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Six couples were at a party. If each person shakes hands with everybody except his spouse, how many handshakes take place?

 Oct 16, 2016

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+118653 
+15

man 1     10 shakes    then he is out

man 2      9 shakes then out

man 3      8 shakes then out

man4       7 shakes then out

man5       6 shakes then out

last man   5 shakes then out

woman1   5 shakes

..

woman 5  1 shake

 

total

 

10+9+8+7+6+5   +5+4+3+2+1 = 60 handshakes 

 Oct 16, 2016
 #1
avatar+118653 
+15
Best Answer

man 1     10 shakes    then he is out

man 2      9 shakes then out

man 3      8 shakes then out

man4       7 shakes then out

man5       6 shakes then out

last man   5 shakes then out

woman1   5 shakes

..

woman 5  1 shake

 

total

 

10+9+8+7+6+5   +5+4+3+2+1 = 60 handshakes 

Melody Oct 16, 2016
 #2
avatar+33653 
+15

Can also think of it this way:

 

12 people shake hands with 10 others, but A shaking hands with B is the same as B shaking hands with A, so total number of handshakes is 12*10/2 = 60.

.

 Oct 16, 2016
 #3
avatar+118653 
0

Thanks Alan,

I like your answer it is nice and straight forward :)

Melody  Oct 16, 2016

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