Problem of the Week
for the week of January 2, 2006

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

In honor of Elvis' birthday this week, the problem of the week is a tribute to his song, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.

Elvis and Priscilla are married. They agree to go out to dinner with four other married couples. So, there are five couples, or ten people, altogether.

They arrive at the restaurant, and, because there are some people who don't know other people, there are some handshakes that take place, and introductions. Anyone who doesn't know somebody will shake hands with that person. People will not shake hands with anyone they already know, and, of course, you don't shake hands with your own spouse.

At the end of the dinner, Elvis asks all the people there, including his own wife, how many hands each of them shook.

He gets the following answers: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8.

There are 9 other people there, and they give him 9 different answers.

Here's the question: How many hands did Elvis' wife Priscilla shake?

Now it may seem that you don't have enough information to solve this problem. But you do. Explain.

YOU MAY ONLY SEND IN ONE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S PROBLEM.


Send your solution by Friday 4:00 PM to:
David Pleacher

Links:

Handley Problem of the Week Page

Handley Math Home Page