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MHT CET · Maths · Permutation Combination

If at the end of certain meeting, everyone had shaken hands with everyone else, it was found that 45 handshakes were exchanged, then the number of members present at the meeting, are

  1. A 10
  2. B 15
  3. C 20
  4. D 21
Verified Solution

Answer & Solution

Correct Answer

(A) 10

Step-by-step Solution

Detailed explanation

Let ' \(n\) ' be the number of members in the meeting
\(\therefore\) Total number of handshakes \(={ }^{\mathrm{n}} \mathrm{C}_2\)
\(\therefore{ }^{\mathrm{n}} \mathrm{C}_2=45\)
\(\frac{\mathrm{n} !}{2 !(\mathrm{n}-2) !}=45 \)
\( \frac{\mathrm{n}(\mathrm{n}-1)(\mathrm{n}-2) !}{2 \times(\mathrm{n}-2) !}=45 \)
\( \mathrm{n}(\mathrm{n}-1)=90 \)
\( \therefore \mathrm{n}^2-\mathrm{n}-90=0 \)
\( \mathrm{n}=10 \text { or } \mathrm{n}=-9 \text { (not possible) } \)
\( \therefore \mathrm{n}=10\)