Question: Five scientists and three journalists are seated around a circular table. If the three journalists refuse to sit together, how many distinct seating arrangements are possible?

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:31:46 +0000

**Why the Question About Scientists and Journalists at a Curved Table Sparks Interest Right Now** In conversations across U.S. online communities and educational platforms, a surprisingly engaging puzzle has emerged: If five scientists and three journalists are seated around a circular table and the three journalists cannot sit together, how many distinct arrangements are possible? This question isn’t just a playful brainteaser—it reflects growing curiosity about group dynamics, social exclusion, and structured problem-solving in everyday life. As remote collaboration, media roles, and academic industries evolve, such scenarios surface more often, prompting people to analyze seating as a metaphor for professional networks and communication hierarchies. Understanding these patterns reveals trends in team composition, eyewitness perspective, and the balance between collaboration and personal boundaries. **The Core Puzzle: Circular Permutations with Constraints** The classic circular permutation of *n* people is (n–1)!, because rotating the entire group doesn’t create a new arrangement. Here, we have 8 individuals—5 scientists and 3 journalists—seated in a circle, with a key constraint: the three journalists must not sit together as a contiguous block.