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Mathematics 14 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

All attendees to a party are introduced to one another. 28 handshakes are made in total. How many people are attending the party?

OpenStudy (cruffo):

no repeated handshake?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@cruffo yes

OpenStudy (cruffo):

If two people shake hands, is it counted as one handshake or two?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

one

OpenStudy (cruffo):

If there where three people then there would be 3 handshakes?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I thought it would be something like nC2 =28

OpenStudy (anonymous):

isn't this a combination problem

OpenStudy (cruffo):

It could be. I've done this one just using algebra. It has to do with "triangular numbers" if I recall.

OpenStudy (cruffo):

I don't think nC2 is quite not right, since if there were 4 people, then there would be 6 handshakes, but 4C2 = 12.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I found n to be 8 not 4

OpenStudy (anonymous):

8c2 =28

OpenStudy (cruffo):

8 people = 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 handshakes = 28 so yah!

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@cruffo thanks

OpenStudy (cruffo):

thank you!

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