Shaking Hands ...........

[Gizmonster]

Jack and his wife went to a party where four other married couples were present. Every person shook hands with everyone that he or she was not acquainted with. When the handshaking was over, Jack asked everyone, including his own wife, how many different people they shook hands with.
To his surprise, Jack got nine different answers from all nine people.

The Question: How many hands did Jack's wife shake? (Please explain your answer rather than hazzard a guess).

Before you ask, no-one shook hands with their spouse (just in case you were thinking that they might have just got married on a blind date!!).

Enjoy .............

[weecalf]

Looks to simple but 8 .As the four other couple would not have been acquained with.the after that the next couple would shake hands with 7 (6 wife ) next couple 5 (4wife ) next 3 (wife 2 ) next 1 person last no one as the y would have their hand shook by every one else .. Simple

[Gizmonster]

Sorry but you're way off ....... try again ..........

[susan1958]

6. They must have known the couple hosting the party.

[grasscarp]

Because, obviously, no person shook hands with his or her partner, nobody shook hands with more than eight other people. And since nine people shook hands with different numbers of people, these numbers must be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
The person who shook 8 hands only did not shake hands with his or her partner, and must therefore be married to the person who shook 0 hands.
The person who shook 7 hands, shook hands with all people who also shook hands with the person who shook 8 hands (so in total at least 2 handshakes per person), except for his or her partner. So this person must be married to the person who shook 1 hand.
The person who shook 6 hands, shook hands with all people who also shook hands with the persons who shook 8 and 7 hands (so in total at least 3 handshakes per person), except for his or her partner. So this person must be married to the person who shook 2 hands.
The person who shook 5 hands, shook hands with all people who also shook hands with the persons who shook 8, 7, and 6 hands (so in total at least 4 handshakes per person), except for his or her partner. So this person must be married to the person who shook 3 hands.
The only person left, is the one who shook 4 hands, and which must be Jack's wife. Jack's wife shook 4 hands.

[Gizmonster]

Grasscarp you are correct.

Your answer is nearly, word for word, the same as mine lol:

http://www.puzzle.dse.nl/logical/happy_handsha king_us.html

[grasscarp]

I am sure it is Giz. why think if you can google!

[weecalf]

I thought I was not too far away.had the right figures 0-8 with out google?? if the first peson and we were talking about jacks & his wife one of them had to shake hands with the eight other people. Why were they down the hand shaking line one of them (wife) could have shook hands 0-8 times

[jackthehat]

I don't even remember the bl00dy party.............

[grasscarp]

When did people last "shake hands" at parties anyway?

[squarebear]

I think it was in 1923.