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Four married couples attend a party. Each person shakes hands with every other person, except their own spouse, exactly once. How many handshakes?



The Next CEO of Stack OverflowHandshakes in a partyhow many people are at the partycounting hands shakeGraph Theory number of handshakes of couplesHandshakes in a partyHow many mixed double pairs can be made from 7 married couples provided that no husband and wife plays in a same set?A complicated handshake problemFinding the number of combinations.Handshake problem, each person can have 5 handshakesNumber of handshakes - exclusion apporachHandshake/pigeonhole principle problem?












9












$begingroup$



Four married couples attend a party. Each person shakes hands with every other person, except their own spouse, exactly once. How many handshakes?




My book gave the answer as $24$. I do not understand why.





I thought of it like this:



You have four pairs of couples, so you can think of it as



M1W2, M2W2, M3W3, M4W4,



where
M is a man and W is a woman. M1 has to shake 6 other hands, excluding his wife. You have to do this 4 times for the other men, so you have $4times 6$ handshakes, but in my answer, you are double counting.



How do I approach this problem?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    In your answer, you both overcounted and undercounted, and incidentally these happened to cancel out and give you the correct answer without having to do anything further. You did $4 times (text{Handshakes done by the men})$, which overcounted the man-man handshakes, but left out the woman-woman handshakes.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:49






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    And that's easily fixed by counting all such handshakes in the same way, not just those done by men, so you get $48$. And now, as you said, you have indeed double-counted. But if you know it's exactly double counting, you can get the answer by halving it!
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:56






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    @Issel No, Person #2 being the spouse of Person #1, also has to shake hands with $6$ people, and so on, so it's $6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 24$.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 5:42






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Handshakes in a party
    $endgroup$
    – Xander Henderson
    Mar 17 at 20:45






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @user21820 Hm, if it gets reopened, I'll post an answer. I don't think I see why it got closed. Sure it's an elementary problem, but it clearly shows effort and at least a part of the question is why the specific method used seems to be wrong but gives the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 19 at 5:29
















9












$begingroup$



Four married couples attend a party. Each person shakes hands with every other person, except their own spouse, exactly once. How many handshakes?




My book gave the answer as $24$. I do not understand why.





I thought of it like this:



You have four pairs of couples, so you can think of it as



M1W2, M2W2, M3W3, M4W4,



where
M is a man and W is a woman. M1 has to shake 6 other hands, excluding his wife. You have to do this 4 times for the other men, so you have $4times 6$ handshakes, but in my answer, you are double counting.



How do I approach this problem?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    In your answer, you both overcounted and undercounted, and incidentally these happened to cancel out and give you the correct answer without having to do anything further. You did $4 times (text{Handshakes done by the men})$, which overcounted the man-man handshakes, but left out the woman-woman handshakes.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:49






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    And that's easily fixed by counting all such handshakes in the same way, not just those done by men, so you get $48$. And now, as you said, you have indeed double-counted. But if you know it's exactly double counting, you can get the answer by halving it!
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:56






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    @Issel No, Person #2 being the spouse of Person #1, also has to shake hands with $6$ people, and so on, so it's $6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 24$.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 5:42






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Handshakes in a party
    $endgroup$
    – Xander Henderson
    Mar 17 at 20:45






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @user21820 Hm, if it gets reopened, I'll post an answer. I don't think I see why it got closed. Sure it's an elementary problem, but it clearly shows effort and at least a part of the question is why the specific method used seems to be wrong but gives the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 19 at 5:29














9












9








9


3



$begingroup$



Four married couples attend a party. Each person shakes hands with every other person, except their own spouse, exactly once. How many handshakes?




My book gave the answer as $24$. I do not understand why.





I thought of it like this:



You have four pairs of couples, so you can think of it as



M1W2, M2W2, M3W3, M4W4,



where
M is a man and W is a woman. M1 has to shake 6 other hands, excluding his wife. You have to do this 4 times for the other men, so you have $4times 6$ handshakes, but in my answer, you are double counting.



How do I approach this problem?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$





Four married couples attend a party. Each person shakes hands with every other person, except their own spouse, exactly once. How many handshakes?




My book gave the answer as $24$. I do not understand why.





I thought of it like this:



You have four pairs of couples, so you can think of it as



M1W2, M2W2, M3W3, M4W4,



where
M is a man and W is a woman. M1 has to shake 6 other hands, excluding his wife. You have to do this 4 times for the other men, so you have $4times 6$ handshakes, but in my answer, you are double counting.



