How Many Handshakes?

Target audience: Algebra II

Collect data in groups of two to four students.

Objective: To collect and analyze data that models a quadratic function.

Materials Needed: Graphing Calculator and lab sheets

Introduce the Experiment:

Describe the exploration. To collect the data the students can simulate the
handshakes in small groups or draw polygons where vertices represent people.

Organize the Data Collection:

Have the students work in groups of two, three or four. Distribute the lab sheets.
Each group should do its own experiment collecting the data.
NAME________________________________________________________________ DATE________________________

How Many Handshakes?

You are attending a party with a large group of people that you do not know and you would
like to meet everyone. You are going to investigate how many distinct handshakes will occur
if each person shakes hands. In this exploration you will collect data and determine the
mathematical model that best represents your data.

Part 1

1. If there are 28 people in a room, estimate how many distinct handshakes will occur if each person shakes
hands?

2. Let’s simplify this problem, beginning with no one in the room. If there is no one in the room, then no
handshakes occur. Continue and complete the table.

(Hint: You can either simulate the handshakes in small groups or draw polygons where vertices represent
people.)
# of People 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

# of
Distinct
Handshake
s
3. Explain how you got the values in the handshake row. Do you see any patterns?

4. Plot the # of People versus the # of Distinct Handshakes.

Assign the # of People as the independent variable.
Set your window to [ −1,10] 1 x [ −5,30] 5 .

5. Describe the shape of your graph.

Part 2
6. The data set seems to be quadratic in the form of y = ax 2 + bx + c . Select three points, set up a system of
equations and solve to find the values of a, b, and c. Graph the data and this equation on the same set of
axes. Is this a good fit? Explain.

7. Use your calculator to find the quadratic regression QuadReg on the number of people versus the number
of distinct handshakes. Graph this equation on your data. Is this a good fit? How does this compare to your
equation in #6?

y=

8. Use your equation from #7 to find the number of distinct handshakes that will occur in a room with 28
people. How does this compare to your estimate?