In how many ways can eight directors, the vice chairman and chairman of a firm be seated at a round table, if the chairman has to sit between the vice chairman and a specific director?
Show Hint
Treat the chairman with his two neighbours (the vice chairman and the specific director) as one block and count circular arrangements.
Step 1: Count the people: There are 8 directors + 1 vice chairman + 1 chairman = 10 people.
Step 2: Make a block: The chairman sits between the vice chairman and the specific director, so the block is (VC, Chairman, Director) or (Director, Chairman, VC). The block can be arranged internally in 2 ways.
Step 3: Arrange around the table: The block plus the other 7 directors make 8 units. Arranging 8 units in a circle gives \((8-1)! = 7!\) ways.
Step 4: Multiply: Total = \(2 \times 7!\) = 10080.
Final Answer: The correct option is (2): \(2 \times 7!\)