How do I approach this problem?







combinatorics






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Mar 18 at 22:15









Jack

27.6k1782203




27.6k1782203










asked Mar 17 at 4:41









ZakuZaku

1679




1679








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    In your answer, you both overcounted and undercounted, and incidentally these happened to cancel out and give you the correct answer without having to do anything further. You did $4 times (text{Handshakes done by the men})$, which overcounted the man-man handshakes, but left out the woman-woman handshakes.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:49






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    And that's easily fixed by counting all such handshakes in the same way, not just those done by men, so you get $48$. And now, as you said, you have indeed double-counted. But if you know it's exactly double counting, you can get the answer by halving it!
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:56






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    @Issel No, Person #2 being the spouse of Person #1, also has to shake hands with $6$ people, and so on, so it's $6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 24$.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 5:42






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Handshakes in a party
    $endgroup$
    – Xander Henderson
    Mar 17 at 20:45






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @user21820 Hm, if it gets reopened, I'll post an answer. I don't think I see why it got closed. Sure it's an elementary problem, but it clearly shows effort and at least a part of the question is why the specific method used seems to be wrong but gives the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 19 at 5:29














  • 3




    $begingroup$
    In your answer, you both overcounted and undercounted, and incidentally these happened to cancel out and give you the correct answer without having to do anything further. You did $4 times (text{Handshakes done by the men})$, which overcounted the man-man handshakes, but left out the woman-woman handshakes.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:49






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    And that's easily fixed by counting all such handshakes in the same way, not just those done by men, so you get $48$. And now, as you said, you have indeed double-counted. But if you know it's exactly double counting, you can get the answer by halving it!
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 4:56






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    @Issel No, Person #2 being the spouse of Person #1, also has to shake hands with $6$ people, and so on, so it's $6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 24$.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 17 at 5:42






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Handshakes in a party
    $endgroup$
    – Xander Henderson
    Mar 17 at 20:45






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @user21820 Hm, if it gets reopened, I'll post an answer. I don't think I see why it got closed. Sure it's an elementary problem, but it clearly shows effort and at least a part of the question is why the specific method used seems to be wrong but gives the correct answer.
    $endgroup$
    – M. Vinay
    Mar 19 at 5:29








3




3




$begingroup$
In your answer, you both overcounted and undercounted, and incidentally these happened to cancel out and give you the correct answer without having to do anything further. You did $4 times (text{Handshakes done by the men})$, which overcounted the man-man handshakes, but left out the woman-woman handshakes.
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 17 at 4:49




$begingroup$
In your answer, you both overcounted and undercounted, and incidentally these happened to cancel out and give you the correct answer without having to do anything further. You did $4 times (text{Handshakes done by the men})$, which overcounted the man-man handshakes, but left out the woman-woman handshakes.
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 17 at 4:49




2




2




$begingroup$
And that's easily fixed by counting all such handshakes in the same way, not just those done by men, so you get $48$. And now, as you said, you have indeed double-counted. But if you know it's exactly double counting, you can get the answer by halving it!
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 17 at 4:56




$begingroup$
And that's easily fixed by counting all such handshakes in the same way, not just those done by men, so you get $48$. And now, as you said, you have indeed double-counted. But if you know it's exactly double counting, you can get the answer by halving it!
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 17 at 4:56




4




4




$begingroup$
@Issel No, Person #2 being the spouse of Person #1, also has to shake hands with $6$ people, and so on, so it's $6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 24$.
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 17 at 5:42




$begingroup$
@Issel No, Person #2 being the spouse of Person #1, also has to shake hands with $6$ people, and so on, so it's $6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 24$.
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 17 at 5:42




2




2




$begingroup$
Possible duplicate of Handshakes in a party
$endgroup$
– Xander Henderson
Mar 17 at 20:45




$begingroup$
Possible duplicate of Handshakes in a party
$endgroup$
– Xander Henderson
Mar 17 at 20:45




2




2




$begingroup$
@user21820 Hm, if it gets reopened, I'll post an answer. I don't think I see why it got closed. Sure it's an elementary problem, but it clearly shows effort and at least a part of the question is why the specific method used seems to be wrong but gives the correct answer.
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 19 at 5:29




