The number of characters is given by : [17 - 6 ] x 2 = 11 x 2 = 22
Here is the proof of this.....first note.....that only in a circle with an even number of characters can they be evenly spaced such that every character has a character directly across from him/her.
Between the 6th and 17th characters, there are 10 characters....and each of these characters will have a counterpart directly across from him/her. Then, that will be 20 characters. And adding the 6th and 17th chracters makes 22 total characters.
