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is there anyone that can figure out this riddle?
you have 12 balls (they all look the same)
1 of the balls weighs either 1 gram more OR 1 gram less than the others (you don't know if its more or less)
you have 3 chances to put an equal number of balls on a scale
after 3rd weigh, tell me which ball is different AND if it weighs more or less
been trying to figure it out for years
3 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
I know!
First split the balls into 2 groups of 6. The zeros represent the balls.
000000 000000
Place one group on one side of the scale and the second group on the other side of the scale.
The group that has the heavier ball will sink lower than the group that does not.
Take the group with the heavier ball and split it into two groups of 3.
000 000
Place one group on one side of the scale and the other group on the other side.
The group with the heavier ball will go sink, like before.
Then take two balls (from the group of three) and set one ball on one side of the scale and the other ball on the other side.
0 0
If the balls are equal, then then you know that the ball that was not weighed is the heavier one.
If they are not equal, the one that sinks is the one that is heavier.
You can figure out which ball is lighter the same way.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
First measurement: split the balls in half... weigh 6 balls against 6 balls, see which 6 are heavier. Discard the 6 that were lighter.
Second measurement: split the 6 that are heavier in half... weigh 3 balls against 3 balls, see which 3 are heavier. Discard the 3 that were lighter.
Third measurement: split the 3 balls that are heavier in thirds... weigh 1 ball against 1 ball... take the heavier ball. If they weigh the same, the heavier ball is the one that was not weighed.