$begingroup$
@user21820 Hm, if it gets reopened, I'll post an answer. I don't think I see why it got closed. Sure it's an elementary problem, but it clearly shows effort and at least a part of the question is why the specific method used seems to be wrong but gives the correct answer.
$endgroup$
– M. Vinay
Mar 19 at 5:29










8 Answers
8






active

oldest

votes


















49












$begingroup$

$8$ people. Each experiences handshakes with $6$ people. There are $6times 8=48$ experiences of handshakes. Each handshake is experienced by two people so there $48$ experiences means $48div 2=24$ handshakes.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    31












    $begingroup$

    Suppose the spouses were allowed to shake each other's hands. That would give you $binom{8}{2} = 28$ handshakes. Since there are four couples, four of these handshakes are illegal. We can remove those to get the $24$ legal handshakes.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
      $endgroup$
      – smci
      Mar 17 at 11:48










    • $begingroup$
      Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
      $endgroup$
      – Austin Mohr
      Mar 18 at 2:30










    • $begingroup$
      and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
      $endgroup$
      – smci
      Mar 19 at 0:27



















    11












    $begingroup$

    You may proceed as follows using combinations:




    • Number of all possible handshakes among 8 people: $color{blue}{binom{8}{2}}$

    • Number of pairs who do not shake hands: $color{blue}{4}$


    It follows:
    $$mbox{number of hand shakes without pairs} = color{blue}{binom{8}{2}} - color{blue}{4} = frac{8cdot 7}{2} - 4 = 24$$






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      6












      $begingroup$

      Let's look at it not from individuals, but from couples. There are four couples, i.e. $3!=6$ meetings of couples. Per meeting of couples, there are four handshakes. This makes it $6times4=24$ handshakes.





      Thanks @CJ Dennis for pointing out an error in the reasoning: It should, of course, be the sum, not the product, so the correct number of meetings of couples is
      $sum_{k=1}^{n-1}k=frac{n(n-1)}{2}$.






      share|cite|improve this answer











      $endgroup$





















        2












        $begingroup$

        Each line is a handshake between the required two people. There are 24 lines:



        enter image description here






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$





















          1












          $begingroup$

          $k$ couples entails $2k$ people. If we imagine each couple going in sequential order, couple 1 will each have to shake $2k-2$ couple's hands for each individual, or $4k-4$ handshakes for couple 1 total. Since there is 1 fewer couple every time a new couple shakes hands, there will be $4k-4i$ handshakes by the $i$-th couple. So the total number of handshakes is given by:



          $$sum_{i=1}^k (4k-4i) = sum_{i=1}^k4k - sum_{i=1}^k4i = 4k^2 - 4frac{k(k+1)}{2} = 4(k^2 - frac{k^2+k}{2}) = 4(k^2 - (frac{k^2}{2} + frac{k}{2})) = 4(frac{k^2}{2}-frac{k}{2}) = 2(k^2-k)$$



          for $k$ couples. Plugging in $k$ = 4 verifies a solution of 24 for this case.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
            $endgroup$
            – M. Vinay
            Mar 17 at 5:36



















          1












          $begingroup$

          A simple approach:



          There are 8 person in total.



          Each one will shake hands with 6 others.



          Total shakehands from individual perspective: 6*8 gives 48



          Actual shakehands: 48/2 = 24






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 5




            $begingroup$
            How is different from fleablood's answer?
            $endgroup$
            – Toby Mak
            Mar 17 at 8:46






          • 1




            $begingroup$
            @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
            $endgroup$
            – Vijendra Parashar
            Mar 17 at 15:28






          • 1




            $begingroup$
            I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
            $endgroup$
            – Toby Mak
            Mar 18 at 8:22



















          -1












          $begingroup$

          If all of them handshakes each other then there are 8!/2! =28 handshakes, but none of them handshake with their own spouse so their are 28-4=24 handshakes.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$














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            8 Answers
            8






            active

            oldest

            votes








            8 Answers
            8






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

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            49












            $begingroup$

            $8$ people. Each experiences handshakes with $6$ people. There are $6times 8=48$ experiences of handshakes. Each handshake is experienced by two people so there $48$ experiences means $48div 2=24$ handshakes.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              49












              $begingroup$

              $8$ people. Each experiences handshakes with $6$ people. There are $6times 8=48$ experiences of handshakes. Each handshake is experienced by two people so there $48$ experiences means $48div 2=24$ handshakes.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                49












                49








                49





                $begingroup$

                $8$ people. Each experiences handshakes with $6$ people. There are $6times 8=48$ experiences of handshakes. Each handshake is experienced by two people so there $48$ experiences means $48div 2=24$ handshakes.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                $8$ people. Each experiences handshakes with $6$ people. There are $6times 8=48$ experiences of handshakes. Each handshake is experienced by two people so there $48$ experiences means $48div 2=24$ handshakes.







