You have 12 eggs. All eggs weigh the same except one. Your objective is to find the abnormal egg, and accurately state whether it's heavier/lighter than the others. You have a weight-based scale (either remains even, or leans heavier/lighter) that you can only use 3 times. Good luck!
2006-07-09 21:46:57 · 4 answers · asked by davie 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Other - Games & Recreation
My previous answer here was wrong. Thanks nash for pointing it out. so i'm going to give it a go again.
Divide the 12 eggs randomly into 2 groups of 6 and place one group on either side of the balance. Obviously it will not be balanced equally as there is the abnormal egg in one of the two batches.
The next step is rather difficult to explain but i'll try. From each side of the balance remove one egg at the same time. There can be two outcomes to this action:
1) the balance remains exactly as before, that is, it is still unequal and the abnormal egg is still on the balance, in either one of the groups.
2) the balance shifts and becomes equal. This will mean that the abnormal egg has been removed and that it is now out of the scale and in one of your hands.
If you get ourcome 1) keep removing an egg from each side until you get outcome 2).
When you finally reach outcome two it means 2 things, all the eggs on the balance now are of equal weight. And in your hands now, you have one normal egg (which we will call A) and one abnormal egg (B). So you have now narrowed the possibilites down to just two eggs with using the balance once.
Separate the rest of the eggs from the 2 important ones.
Take, from the rejected pile of equally heavy eggs, one normal egg for the next step to be your test-egg.
Place the test egg on one side of the balance. On the other side place one of the two eggs (lets say, A) that you have singled out. Observe. Remove that egg (A) and put the other (B).
Egg A, which we earlier named the normal egg, will be exactly in balance with the other egg. Egg B will not and from the direction of tilt, you will be able determine if the abnormal egg is lighter or heavier.
All this done with just 3 uses of the balance.
Hope this one is correct! : )
2006-07-09 22:11:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can do it. Even if you eliminate all but 2 eggs, when you put those on the scale, you won't know if it's the lighter one rising or the heavier one sinking. You could do it, if you know that the odd egg is either lighter or heavier.
Kish: Very good! You did it! That is absolutely correct! Davie, give Kish the points. Read it through carefully and you will see how he did the elimination.
Now, this was a great question!!
2006-07-10 04:58:16 · answer #2 · answered by druid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude kish
1) You are telling that one which leans downwards is heavier one in the first step i mean when u make them 6 - 6 that is fine
2) when u take that so called heavier egg grp of and make them 3 - 3 what if they are equal in weight ? i mean to say if they are at equilibrium ?
3) Your assumption is wrong
2006-07-10 05:28:23 · answer #3 · answered by naresh 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 steps: 1) put six on one side six on the other. 2) take the heavier six and put three on one side and three on the other. 3) take the three heavier eggs and put any two, one on each side of the scale. If they are equal, then the other egg is the heavier, if they aren't then you know which is the heavier.
2006-07-10 14:59:48 · answer #4 · answered by vmmhg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