Thursday 21 January 2010

Nine Weights Problem and Twelve Weights Problem

These are old puzzles, certainly not my own (for once), but they are great thinking problems with really elegant solutions, see if you can solve them.

I have before me nine weights. Of which just one is slightly lighter. Using only scales I must find out which of these weights is this lighter one. How do I do this?

This problem is possible in just two weighs.

Slightly harder is the twelve weights problem...

I have before me twelve weights. Of which just one is slightly lighter. Using only scales I must find out which of these weights is this lighter one. How do I do this?

This problem is possible in just three weighs.

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