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In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and for friends of opposite sex to shake hands when they meet. A group of friends met in a party and there were 24 handshakes. Which one among the following numbers indicates the possible number of hugs? 
  • a)
    39  
  • b)
    30
  • c)
    21  
  • d)
    20 
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and fo...
Chances of getting 24 hand shakes..(a) 6 g 4 b  (b) 8 g 3 b  (c)12 g 2 b

explanation: in option (c) one boy can shake hands with 12 girls similary other boy...so total shakes done 24, similarly other options

similarly no of hugs done for (a) (5+4+3+2+1)+(3+2+1)=21
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Most Upvoted Answer
In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and fo...
Given information:
- Friends of the same sex hug when they meet.
- Friends of opposite sex shake hands when they meet.
- There were 24 handshakes in the party.

To find:
- Possible number of hugs.

Approach:
- Let's assume there were a total of 'n' friends in the party.
- We can form handshake pairs only among opposite-sex friends. So, the number of handshake pairs = number of friends of one sex * number of friends of the other sex.
- The remaining friends of the same sex can form hug pairs. So, the number of hug pairs = number of friends of the same sex / 2 (as each hug pair involves two friends).
- We know that the total number of handshake pairs = 24.
- Using these equations, we can form an equation in 'n' and solve for it.

Calculation:
- Let's assume there were 'm' friends of one sex and 'n-m' friends of the opposite sex.
- Number of handshake pairs = m * (n-m) = 24
- Solving this quadratic equation, we get m = 6 or m = 4.
- If m = 6, then n = 10 and the number of friends of the same sex = 10-6 = 4. So, the number of hug pairs = 4/2 = 2.
- If m = 4, then n = 8 and the number of friends of the same sex = 8-4 = 4. So, the number of hug pairs = 4/2 = 2.
- Therefore, the possible number of hugs is 2.

Answer: Option C (21)
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The fact that superior service can generate a competitive advantage for a company does not mean that every attempt at improving service will create such an advantage. Investments in service, like those in production and distribution, must be balanced against other types of investments on the basis of direct, tangible benefits such as cost reduction and increased revenues. If a company is already effectively on a par with its competitors because it provides service that avoids a damaging reputation and keeps customers from leaving at an unacceptable rate, then investment in higher service levels may be wasted, since service is a deciding factor for customers only in extreme situations.This truth was not apparent to managers of one regional bank, which failed to improve its competitive position despite its investment in reducing the time a customer had to wait for a teller. The bank managers did not recognize the level of customer inertia in the consumer banking industry that arises from the inconvenience of switching banks. Nor did they analyze their service improvement to determine whether it would attract new customers by producing a new standard of service that would excite customers or by proving difficult for competitors to copy. The only merit of the improvement was that it could easily be described to customers.The passage suggests that bank managers failed to consider whether or not the service improvement

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In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and for friends of opposite sex to shake hands when they meet. A group of friends met in a party and there were 24 handshakes. Which one among the following numbers indicates the possible number of hugs?a)39 b)30c)21 d)20Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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