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Mar 17 at 6:51









                fleabloodfleablood

                73.6k22891




                73.6k22891























                    31












                    $begingroup$

                    Suppose the spouses were allowed to shake each other's hands. That would give you $binom{8}{2} = 28$ handshakes. Since there are four couples, four of these handshakes are illegal. We can remove those to get the $24$ legal handshakes.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 17 at 11:48










                    • $begingroup$
                      Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Austin Mohr
                      Mar 18 at 2:30










                    • $begingroup$
                      and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 19 at 0:27
















                    31












                    $begingroup$

                    Suppose the spouses were allowed to shake each other's hands. That would give you $binom{8}{2} = 28$ handshakes. Since there are four couples, four of these handshakes are illegal. We can remove those to get the $24$ legal handshakes.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 17 at 11:48










                    • $begingroup$
                      Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Austin Mohr
                      Mar 18 at 2:30










                    • $begingroup$
                      and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 19 at 0:27














                    31












                    31








                    31





                    $begingroup$

                    Suppose the spouses were allowed to shake each other's hands. That would give you $binom{8}{2} = 28$ handshakes. Since there are four couples, four of these handshakes are illegal. We can remove those to get the $24$ legal handshakes.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    Suppose the spouses were allowed to shake each other's hands. That would give you $binom{8}{2} = 28$ handshakes. Since there are four couples, four of these handshakes are illegal. We can remove those to get the $24$ legal handshakes.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Mar 17 at 5:02









                    Austin MohrAustin Mohr

                    20.8k35299




                    20.8k35299












                    • $begingroup$
                      This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 17 at 11:48










                    • $begingroup$
                      Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Austin Mohr
                      Mar 18 at 2:30










                    • $begingroup$
                      and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 19 at 0:27


















                    • $begingroup$
                      This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 17 at 11:48










                    • $begingroup$
                      Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Austin Mohr
                      Mar 18 at 2:30










                    • $begingroup$
                      and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
                      $endgroup$
                      – smci
                      Mar 19 at 0:27
















                    $begingroup$
                    This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
                    $endgroup$
                    – smci
                    Mar 17 at 11:48




                    $begingroup$
                    This uses Inclusion-Exclusion Principle.
                    $endgroup$
                    – smci
                    Mar 17 at 11:48












                    $begingroup$
                    Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
                    $endgroup$
                    – Austin Mohr
                    Mar 18 at 2:30




                    $begingroup$
                    Inclusion-Exclusion helps to find the cardinality of a union of non-disjoint sets. I'm merely using the fact that a set together with its complement (which are disjoint) comprise the entire universe.
                    $endgroup$
                    – Austin Mohr
                    Mar 18 at 2:30












                    $begingroup$
                    and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
                    $endgroup$
                    – smci
                    Mar 19 at 0:27




                    $begingroup$
                    and that's just a case of Inclusion-Exclusion Principle. (By the way, the set we're enumerating here isn't the 'entire universe', since it's not the total number of handshakes, or handshakes with all people in the world, or even n-way handshakes with all people.)
                    $endgroup$
                    – smci
                    Mar 19 at 0:27











                    11












                    $begingroup$

                    You may proceed as follows using combinations:




                    • Number of all possible handshakes among 8 people: $color{blue}{binom{8}{2}}$

                    • Number of pairs who do not shake hands: $color{blue}{4}$


                    It follows:
                    $$mbox{number of hand shakes without pairs} = color{blue}{binom{8}{2}} - color{blue}{4} = frac{8cdot 7}{2} - 4 = 24$$






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$


















                      11












                      $begingroup$

                      You may proceed as follows using combinations:




                      • Number of all possible handshakes among 8 people: $color{blue}{binom{8}{2}}$

                      • Number of pairs who do not shake hands: $color{blue}{4}$


                      It follows:
                      $$mbox{number of hand shakes without pairs} = color{blue}{binom{8}{2}} - color{blue}{4} = frac{8cdot 7}{2} - 4 = 24$$






