Answer: 412
Step-by-step explanation:
We need to calculate how many different groups of 2 volunteers come out of the 17 volunteers in the Eastern division
C¹⁷₂ = 17!/ 2! (17-2)! ⇒17*16*15!/ 2! * 15! ⇒ C¹⁷₂ = 17*16/2
C¹⁷₂ = 136
And the same criteria is valid for Western division volunteers
C²⁴₂ = 24!/ 2! *(24-2)! ⇒24*23*22! / 2!*22! ⇒ C²⁴₂ = 24*23/2
C²⁴₂ = 276
And the sum of these two groups will be the total ways the officers can be selected
C = 276 + 136 = 412