handshake number

created by Richard
(idea) by Richard (5.2 y) (print)   (I like it!) Tue May 09 2000 at 14:20:20
The minimum number of steps in a graph between two people. A way of referring to the 6 degrees of separation idea. If A knows B and B knows C then the handshake number of A and B is 2 (unless A also knows C, in which case it would be 1).

The phrase can also refer to the overall minimum number of steps to connect any two people in a specified group. I think that the handshake number for Canada is about 5.

Another application of this idea is the Erdos number project.

Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.