Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: After a basketball game, each of the $n$ players on Team A must shake hands with each of the $n$ players on Team B. What is the minimum number of (reversible, ambidextrous) gloves required so that zero germ transmission occurs? We show that the answer is $3n/2+o(n)$ and develop a general theory for prescribed handshake sets.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Byrne, John, Sherwood, Colby, Wilmarth, Brian
Institutions: University of California San Diego, University of Delaware
Language: English
Subfield: Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221785951