Question

(e) Explain in words the relationship between the number of participants and the number of handshakes? (1) ​

Answer 1

`\mathrm{(n(n-1))/(2)}`

Explanation:

`\mathrm{The\ formula\ for\ the\ number\ of\ handshakes\ possible\ among\ n\ participants\ is:}\\ \mathrm{ (n(n-1))/(2)}\\\mathrm{It's\ because\ each\ of\ the\ n\ participants\ may\ shake\ hands\ with\ n-1\ people}\mathrm{(they}\\\mathrm{cannot\ shake\ their\ own\ hands)\ and\ the\ handshake\ between\ two\ people\ is\ not}\\ \mathrm{counted\ twice.}`