Q: 10 people meet and shake hands. The maximum number of handshakes possible if there is to be no "cycle" of handshakes is (A cycle of handshakes is a sequence of k people a1, a2, , ak (k > 2) such that the pairs {a1, a2}, {a2, a3}, , {ak-1, ak}, {ak, a1} shake hands).
Options:
(A) 7
(B) 6
(C) 9
(D) 8
(E) 10
A: OK... Stream of consciousness: The question is not written in proper manner but we can work in 3 methods
1) If these are random handshakes, then total methods = 10*9/2*1 = 45
2) If these are cyclic handshakes, then total methods = 10
3) If these persons are not cyclic but they are arranged in a straight bench, then number of methods = 9
The answer is (C).

Q: A family pays $800 per year for an insurance plan that pays 70 percent of the first $1,000 in expenses and 100 percent of all medical expenses thereafter. In any given year, the total amount paid by the family will equal the amount paid by the plan when the family's medical expenses total.
Options:
(A) $1,000
(B) $1,200
(C) $1,400
(D) $1,800
(E) $2,200
A: OK... Stream of consciousness: Upfront payment for insurance plan = 800$
Family needs to pay 30 % of first 1000 $ in expense = 300$
Total amount paid by family when medical expenses are equal to or greater than 1000 $ = 800 + 300 = 1100 $
Total amount paid by insurance plan for first 1000 $ = 800 $
Total amount paid by family will equal amount paid by plan when medical expense = 1400 $
(Since insurance plan will pay 100% of amount that exceeds 1100$ )
The answer is (C).

Q: The average of seven numbers is 18. The average of first three numbers is 14 and the average of last three numbers is 16. What is the middle number?
Options:
(A) 27
(B) 29
(C) 36
(D) 34
(E) 35
A: OK... Stream of consciousness: The total of seven numbers = 7X18 = 126
The total of first 3 and last 3 numbers is = 3 X 14+3 X 16 = 90
So, the middle number is (126 - 90 ) = 36
The answer is (C).

Q: In the x-y plane, point (x, y) is a lattice point if both x and y are integers. Circle C has a center at (-2, -2) and a diameter of 8. Some points, such as the center (-2, -2), are inside the circle, but a point such as (-2, 2) is on the circle but not in the circle. How many lattice points are in circle C?
Options:
(A) 40
(B) 10
(C) 73
(D) 60
(E) 63
A:
OK... Stream of consciousness: The lattice points that are in the circle that lie on the perspective axes is as follows: since the diameter is 8, 9 points lie on the horizontal axis (8 + center), but the end points are not in the circle, so 9 - 2 (the same for the vertical axis, but don't count center again), 7 - 1. The lattice points in the circle and not on the horizontal and vertical axes is as follows: lattice points can be found at 45, 45/2 and 30 degrees of axes (30 and 45/2 degrees from horizontal and vertical axes), so same numbers as before, but don't count center again. So, 13 + 5 * 12 = 73
There are a total of 73 lattice points in the circle.
The answer is (C).