document.write( "Question 10787: Kathy had a party. Everyone at the party shook hands with everyone else.
\n" );
document.write( "How many people were at the party if there 78 handshakes? \n" );
document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #5713 by askmemath(368)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Have you studied Permutations and Combinations?\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "IF there were only 2 people,then only 1 handshake wld have occured\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If 3 ppl, then 3 hand shakes\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If 4 people then 6\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If n people then its nC2 or n(n-1)/2 \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So if 78 handshakes = n(n-1)/2 = 78\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n(n-1) = 78x2 \n" ); document.write( " = 39 x2 x2 \n" ); document.write( " = 13x3x2x2 \n" ); document.write( " = 13x12 \n" ); document.write( "So 12people were at the party \n" ); document.write( " |