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$
















                        11












                        11








                        11





                        $begingroup$

                        You may proceed as follows using combinations:




                        • Number of all possible handshakes among 8 people: $color{blue}{binom{8}{2}}$

                        • Number of pairs who do not shake hands: $color{blue}{4}$


                        It follows:
                        $$mbox{number of hand shakes without pairs} = color{blue}{binom{8}{2}} - color{blue}{4} = frac{8cdot 7}{2} - 4 = 24$$






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$



                        You may proceed as follows using combinations:




                        • Number of all possible handshakes among 8 people: $color{blue}{binom{8}{2}}$

                        • Number of pairs who do not shake hands: $color{blue}{4}$


                        It follows:
                        $$mbox{number of hand shakes without pairs} = color{blue}{binom{8}{2}} - color{blue}{4} = frac{8cdot 7}{2} - 4 = 24$$







                        share|cite|improve this answer












                        share|cite|improve this answer



                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        answered Mar 17 at 5:03









                        trancelocationtrancelocation

                        13.4k1827




                        13.4k1827























                            6












                            $begingroup$

                            Let's look at it not from individuals, but from couples. There are four couples, i.e. $3!=6$ meetings of couples. Per meeting of couples, there are four handshakes. This makes it $6times4=24$ handshakes.





                            Thanks @CJ Dennis for pointing out an error in the reasoning: It should, of course, be the sum, not the product, so the correct number of meetings of couples is
                            $sum_{k=1}^{n-1}k=frac{n(n-1)}{2}$.






                            share|cite|improve this answer











                            $endgroup$


















                              6












                              $begingroup$

                              Let's look at it not from individuals, but from couples. There are four couples, i.e. $3!=6$ meetings of couples. Per meeting of couples, there are four handshakes. This makes it $6times4=24$ handshakes.





                              Thanks @CJ Dennis for pointing out an error in the reasoning: It should, of course, be the sum, not the product, so the correct number of meetings of couples is
                              $sum_{k=1}^{n-1}k=frac{n(n-1)}{2}$.






                              share|cite|improve this answer











                              $endgroup$
















                                6












                                6








                                6





                                $begingroup$

                                Let's look at it not from individuals, but from couples. There are four couples, i.e. $3!=6$ meetings of couples. Per meeting of couples, there are four handshakes. This makes it $6times4=24$ handshakes.





                                Thanks @CJ Dennis for pointing out an error in the reasoning: It should, of course, be the sum, not the product, so the correct number of meetings of couples is
                                $sum_{k=1}^{n-1}k=frac{n(n-1)}{2}$.






                                share|cite|improve this answer











                                $endgroup$



                                Let's look at it not from individuals, but from couples. There are four couples, i.e. $3!=6$ meetings of couples. Per meeting of couples, there are four handshakes. This makes it $6times4=24$ handshakes.





                                Thanks @CJ Dennis for pointing out an error in the reasoning: It should, of course, be the sum, not the product, so the correct number of meetings of couples is
                                $sum_{k=1}^{n-1}k=frac{n(n-1)}{2}$.







                                share|cite|improve this answer














                                share|cite|improve this answer



                                share|cite|improve this answer








                                edited Mar 18 at 9:53

























                                answered Mar 17 at 14:47









                                dodidodi

                                693




                                693























                                    2












                                    $begingroup$

                                    Each line is a handshake between the required two people. There are 24 lines:



                                    enter image description here






                                    share|cite|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$


















                                      2












                                      $begingroup$

                                      Each line is a handshake between the required two people. There are 24 lines:



                                      enter image description here






                                      share|cite|improve this answer









                                      $endgroup$
















                                        2












                                        2








                                        2





                                        $begingroup$

                                        Each line is a handshake between the required two people. There are 24 lines:



                                        enter image description here






                                        share|cite|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$



                                        Each line is a handshake between the required two people. There are 24 lines:



                                        enter image description here







                                        share|cite|improve this answer












                                        share|cite|improve this answer



                                        share|cite|improve this answer










                                        answered Mar 17 at 19:58









                                        Witness Protection ID 44583292Witness Protection ID 44583292

                                        23113




                                        23113























                                            1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            $k$ couples entails $2k$ people. If we imagine each couple going in sequential order, couple 1 will each have to shake $2k-2$ couple's hands for each individual, or $4k-4$ handshakes for couple 1 total. Since there is 1 fewer couple every time a new couple shakes hands, there will be $4k-4i$ handshakes by the $i$-th couple. So the total number of handshakes is given by:



