h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If seven people meet each other and each shakes hands only once with each of the others, how many handshakes will there have been?

21 in total.

(crosses fingers that his answer is correct and he will win again, safe in the knowledge Lady C is indisposed at the moment )

I say 21 as well
Galaxy Babe {recovering from last nigh't Fancy Dress Ball which carries on all today as well}

At first I thought it was more, but on checking and double checking, 21 is the only answer

I'm not signed up as a contestant, but I found the quiz and and am confirming the answer 21 as being correct. If I was sure I'd be here often enough, I'd sign up. Hi Greebo!! (a little bit tipsy...)

I made it 19. Now I'm really worried.
I think I miscounted somewhere.
But I'll leave it like that as I can't win with 21 anyway.

*42*

(Trying to be different.)
(And there is two hands shaking in a handshake.)
(And the number is so much better, it is *the* answer after all )

"FOR THOSE THAT NEED CONVINCING"
A shakes hands 6 times = 6
B shakes hands 5 times = 5 {the handshake with A already counted}
C shakes hands 4 times = 4
D shakes hands 3 times = 3
E shakes hands 2 times = 2
F shakes hands 1 time = 1 {only G left!}
G already been counted in everybody else's shakes.
Total : 21
Sorry, EV, I know you would have done that if you'd been here first, but there you go.
ps. Can you tell I'm bored? Even Mina's not here

Uggh. I've got to start getting up earlier. I'll go with 21.

21 (I'll have to logon earlier...)

15 if one of the people doesn't have any hands and may include 6 footshakes. I've just been reading a really interesting biography about a thelidimide sufferer and he would shake feet instead of hands.

Ahhh . . . what would a forum be without irrelevant anecdotes.

Yet another correct answer from Babal-17... Me can see you are going to go far... ~grin~... Another point to you... congratulations... and for the wonderful explanation why there is only 21 handshakes... me is giving 0.5 of a point the Galaxy Babe...

Good for you Galaxy Babe, good for you Greebo, and good for me too!
PS I have posted my answer for the next one too!!!

Why, thank you Greebo & Babel-17!
That just made getting up at 7am on a Sunday to try & be here first & being about 6th.....worthwhile hehehehe

Duh,,,I don't get it