If you have 8 balls that have exactly the same physical appearance, but one of them is slightly heavier, given a balancing scale, how do you find out which ball is the heavier one ?
Is there a two step solution that solves all scenarios? Three step is simple but two, is it possible?
2007-01-22 13:22:19 · 8 answers · asked by fibon 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes.
First, weigh any two groups of 3 balls (three balls on each side of the scale).
If the scale balances, the heavy ball is amongst the two not yet weighed. Now put one of them on each side of the scale and the heavier one is on the side of the scale that's lower.
If it does not balance, then the heavy ball is amongst the three on the lower side. Now pick any two of those three and put one of them on each side of the scale.
- If the scale balances, the heavier ball is the one you didn't just weigh
- If it doesn't balance, the heavier ball is the one on the lower side.
Now try this one: One of the balls is either heavier OR lighter but you don't know which it is. Can you still find it in 2 weighings? In 3?
2007-01-22 13:32:52 · answer #1 · answered by John 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - choose two balls and measure them against each other. If they are the same, then choose two others and measure them. At this point, there is a 50/50 chance that you will have found the heavier ball. If not, then repeat the test, using the other four balls.
2007-01-22 13:27:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
1. Separate them into two groups of three and one group of two.
2. Weigh the two groups of three again each other.
3. If the two groups of three are equal, take the group of two and measure them together. The heavier one is the ball that you're seeking.
4. If one of the groups of three is heavier, take two balls from that group and weigh them against each other.
5. If the two balls chosen are equal, then the ball from that group that you didn't weigh is the one that you're seeking.
6. If one of the two balls is heavier, then that is the ball that you're seeking.
There you go. You located the heavier ball in two weighings.
2007-01-22 13:29:04 · answer #3 · answered by baka_otaku30 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
8 Ball Lighter
2016-12-15 07:12:05 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't usually do back bends while having balls on my face.
2016-03-18 00:32:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-04-05 02:10:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know
2007-01-22 13:24:07 · answer #7 · answered by hil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2007-01-22 13:25:39 · answer #8 · answered by muskrat_h8r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