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asalranjbar · Icarian Member

if "f" shows the function of "hand shaking", then f(x,y) means x has done shakehanding with y.We assume that f(x,y)=f(y,x) meaning that there is no difference if "x" handshakes with "y" or vice versa.
if we designate the preofessoe with "P" and his wife with "W" and
other couples as A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2,D1,D2 it means that ,for example,A1 and A2 are a couple so that C1and C2 and so on.
Total number of combinations are 40.Out of it,if you think there is at least one person who hasnot done handshaking,the total number of combinations will decrease to 32(40-6).If there is at least one person who have done handshaking once,the there is 25(32-7) combinations.If you continue in this way,you will see that AT MOST there could be at least one person who has handshaken with four people(18).This means that MAX. DIFFERENT ANSWERS COULD ONLY BE 8 NOT 9.In this way,Professore's wife could have received ,at most, 7 hand shakings.

CrystyB · Misunderstood Guy

Correction: the total number of combination is 24!

MacadamiamaN · Intentionally left blank

YOU GUYS! How could you not know the answer! it's so obvious!!!
Here it is:

How many handshakes did the professor's wife receive?
NONE!
As only guests and hosts shook hands, the professor's wife was the HOSTESS.

Dragon Phoenix · Judge Doom

Welcome, but please do not start multiple threads for one puzzle. Thank you. Lockdown.

The main thread is here.

[This message has been edited by Sofis (edited 05-28-2002 10:51 AM).]