English
How many words can one form by shuffling the letters of the word QUEUE, if Q is always followed by U? The words thus formed need not necessarily have any meaning.
(a) 6 · (b) 8 · (c) 10 · (d) 12
उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English
Answer: (d) 12
Glue Q and U together as one block 'QU'. Then arrange four units — QU, U, E, E — where the two E's are identical: 4!/2! = 12.
- QUEUE has Q, U, U, E, E.
- Tie Q to a U as a block: the units are QU, U, E, E.
- Arrangements = 4! ÷ 2! (two identical E's) = 24 ÷ 2 = 12.
- Check: Q occurs once, so each word has exactly one block position — no word is counted twice.
Remember · 'X always followed by Y' → treat XY as one block, then divide by factorials of repeated letters.
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper II (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·