                                            $$sum_{i=1}^k (4k-4i) = sum_{i=1}^k4k - sum_{i=1}^k4i = 4k^2 - 4frac{k(k+1)}{2} = 4(k^2 - frac{k^2+k}{2}) = 4(k^2 - (frac{k^2}{2} + frac{k}{2})) = 4(frac{k^2}{2}-frac{k}{2}) = 2(k^2-k)$$



                                            for $k$ couples. Plugging in $k$ = 4 verifies a solution of 24 for this case.






                                            share|cite|improve this answer











                                            $endgroup$









                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – M. Vinay
                                              Mar 17 at 5:36
















                                            1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            $k$ couples entails $2k$ people. If we imagine each couple going in sequential order, couple 1 will each have to shake $2k-2$ couple's hands for each individual, or $4k-4$ handshakes for couple 1 total. Since there is 1 fewer couple every time a new couple shakes hands, there will be $4k-4i$ handshakes by the $i$-th couple. So the total number of handshakes is given by:



                                            $$sum_{i=1}^k (4k-4i) = sum_{i=1}^k4k - sum_{i=1}^k4i = 4k^2 - 4frac{k(k+1)}{2} = 4(k^2 - frac{k^2+k}{2}) = 4(k^2 - (frac{k^2}{2} + frac{k}{2})) = 4(frac{k^2}{2}-frac{k}{2}) = 2(k^2-k)$$



                                            for $k$ couples. Plugging in $k$ = 4 verifies a solution of 24 for this case.






                                            share|cite|improve this answer











                                            $endgroup$









                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – M. Vinay
                                              Mar 17 at 5:36














                                            1












                                            1








                                            1





                                            $begingroup$

                                            $k$ couples entails $2k$ people. If we imagine each couple going in sequential order, couple 1 will each have to shake $2k-2$ couple's hands for each individual, or $4k-4$ handshakes for couple 1 total. Since there is 1 fewer couple every time a new couple shakes hands, there will be $4k-4i$ handshakes by the $i$-th couple. So the total number of handshakes is given by:



                                            $$sum_{i=1}^k (4k-4i) = sum_{i=1}^k4k - sum_{i=1}^k4i = 4k^2 - 4frac{k(k+1)}{2} = 4(k^2 - frac{k^2+k}{2}) = 4(k^2 - (frac{k^2}{2} + frac{k}{2})) = 4(frac{k^2}{2}-frac{k}{2}) = 2(k^2-k)$$



                                            for $k$ couples. Plugging in $k$ = 4 verifies a solution of 24 for this case.






                                            share|cite|improve this answer











                                            $endgroup$



                                            $k$ couples entails $2k$ people. If we imagine each couple going in sequential order, couple 1 will each have to shake $2k-2$ couple's hands for each individual, or $4k-4$ handshakes for couple 1 total. Since there is 1 fewer couple every time a new couple shakes hands, there will be $4k-4i$ handshakes by the $i$-th couple. So the total number of handshakes is given by:



                                            $$sum_{i=1}^k (4k-4i) = sum_{i=1}^k4k - sum_{i=1}^k4i = 4k^2 - 4frac{k(k+1)}{2} = 4(k^2 - frac{k^2+k}{2}) = 4(k^2 - (frac{k^2}{2} + frac{k}{2})) = 4(frac{k^2}{2}-frac{k}{2}) = 2(k^2-k)$$



                                            for $k$ couples. Plugging in $k$ = 4 verifies a solution of 24 for this case.







                                            share|cite|improve this answer














                                            share|cite|improve this answer



                                            share|cite|improve this answer








                                            edited Mar 17 at 5:12

























                                            answered Mar 17 at 4:50









                                            beefstew2011beefstew2011

                                            687




                                            687








                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – M. Vinay
                                              Mar 17 at 5:36














                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – M. Vinay
                                              Mar 17 at 5:36








                                            1




                                            1




                                            $begingroup$
                                            Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – M. Vinay
                                            Mar 17 at 5:36




                                            $begingroup$
                                            Well… Each of the $2k$ people shakes hands with $2k - 1 - 1 = 2k - 2$ others (everyone except the spouse). So that's $2k(2k- 2) = 4k(k - 1)$, but since every handshake must've been counted twice, divide that by $2$ to get $2k(k - 1)$ handshakes in total.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – M. Vinay
                                            Mar 17 at 5:36











                                            1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            A simple approach:



                                            There are 8 person in total.



