The following problem due to A. Boyd, has enjoyed a certain popularity in recent months with several mathematicians. A different solution to the one given here has been given independently by R. T. Bumby and J. Spencer.The Problem, There are n ladies, and each one of them knows an item of scandal which is not known to any of the others. They communicate by telephone, and whenever two ladies make a call, they pass on to each other, as much scandal as they know at that time. How many calls are needed before all the ladies know all the scandal?