Problem

Source: ToT - 2001 Fall Junior O-Level #4

Tags: combinatorics unsolved, combinatorics



On an east-west shipping lane are ten ships sailing individually. The first five from the west are sailing eastwards while the other five ships are sailing westwards. They sail at the same constant speed at all times. Whenever two ships meet, each turns around and sails in the opposite direction. When all ships have returned to port, how many meetings of two ships have taken place?