                                            Each one will shake hands with 6 others.



                                            Total shakehands from individual perspective: 6*8 gives 48



                                            Actual shakehands: 48/2 = 24






                                            share|cite|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$









                                            • 5




                                              $begingroup$
                                              How is different from fleablood's answer?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 17 at 8:46






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Vijendra Parashar
                                              Mar 17 at 15:28






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 18 at 8:22
















                                            1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            A simple approach:



                                            There are 8 person in total.



                                            Each one will shake hands with 6 others.



                                            Total shakehands from individual perspective: 6*8 gives 48



                                            Actual shakehands: 48/2 = 24






                                            share|cite|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$









                                            • 5




                                              $begingroup$
                                              How is different from fleablood's answer?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 17 at 8:46






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Vijendra Parashar
                                              Mar 17 at 15:28






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 18 at 8:22














                                            1












                                            1








                                            1





                                            $begingroup$

                                            A simple approach:



                                            There are 8 person in total.



                                            Each one will shake hands with 6 others.



                                            Total shakehands from individual perspective: 6*8 gives 48



                                            Actual shakehands: 48/2 = 24






                                            share|cite|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$



                                            A simple approach:



                                            There are 8 person in total.



                                            Each one will shake hands with 6 others.



                                            Total shakehands from individual perspective: 6*8 gives 48



                                            Actual shakehands: 48/2 = 24







                                            share|cite|improve this answer












                                            share|cite|improve this answer



                                            share|cite|improve this answer










                                            answered Mar 17 at 8:10









                                            Vijendra ParasharVijendra Parashar

                                            191




                                            191








                                            • 5




                                              $begingroup$
                                              How is different from fleablood's answer?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 17 at 8:46






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Vijendra Parashar
                                              Mar 17 at 15:28






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 18 at 8:22














                                            • 5




                                              $begingroup$
                                              How is different from fleablood's answer?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 17 at 8:46






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Vijendra Parashar
                                              Mar 17 at 15:28






                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Toby Mak
                                              Mar 18 at 8:22








                                            5




                                            5




                                            $begingroup$
                                            How is different from fleablood's answer?
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Toby Mak
                                            Mar 17 at 8:46




                                            $begingroup$
                                            How is different from fleablood's answer?
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Toby Mak
                                            Mar 17 at 8:46




                                            1




                                            1




                                            $begingroup$
                                            @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Vijendra Parashar
                                            Mar 17 at 15:28




                                            $begingroup$
                                            @TobyMak sorry, I really didn't see it. When I posted there were only four answers including mine. That answer was really not there, completely surprised. I don't know how this happened?
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Vijendra Parashar
                                            Mar 17 at 15:28




                                            1




                                            1




                                            $begingroup$
                                            I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Toby Mak
                                            Mar 18 at 8:22




                                            $begingroup$
                                            I see. Since you wrote your answer independently from fleablood, it's only fair to keep your answer.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Toby Mak
                                            Mar 18 at 8:22











                                            -1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            If all of them handshakes each other then there are 8!/2! =28 handshakes, but none of them handshake with their own spouse so their are 28-4=24 handshakes.






                                            share|cite|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$


















                                              -1












                                              $begingroup$

                                              If all of them handshakes each other then there are 8!/2! =28 handshakes, but none of them handshake with their own spouse so their are 28-4=24 handshakes.






                                              share|cite|improve this answer









                                              $endgroup$
















                                                -1












                                                -1








                                                -1





                                                $begingroup$

                                                If all of them handshakes each other then there are 8!/2! =28 handshakes, but none of them handshake with their own spouse so their are 28-4=24 handshakes.






                                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                                $endgroup$



                                                If all of them handshakes each other then there are 8!/2! =28 handshakes, but none of them handshake with their own spouse so their are 28-4=24 handshakes.







                                                share|cite|improve this answer












                                                share|cite|improve this answer



                                                share|cite|improve this answer










                                                answered Mar 17 at 13:19









                                                Chand16Chand16

                                                276




                                                276






























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