SOLUTION: Suppose you are setting up a full-mesh network for x users; and n, the number of two-way connections required to link all users pairwise, must be no greater than 132. For what ran

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Suppose you are setting up a full-mesh network for x users; and n, the number of two-way connections required to link all users pairwise, must be no greater than 132. For what ran      Log On


   



Question 1196425: Suppose you are setting up a full-mesh network for x users; and n, the number of two-way connections required to link all users pairwise, must be no greater than 132. For what range of x values can you set up your network?
x(x-1)/2=n

Answer by ikleyn(52855) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Suppose you are setting up a full-mesh network for x users;
and n, the number of two-way connections required to link all users pairwise,
must be no greater than 132. For what range of x values can you set up your network?
x(x-1)/2=n
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They want you solve this inequality

    %28x%2A%28x-1%29%29%2F2 <= 132

in positive integer numbers.


So, you multiply both sides by 2

    x*(x-1) <= 2*132 = 264.


At this point, you can estimate x by noticing that  sqrt%28264%29 = 16.24...  (rounded.


Hence, integer x  must be closest to it lesser integer highlight%28highlight%2816%29%29.


        CHECK.  16*(16-1) = 16*15 = 240,  while 17*16 = 272, confirming this answer.



Alternatively, you can solve quadratic inequality

    x^2 - x - 264 <= 0,


and for x you will get


    x%5B1%2C2%5D = %281+%2B-+sqrt%281%5E2+%2B+4%2A1%2A264%29%29%2F2 = %281+%2B-+sqrt%281057%29%29%2F2 = %281+%2B-+32.51%29%2F2.


Thus  -15.755 <= x <= 16.755,  and since we want x be positive integer number, it gives the same answer x <= 16.

Solved in two ways for your better understanding,  giving the   ANSWER   n <= 16.