The number of times an action is performed between every other person in a group can be calculated using the relation [tex] \frac{n(n - 1)} {2}[/tex] which is 136 times
Using the formular ;
[tex] \frac{n(n - 1)} {2} = \frac{17(17 - 1)} {2}[/tex]
[tex] \frac{17(17 - 1)} {2} = \frac{17 \times 16} {2}[/tex]
[tex] \frac{17 \times 16} {2} = \frac{272}{2} = 136 [/tex]
Therefore, the all the 17 people present in the gathering hugged a total of 136 times
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